View report page

10
consultant gynaecologist at the consultant ante-natal clinic. At the end
of the year then, 24 infant welfare clinics were being held in 12 premises,
14 ante-natal clinics (two fortnightly, the remainder weekly) at 12
addresses, and the equivalent of five weekly toddlers' sessions at 8
premises.
Consideration was given to the programme for the erection of clinic
buildings and, where necessary, approaches were made to other interested
parties.
AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
From early in the year the ambulances which, up to this, had been
accommodated at the Fire Stations of the district, have been housed at
Ruffles Garage, Wealdstone, which became the ambulance station for the
public health ambulances, the vehicles being manned by the civil defence
personnel attached to C.15 ambulance depot.
Of the five vehicles in the fleet, one was worn out and a decision was
taken in September to purchase a new ambulance.
Owing to difficulty in obtaining the help of midwives or maternity
nurses to accompany maternity cases removed, it was decided that the
rule by which such cases should be accompanied by midwives be relaxed
for the time being, it being understood that it should be adhered to where
possible, and that where the rule is departed from, a female attendant
will accompany the patient.
The following figures relate to the service for the past year:—
Traffic accidents 117
Other accidents, including street illnesses
Maternity removals 370
Sick removals to and from hospitals 3,180
Calls received, ambulance not required 61
Total calls for the year 4,239
Total mileage for year 46,109
Carried out for other authorities
PROVISION OF INSULIN.
Local Authorities were empowered by Section 133 of the Public
Health Act, 1875, with the approval of the Minister of Health, to arrange
for the supply of insulin in necessitous cases. By Circular 2734 of the
4th January, 1943, approval was given for insulin to be provided either
free of cost or at a reduced price to persons suffering from diabetes.
Under the National Health Insurance Acts an insured person, while
entitled to medical benefit, may obtain insulin free of charge if it is
prescribed or dispensed for him by his insurance practitioner. Under
the Poor Law Acts insulin may be provided as a part of medical relief
for any destitute person whose condition requires it. The sanction
authorised in Section 80 (1) of the Education Act, 1921, was extended so
as to enable all local Education Authorities, until the end of the war, to
supply insulin free or at reduced rates to all children and young persons
attending certain specified types of schools or educational institutions.
Not covered by these arrangements are some classes of person for whom
no public provision is made apart from Poor Relief, and who find the