Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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conveyance of infectious cases by public vehicles should be
prohibited by law," and expressed willingness to " use the
machinery they possess for the prompt and economical
removal of infectious cases." Having communicated their
altered views to the Local Government Board, the President of
that Board obtained from Parliament the desired powers, in a
section of the Poor Law Act, 1889, which, as already mentioned,
is now incorporated in the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
This Act (section 70), expressly prohibits the conveyance of
any infected person in a public conveyance.
Land Service: Ambulance Stations.—The recommendation
of the Royal Commission on Infectious Hospitals,
in 1882, that the Asylums Board should have " entire control
of the ambulances, by which all other modes of conveyance
should be as far as possible superseded," has been carried out
by the establishment of ambulance stations at three of
the Managers' Hospitals (the eastern at Homerton, the
South-eastern at Deptford, and the Western at Fulham),
under the provisions of the now repealed 16th Section of the
Poor Law Act, 1879. It is intended shortly to provide
a fourth Station at Hampstead in the North-Western
District. Kensington patients are removed by the ambulance
staff at the western station, Seagrave Road,
Fulham. Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., on week-days, cases for
removal are reported at the Managers' Central Offices, Norfolk
House, Norfolk Street, Strand, w.C., these being in telephonic
communication with the Station.* During the night, and on
Sunday, application for a patient's removal is forwarded direct
to the Ambulance Station.
River service.—The Managers possess in their three
Ambulance Steamers, Red Cross, Maltese Cross, and Albert
Victor, together with the steam pinnace Swallow, a fleet
equal to all probable demands of small-pox when epidemic.
+ Telegraphic Address— "Asylums Board, London." Telephone number, 2587,