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60
Lastly, I submitted copies of my Annual Reports—1876-81,
dealing with the epidemic of small-pox, and with other matters
cognate to the inquiry being made by the Royal Commission,
or which are referred to in the preceding notes.
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The 16th Section of the Poor Law Act, 1879, confers on the
Asylums Board power to provide ambulances for the conveyance
of the infectious sick, and of this power the Managers have
availed themselves to a certain extent by establishing a station
at London Fields. It is almost superfluous to add that their
action in so doing has been assailed, and that legal proceedings
have been commenced against them with a view to close the station.
Having inspected the premises I am at a loss to understand what
reasonable objection can be taken to them; they appear to me well
suited for their purpose, having regard to position, arrangement,
and management. Some fifteen parishes are allocated to this
station, which is in telephonic communication with the Offices
of the Managers at Norfolk Street, Strand, whence all applications
received by telegram are instantly transmitted to the station.
I had ocular proof that the time taken to get out and despatch
a well-appointed ambulance, with pair of horses, and nurse
attired in mackintosh overclothing, is to be reckoned by seconds,
rather than minutes. The entire staff engaged in this service
live on the premises. It is a curious fact that the authorities
of some of the parishes allocated to this station have declined
to make use of the facilities it affords, and still continue to
remove patients in their own ambulances. The existing arrangements
for the removal of the sick are very unsatisfactory. In
some parishes both the Sanitary Authority and the Poor Law
Authority have provided ambulances, in others the Vestry or the
Guardians only. There being 89 Sanitary Authorities and 30
Boards of Guardians, there would appear to be a good deal of
wasted power, which means needless expense incurred, and it is
open to question whether a considerable economy might not be