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719
immunisation the combined procedure has the effect of increasing the numbers immunised
against diphtheria, and is, therefore, to be encouraged.
The number of children protected against whooping cough, which had doubled in
1952 compared with 1951, showed a further slight increase. 19,322 children were
immunised in the Council's centres and day nurseries, and 3,397 by general practitioners
during 1953, compared with 19,447 and 2,786 respectively in the previous year. In 1953,
10,458 children (included above) received combined antigen which protected them
against both diphtheria and whooping cough.
Vaccination
Facilities provided for the vaccination of infants against smallpox are similar to those
for diphtheria immunisation. The number of vaccinations of children under 1 year of
age has increased steadily over the past five years; the number in 1953 was 76 per cen.
above that in 1949.
Vaccination of children under 1
1949 13,896
1950 16,836
1951 19,700
1952 23,106
1953 24.434
There was no case of generalised vaccinia or of post-vaccinal encephalomyelitis during
the year.
Revaccination of older children is undertaken under the Council's scheme. 1,501
schoolchildren were re-vaccinated during 1953, compared with 804 during 1952.
12,284 vaccinations and re-vaccinations were carried out by general practitioners
during the year as compared with 14,543 in the previous year.
Of children at the Council's residential establishments in London at the end of the
year, 51 per cent. had been vaccinated. Parental consent to vaccination was refused for
7 per cent. of children. 59 per cent. of children in out-county establishments had been
vaccinated, and parental consent was refused for 2.5 per cent.
LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE
the use of ambulance transport in the County of London has increased year by year
since the inauguration of the National Health Service and the total of 721,334 patients
moved by the general section of the service in 1953 was yet another record, being 9 per
cent more than the figure for the previous year. The mileage run and the number of
journeys carried out, however, each showed an increase of only 4 per cent., a proof of
the success of efforts directed towards reducing the mileage per patient and the number
of journeys by co-ordinating the work and by the increasing use of rail transport. This
co-ordination was greatly facilitated by development of the policy of decentralisation,
under which closer and more direct contact was fostered between certain hospitals and
the appropriate ambulance stations. In the case of long out-county removals, hospitals
were encouraged to agree to ambulance-train-ambulance arrangements and these not
only ensured quicker journeys for the patients but also released ambulances more
quickly for other removals. During 1953 5,741 patients were conveyed by this means
and the mileage covered by rail was 425,614.