London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Edmonton 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton, UDC]
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25
AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
(1) For Infectious Disease.— The Local Authority maintains a
motor ambulance for the conveyance of patients to the Isolation Hospital.
As the Hospital is quite four miles from the centre of Edmonton, the
Council also maintains a dixie-bus, capable of holding six people; this conveys
patients home when recovered, and also takes parents to the Hospital when
the child is on the dangerously ill list.
After hours on Week-days and on Sundays, the Fire Brigade undertake
the latter.
(2) For Non-Infectious and Accident Cases.— An ambulance is housed at the Fire Station and the following figures given by the Superintendent shew the extent to which it is used:—
| Private removals | 753 patients. |
| Accident cases | 134 „ |
| Maternity | 69 „ |
| School Clinic | 117 „ |
| Isolation Hospital visits | 25 „ |
| Total | 1,098 |
The School Clinic cases are removals home from the Prince of Wales'
Hospital after operation for the removal of tonsils and adenoids.
The total number of miles run was 7,681, whilst consumption of petrol was
714 gallons.
SECTION VI —LABORATORY WORK.
The usual bacteriological examinations are carried out by the Medical
Officer of Health at the Laboratory in the Town Hall.
The examinations for diphtheria were:—
| Positive. | Negative. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs from suspects | 24 | 240 | 264 |
| „ ,, contacts | 16 | 395 | 411 |
| ,, „ old cases and carriers | 9 | 34 | 43 |
| Total | 49 | 669 | 718 |
194 swabs came from outside Doctors.