View report page

AMBULANCES.
For Infectious Disease Cases.—The Wandle Valley Joint
Hospital Board has provided two motor ambulances for the removal of
cases of infectious disease to hospital. The use of these ambulances is
limited to the area served by the Hospital Board.
Accident and General Cases.—The Council has continued to
provide a minimum of three motor ambulances for the removal of
accident and general cases throughout the war years, and thanks to the
generosity of a resident has also a very useful reserve ambulance.
In 1939 this Service was under the control of the Fire Superintendent
but since the beginning of the war the ambulances have been the
responsibility of the Medical Officer of Health.
Until 1945 the drivers and attendants for the Civil Ambulance
Service were members of the Civil Defence Service and when required
Civil Defence ambulances were used as reinforcements.
The demand on the Civil Ambulance Service practically doubled
during the war years, partly owing to the limitations of public transport
and private hire vehicles under war conditions. In at least one respect
an improved service was provided during this period in so far as it was
practicable to arrange for a trained female attendant to accompany all
maternity cases, a service which cannot be continued economically since
the disbandment of the Civil Defence Services.
During 1945 the three civil ambulances were staffed by whole-time
ex-Civil Defence men employed solely for this purpose, aided in the first
half of the year by Civil Defence staff and based upon the Civil Defence
depots. In the second half of the year the ambulances were based on
the Sanderstead and Purley Fire Stations by the courtesy of the National
Fire Service, which also assisted by providing meals for the personnel,
etc.
The high standard achieved by the ambulance service was maintained
throughout the year, although uncertainty with regard to the
future of the Fire and Ambulance Services has been very unsettling for
the personnel and has increased administrative difficulties.
Special facilities have been arranged for the conveyance of maternity
cases to hospital, for their subsequent return home and for the conveyance
with special precautions of premature babies when necessary.
HOSPITALS.
Infectious Disease.—This Council is one of the constituent
authorities of the Wandle Valley Joint Hospital Board, and cases of
infectious disease (other than smallpox) occurring in this District are
admitted to the Board's hospital at Beddington Corner, Mitcham.
Extensions to this hospital were commenced in 1936, but unfortunately
completion was delayed until 1939, when the onset of war
complicated matters by diminishing the available accommodation, as a
result of the arrangements which had to be made for the treatment of
34