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NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACT, 1946
Section 22 - Care of Mothers and Young Children.
Section 23 - Midwifery.
Section 2k - Health Visiting.
Section 25 - Home Nursing.
Particulars of the work carried out u&der the above-mentioned sections is included in the
Maternity and Child Welfare Section, see pages to.
Section 26 - Vaccination and Immunisation* - see pages 6, 7 and 8.
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Section 27 - Ambulance.- From the commencement of the year to 4th July 1948, the bulk of the
Council's accident and emergency ambulance service was carried out by a private contractor®
On the introduction of the National Health Service on the 5th July, the responsibility
for ensuring that ambulance transport was available, without charge, for all persons for whom
the need arose within the Borough, became the duty of the Council. This meant the inauguration
of a completely new scheme to include the work previously carried out by hospital ambulances.
The service is at present run entirely by the Council, and is administered by the Health
Department. The organisation, broadly, is in two sections - (1) the ambulances deployed at fire
stations and the transport depot, under the operational control of the Chief Officer of the Fire
Brigade; and (2) the sitting-case cars provided by the Borough Engineer, from the Council's
passenger fleet, and operationally directed by the Ambulance Officer from the Health Department.
The vehicles used comprise ten ambulances, and twelve cars which are also used for other
purposes, but obtained when required. All maintenance and servicing is carried out by the
Borough Engineer's Department.
Reciprocal arrangements have been agreed upon with neighbouring authorities, namely East
Ham County Borough, Essex County Council and London County Council® In addition, an agency
arrangement is in operation with the London County Council for the provision of ambulance service
in that part of Woolwich which is north of the Thames. (This arrangement ensures the speedy removal
of patients from an area not readily accessible to the London County Council's ambulances).
Special arrangements have also been made with the London County Council for the removal
of patients suffering from small-pox or typhus fever®
As was to be expected, there was a decided increase in the demand for ambulance transport.
During the period 5th July - 31st December 1948, the number of patients carried by ambulances
was 8,475, and by sitting-case cars 2,137.
Section 28 - Prevention of Illness,, Care and After-Care.
(l) Tuberculosis* Responsibility for providing treatment for tuberculous patients passed
to the Regional Hospital Board as from 5th July.
The Council's services for the prevention of tuberculosis, and the care and after-care of
persons suffering from this disease were continued.
The visiting staff at the Chest Clinic before the 5th July consisted of three T.B. Health
Visitors; of this staff two were retained by the Council. It was proposed to employ four Social
Workers in connection with T.B. after-care work, but unfortunately it was not possible to obtain
the services of suitably qualified persons.
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