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SECTION B.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH
SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Staff.—A list of the staff of the Public Health Department
will be found at the end of the report.
Laboratory Facilities.—Throat swabs from doctors and the
Isolation Hospital and sputum from doctors are examined at the
office. Special examinations are made at the Lister Institute of
Preventive Medicine and the Royal Free Hospital.
Ambulance Facilities.—The ambulance facilities are similar
to those described in previous reports.
There is a motor ambulance for the transport of infectious
cases, and two ambulances provided for accident and non-infectious
cases. The latter are housed at the fire station and are available
at all hours. Last year the ambulance was called out to 585 street
accidents, and on 378 occasions for private cases. Fees amounting
to £ 142 l0s. were paid for the use of the ambulance for private
cases.
Nursing in the Home.—There has been no change in the
arrangements for nursing in the home, but negotiations were entered
into during the year between the authorities of the Acton Hospital
and the Borough Council for an extension of the home nursing
services provided by the hospital, but the agreement was not
pleted at the end of the year. In addition to private nursing
associations in the district, the Acton Hospital employ three nurses
for home nursing.
HOSPITAL PROVISION.
General.—Acton Hospital, Gunnersbury Lane, is the only
General Hospital in the district, and has accommodation for 72
patients—62 beds in General Wards and 10 for Private Patients.
During 1937 1151 patients were admitted; this is an increase of 74
on the previous year, and is in a great measure due to the fact that
the recent extensions had been put into full use. The beds have
been continuously occupied and the average number of patients
resident daily was 65.25.
9,820 Out-Patients were treated during the year, an increase
of 814 and the Out-Patient attendances were 53,883, an increase of
7,717 as compared with 1936, showing that the enlarged OutPatients
Department was very much needed. The Education
Committee has continued its agreement with the Hospital for the
treatment of Tonsils and Adenoids and Artificial light.