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12
Pathological laboratory service
At the outbreak of war, at the direction of the Ministry of Health, certain of
the staffs of the group laboratories were transferred to laboratories outside London
more appropriately situated for serving the outlying hospitals in which it was expected
that most of the casualties were to be accommodated under the Emergency
Hospital Scheme. A large amount of the equipment from the group laboratories
was also transferred. As the declaration of war did not produce the state of affairs
expected, and there were a large number of patients in the Council's hospitals, most
of the staff and equipment were brought back early in the year by arrangement
with the Ministry, and the Council's pathological service was re-established to the
extent necessary. The arrangements were made subject to review from time to
time as circumstances might require. Subsequent movements of staff have taken
place, and, of a total laboratory staff of 175, only nine members were working in
the Sector laboratories under the Ministry at the end of the year.
In order to meet the needs of the Emergency Medical Service, laboratory
facilities have been extended and pathological staff provided by the Emergency
Medical Service at the Brook and Southern Hospitals and King George V and
Pinewood Sanatoria. The group laboratory, established at Joyce Green Hospital
under the supervision of the pathologist in charge of the group laboratory at Lewisham
Hospital, continued to provide pathological services for the hospitals in the Dartford
area.
Owing to the diminution in the requirements of the Council's infectious diseases
hospitals, supplies of diphtheria and streptococcal antitoxins, manufactured at
the laboratories, have been made available to local authorities who are receiving
financial aid from the Council for evacuated children.
The production of tetanus antitoxin was continued at the laboratories and the
manufacture of gas gangrene antitoxin was commenced during the year. A reserve
of these products is being accumulated to meet the possible needs of war casualties.
The Council continued throughout the year to supply the Ministry's pathological
service in the London region with all standard " consumable " requisites, such as
glassware, etc., and with materials such as culture media, vaccines, stains, etc.
In order to cope with the greatly increased amount of work involved, extensive
additional storage accommodation was provided at various premises in the vicinity
of the group laboratory.
On account of the reduced demand for products from the existing laboratories,
it was decided that the taking into use of the Serum Institute at Carshalton should
be deferred.
In November, the Ministry of Health advised that the immunisation against
diphtheria of London school children should be undertaken on a large scale and
asked the Council to provide the material for the purpose. The Council has supplied
large quantities in response to the Ministry's request.
LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE IN WAR TIME
The London Ambulance Service was greatly expanded on the outbreak of war
in order to convey casualties arising from air raids to first-aid posts or to hospitals.
The expansion was brought about by the grafting of the London Auxiliary
Ambulance Service on to the existing organisation. The peace-time service was
supplemented by some 112 auxiliary stations, about 1,600 auxiliary vehicles, and
between 6,000 and 7,000 men and women auxiliary drivers and attendants.
The vehicles originally used for the auxiliary service were requisitioned vans
which were for the most part unsuitable for the purpose. They have now been
replaced by vehicles consisting of ambulance bodies fitted on to the chassis of
private cars or by specially built light ambulances. In addition to these ambulances
for recumbent patients, there are private cars used to convey sitting patients.