London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Twickenham 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]

This page requires JavaScript

8
SECTION B.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES.
Laboratory Facilities.
As each of the four districts had made arrangements with different laboratories for the
bacteriological examinations, it was decided to send all specimens to the Pathological Department
at Richmond Hospital. This unified service has been entirely satisfactory, delay in transmission
has been avoided and the reports have been received promptly.
Ambulance Service.
The arrangements for the provision of the ambulance service differed somewhat in each
of the districts now comprising the Borough.
In the Twickenham area two motor ambulance vehicles were stationed at the fire station
and staffed by the fire brigade. In the Teddington district, one motor ambulance was stationed
at the Teddington fire station and staffed by the fire brigade. At Hampton, one motor ambulance
stationed at the Council offices, was staffed by a part-time. and voluntary personnel.
At Hampton Wick there was no ambulance, the services of the Kingston-on-Thames
ambulance being requisitioned when necessary.
The service has been reorganised in the following manner:—
The Hampton ambulance was transferred to Twickenham. In consequence, three
ambulances are now stationed at the Twickenham fire station and one at Teddington.
The arrangement for the use of the Kingston ambulance has been terminated and all
ambulances are now maintained at fire stations and staffed by the fire brigade, the Medical
Officer of Health being responsible for the administration of the service.
The scales of contribution, which differed in each area, have been unified.

Following is a table of the use of the ambulances during 1937. As the figures in all the areas are not available, it is not possible to give comparative figures for the preceding year.

Year 1937.Total calls.Patients carried.Mileage
1st quarter2842771509.7
2nd quarter3163082308.7
3rd quarter3613472042.3
4th quarter3062911747.2
1,2671,2237607.9

Nursing in the Home.
There are 5 home-nursing associations in the Borough, employing nurses as follows:—
Twickenham Nursing Association, four nurses.
Teddington District Nurse Fund, one nurse.
Hampton Nursing Association, one nurse.
Hampton Hill Nursing Association, one nurse.
Hampton Wick Nurse and Dispensing Fund, one nurse.
Each association is a separate voluntary organisation under the management of its own
Committee.
The total sum subscribed by the four councils of the areas of these associations during
the year was £176 5s. 0d.
At a joint meeting of representatives of all the associations, various points were considered
with a view to securing uniformity of service, a more equal distribution of nursing staff, and the
interchange of nurses in emergency.
These points were accepted generally by all the associations, who also agreed to co-opt
one representative of the Town Council on the Committee of each association.
Nursing of Infectious Cases.
All the associations have agreed to undertake the home nursing of expectant and nursing
mothers, and of children under five years of age, including cases of the following diseases:
Pneumonia, Measles, Whooping Cough, Ophthalmia Neonatorum, and Puerperal Pyrexia.