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82
I sincerely hope that the Joint Hospital Board will soon take over the
removal of patients to hospital by an ambulance service directly connected
with the hospital and properly equipped with a nurse and attendants. Although
at present, when a case is notified at night every means is adopted to get the
ambulance out as speedily as possible, the advantage gained by the Hospital
Board removing patients would expedite matters, and would be to the benefit
of all concerned.
Motor Vehicles.—The Council have decided to adopt motor bedding
vans for the removal of infectious and non-infectious bedding, and also a motor
brougham to convey the patients from the hospital to their homes, after recovery.
I trust these will be in evidence during the coming year; they will enable us
to do away with the horse-drawn vehicles.
ERYSIPELAS.
During the year only 8 cases of erysipelas were treated in their homes
(one less than last year) by a qualified trained nurse. Many expressed their
thanks for the treatment received. The cost of nursing was £16 10s. Od.
DISINFECTANTS.
For some years past the Council have generously allowed free disinfectants
to the inhabitants of the district, and the public continue to avail themselves
of the opportunity given them. The address of every applicant is taken and
kept for reference, if necessary, as we find several persons coming here from
adjoining districts. Disinfectants are only supplied to persons bringing proper
poison bottles. No doubt some of the disinfectant is misapplied, but its use
must, to a great extent, encourage cleanliness and cause much more water to
be used than otherwise would be. On looking through the register of callers
1 find that 33,869 persons applied for disinfectants during the year, which is
an increase of 6,383 on the previous year. It has been suggested that the
supply of disinfectants might be discontinued without any detriment to the
health of the district. I might say that this would be a great relief of responsibility
to me, but, personally, I should be loth to recommend such a course,
knowing full well that much good has been done in the past.
Instructions are given to applicants as to the proper and careful use of
the disinfectants, and in many instances during the course of inspectorial
work we have found the public making good use of them. Besides being distributed
to the public generally, disinfectants are also supplied from the department
for the disinfecting and deodorising of house refuse, for the cleansing
of street gullies, flushing of sewers, watering of roads in hot weather, and for
all other purposes required by the Council.