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
Barking 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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THE HEALTH OF BARKING
attending confinements. The establishment of personnel and vehicles to provide
the service required is:—
Personnel—Station Officer 1
Deputy Station Officer 1
Driver/Attendants 22
Vehicles —Stretcher Ambulances 4
Sitting Case Cars 4
During the year there were periods when the number of vehicles available was
reduced by mechanical breakdowns due to the age of the ambulances. An order
was placed for two new Daimler ambulances with Lomas bodies but unfortunately
the shortest delivery period which could be given for these vehicles was eighteen
months and they will not be in service until early 1949.
The following is an analysis of the calls received at the Ambulance Station, showing the allocation of calls by hospitals:—
| Name of Hospital | Proportion of total cases | Type of cases |
|---|---|---|
| London | 40% | All Types. |
| Oldchurch | 30% | Dressings and Examinations. |
| King George | 10% | Fractures. |
| Barking Maternity Unit and Clinics | 8% | Maternity, Massage, etc. |
| St. Mary's | 5% | Electrical Treatment, Tonsils and Adenoids. |
| East Ham Memorial | 2% | Fractures, Diabetics. |
| Miscellaneous | 5% | Examinations, Special Treatments. |
It is to be expected, after three years' experience of a free ambulance service,
that an opinion could be expressed upon its value to the public. The general
impression obtained is that because it is free, the service becomes very much of a
taxi service and is no doubt abused by some persons. Any control can only be
effected by more judicious issue of permits through medical practitioners and
hospitals. I call attention to this factor because it does appear to me that unless
calls are restricted to those actually needy, the tendency will be for everyone who
has to visit a hospital or clinic to use the ambulance service, in many cases when
other forms of public conveyance would be suitable.
Home Helps.
First priority for the services of home helps is given to mothers who are to be
confined at home. When this priority has been met other cases such as illness,
old age and infirmity are dealt with according to their merits.
In addition to six full-time home helps employed by you, efforts were made
to increase the panel of casual home helps, in view of the very heavy demand for
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