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replaced by larger up-to-date Units. In fact, the present set of plans
which have been recently approved only allow for the retention
of the six existing main Ward Blocks, the Administrative Block at
the front of the Hospital and the main Nurses' Home. This Scheme
is virtually the equivalent of supplying a new 300-bedded Hospital
for Ilford.
Part of the War Memorial Grounds has now been acquired which
will allow the majority of the proposed development to be carried out
without having to demolish buildings in advance. This will obviously,
reduce the number of stages in the building programme and, even
more important, avoid the major disruption of existing services.*
Psychiatric Hospitals. — There are two large Psychiatric Hospitals
in the district, the Goodmayes Hospital, with 64 Besident Staff and 1,306
patients (males 588, females 718), and Claybury Hospital, with 183 Besident
Staff and 2,038 patients (males 829, females 1,209) in residence on 30th
June, 1961. '(These Hospitals are Groups 21 and 20 respectively of the
North East Metropolitan Begional Hospital Board.)
Other Institutions. — Australasian Medical Unit (Dr. Barnardo's
Homes), Barkingside, has 60 beds in the Hospital and on 30th June, 1961,
there were 31 Besident Staff and 34 patients.
Nursing Homes. — There are 2 private registered Nursing Homes in
the district for medical and senile cases.
All Nursing Homes in the district are visited by the Medical Officer
of Health and the Chief Public Health Inspector(or their deputies) quarterly
and at other times when necessary.
(x) AMBULANCE FACILITIES: COUNTY AMBULANCE SERVICE.
The County Ambulance Service is provided and administered centrally
by the Essex County Council.
An Ambulance Control at Ilford deals with all requests for ambulance
transport arising in the whole of the Metropolitan Area of Essex. The
Control is manned continuously, is in direct contact with all Ambulance
Stations in the Metropolitan Area of the County and with the Divisional
Control at Chelmsford. The Control which is equipped with two-way radio,
is also in direct communication with ambulance vehicles operating in
the area.