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15
MOTOR AMBULANCE SERVICE.
At the end of 1913 the Council established an Ambulance Service which included three School
'Buses, one Infectious Diseases Ambulance, one Sickness and Accident Ambulance, one Disinfecting
Van and one Car. It is pleasing to record that now after more than 11 years all these vehicles are
still in working order. During 1924 an additional ambulance was acquired partly to relieve the
old ambulances and partly for use as a stand-by when some of the other vehicles were out of commission.
During 1924 the Council further determined to obtain an additional school 'bus to relieve
the existing school 'buses from time to time as might be necessary and to convey certain physically
and mentally defective children who were not attending school owing to the lack of 'bus accommodation.
Up to the end of March, 1925, the Council's vehicles had covered a total of 636,467 miles.
During the year 2,088 calls for ambulances have been received and met, 665 houses have been
disinfected and approximately 120 children have been conveyed daily to and from the Mentally
and Physically Defective Schools maintained by the Council. It is satisfactory to record that all
this woik has been accomplished again during this year without accident.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
75,197 meals have been supplied to school children during the year at the four Centres established
and maintained by the Education Committee and at the Granville Road Voluntary Centre
by arrangement with the Education Committee. During the year the basis for the feeding of school
children, namely the economic circumstances of the family, was increased by the Education Committee
by Is. per head per week. The arrangement with the Willesden Board of Guardians by which they
pay Is. per head per week or part of a week for each child fed on their recommendation at the
Education Committee's Feeding Centres continues in force.
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL.
The report of the Medical Superintendent on the work of the Hospital during 1924 is appended.
Only 626 patients were admitted and for two years now it may be stated that the district
has been free from any serious prevalence of any infectious disease, and that there have been many
vacant hospital beds.
Some of the cases admitted to Hospital were cases of measles, whooping cough and ophthalmia
in children under 5 years of age and a case of puerperal fever, which are chargeable to the Maternity
and Child Welfare account and in respect of which grant should be payable.
Your Obedient Servant,
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.