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11
AMBULANCE FACILITIES
The South Middlesex and Richmond Fever Hospital has
ambulances for the conveyance of infectious diseases.
The Richmond Council have two ambulances for accident
and removal cases, together with an Austin Utility vehicle
originally presented to the Council by Mrs. Reynolds Veitch.
These three vehicles are located at the Technical Institute,
Kew Road. Covered accommodation is available for two of the
vehicles and the personnel are housed in a small part of the
ground floor of the Institute.
Twelve whole-time driver-attendants are employed to operate
the service; this number includes a Station Officer and five
women.
The two ambulance vehicles are very old and for this reason
are rather frequently undergoing repair. One new Austin
ambulance has been ordered.
Even so, a satisfactory service has been maintained although
the number of calls continues to increase each year. Reciprocal
mutual-aid arrangements exist with surrounding Boroughs and
it will be seen from the table that calls were answered for other
Authorities on 83 occasions.
During the year the Council purchased a Minnitt Gas-Air
Anaesthetic apparatus for the use of the District Midwives in the
homes of their patients.
The apparatus is kept at the Ambulance Station and, at the
request of a midwife, it is delivered to the patient's home and
collected when no longer required.
All the District Midwives have been instructed in its use
and it is of real benefit to mothers who are confined in their own
homes.
The following table shows the continued increase in the
work of the Richmond Ambulance Service:—