View report page

The greatest demand upon the service is still that of conveying patients to and
from hospital out-patient clinics. This work is now running much more smoothly following
consultations between officers of hospitals and of the Health Department.
During the year the Council accepted the responsibility for the inter-hospital
transfer of patients from Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, to Hillingdon House, Harlow,
Essex. The transfer of these patients had previously been carried out by the ambulance
retained and run by the West Ham Group Hospital Management Committee
This new commitment necessitated an increase of the ambulance strength from ten to
eleven ambulances, but it was found possible, by making some adjustments in the availability
of certain ambulances, to operate the additional ambulance without increasing the manpower
strength of the service.
Reciprocal arrangements with neighbouring authorities, i.e. East Ham County Borough,
Essex County Council and London County Council,continue to work satisfactorily.
SECTION 28: PREVENTION OP ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE.
1. tublr:ulosis»
The Council's tuberculosis services received an accession of strength early in the
year from the appointment of Mr*N,Forward as a Social Worker, Though the greater part of
his time is devoted to the interests of tuberculous patients, he is also available for care
and after-care work in any field, Mr.Forward has the distinction which it is rather rare
to find in a man* of possessing the full qualification of the Institute of Almoners? his
report, which is printed below, shows clearly that he knows how to make every bit as good
a use of it as do his feminine colleagues.
(a) Work of the Tuberculosis Health Visitors. During the year the Tuberculosis Health
Visitors employed by the Council made 3,^27 domiciliary visits and attended 321 sessions
at the Chest Clinic. The volume of work has increased considerably - over 1,100 additional
domiciliary visits being made in 1950 as compared with 1949-
The work of this staff, who carry out their duties from the Chest Clinic, has proved
most valuable. Patients are advised on the hygienic measures necessary for their own
health and for the protection of others; the health and social conditions of the patient's
family are tactfully investigated in order that assistance may be given when possible, and
contacts are encouraged to attend the Chest Clinic for examination.
39