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35
The following is a summary of the examinations of material from this
district carried out during the year Nose and Throat swabs, 107; Faeces,
299; Sputum, 21; Miscellaneous, 10.
AMBULANCE SERVICE
The following is an extract from a report of the Clerk of the County
Council of March 1961, about the revised proposals for the Ambulance
Service :—
Chain of Responsibility. In accordance with the proposals approved
by the Minister of Health on the 17th August, 1959, the Ambulance
Service is being separated from the Fire Service. The County Council
will continue to administer the Ambulance Service through the Health
Committee. The Health Committee in turn will refer matters relating to
the service either to an ad hoc sub-committee or to a sub-committee
dealing with other aspects of the health services. The County Medical
Officer of Health will be responsible to the Health Committee for the
service, assisted by a County Ambulance Officer who will advise him on
operational matters. The County Ambulance Officer is assisted by a
number of operational officers. Adminstrative matters relating to the
Ambulance Service will be integrated so far as possible with other services
of the Health Department. Integration of the Accident and Sick Removal
Branches of the Service. Under the proposals approved in 1950, the
Ambulance Service has been divided into two branches—the accident
branch based mainly on fire stations and using the fire service system of
communication, and the sick removal branch based on ten depots. Of
these, No. 6 is at Imperial Drive, Rayners Lane and No. 5 at The Mall,
Kenton, (Telephone No. Dryden 0251), the latter becoming the County
headquarters for the Ambulance Service. It is proposed to integrate the
two branches of the service and all vehicles and operational personnel will
be based primarily at the depots, each of which will have a small number
of "satellite" stations at which some of the ambulances and crews reserved
for accidents and emergencies will be located.
Communications. A communications system is to be provided for
the ambulance service which will be quite separate from that of the fire
service, and the movement of all ambulances will be governed by an
ambulance control system operated by personnel specially appointed to
the ambulance service. Communications will be based on the G.P.O.
telephone system and a large number of private telephone lines will be
rented. Anyone requiring an ambulance for an accident or emergency
will use the "999" or other appropriate emergency telephone system and
will be connected immediately to a control which will direct the nearest
available ambulance to attend.