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need of general medical treatment, will, of course, be referred to their
own doctor. A copy of the report on every old person attending the clinic
will be sent to the general practitioner concerned informing him of any
welfare action taken. Medicines will not be dispensed by the clinic.
Prevention is better than cure, and so our aim with the elderly should
be to maintain them active, interested and useful members of the community.
It is hoped that the Advisory Clinic will help in trying to achieve
this end.
(H) LABORATORY FACILITIES
The examination of clinical material of public health significance is
carried out free of cost to the patient and doctor at the Central Public
Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London, N.W.10., (Telephone No.
Colindale 7041). The clinical material is collected each day by a van sent
by the laboratory calling about mid-day at the Harrow Hospital and at
Kynaston Court. The following is a summary of the examinations of
material from this district carried out during the year:—
Nose and Throat Swabs 86
Faeces 125
Sputum 6
Others 5
(I) AMBULANCE SERVICE
The Accident and Sick Removal Branches of the service have now
been integrated and all vehicles and operational personnel are based
Primarily in one of the 10 depots. Number 6 depot is at Imperial Drive,
Rayners Lane, and Number 5, the County Headquarters for the
Ambulance Service is at The Mall, Kenton, (Telephone No. Dryden 0251).
Each depot has a small number of "satellite" stations at which some of the
ambulances and crews reserved for accidents and emergencies will be
located. Movement of all ambulances will be governed by an ambulance
control system based on the G.P.O. telephone system. Anyone requiring
an ambulance for an accident or an emergency will use the 999 or other
appropriate telephone system and be connected immediately to a control
which will direct the nearest available ambulance to attend.