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SECTION B. GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH
SERVICES FOR THE AREA.
CIVIL AMBULANCE SERVICE
A Corporation Service, operated (by arrangement) from
and by the Bromley and District Hospital.
Mr. E. W. Hurst, House Governor of the Hospital, reports for
the year 1946 as follows: " In the year under review there has
been a considerable increase in the volume of work undertaken
by the Ambulance Service, as will be readily appreciated by
the figures given in the following statistical summary. The
total mileage in 1946 was 16,488, as compared with 10,841 in 1945;
an increase of 5,647. The total number of cases dealt with
was 2,317 as against 1,708 in 1945, an increase of 609 cases.
"On the 2nd October, 1946, a new Ford V8 Ambulance was
put into service at the expense of the Hospital. The addition
of this new ambulance now brings the number of ambulances
available for service up to three, so that as well as being able
to cope with more work, we are able to ensure that two ambulances
are always available.
"Despite the large increase in the volume of work carried
out by the Ambulance Service the staff still remains at the same
lumber of ten. The work of the Ambulance Superintendent
and his assistants has been carried out throughout the year in
a most efficient and satisfactory manner, and numerous reports
have been received from patients and their relatives of the
Promptness, courtesy and understanding with which the
Personnel perform their duties."
LABORATORY SERVICES.
The Kent County Council provide a Laboratory Service for
the whole of the County through their Laboratory at Maidstone.
The distance from Bromley and the delay caused by postal
despatch militates against efficiency for material of an urgent
nature being speedily examined and reported on. We have
during recent years used the facilities of the Ministry of Health
Emergency Laboratory at Downe, and the co-operation we have
received from Dr. R. I. Hutchinson has been excellent and of
great value to our services. It is regrettable that this Laboratory
closed down early in 1947 and we shall, indeed, miss the help
that has at all times been freely given. Emergency diphtheria
swabs are sent to the West Kent Isolation Hospital and the
liaison here has got us out of many difficulties. This service
will continue.
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