London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton and Morden 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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Merton and Morden whereby calls are transmitted by one
Authority to the nearest available, when the ambulance is
already out. These reciprocal arrangements to be free between
the authorities concerned. The scope of the work undertaken
by our ambulance is as shown below:—
AMBULANCE CALLS.
| Month | Calls received from Public | Calls received from neighbouring Brigades | Total Calls Received | Calls transferred to other Brigades | Calls answered by Own Ambulance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. | 100 | 7 | 107 | 3 | 104 |
| Feb. | 108 | 7 | 115 | 9 | 106 |
| March | 118 | 11 | 124 | n | 113 |
| April | 108 | 9 | 117 | 8 | 109 |
| May | 111 | 4 | 115 | 13 | 102 |
| June | 95 | 6 | 100 | 7 | 93 |
| July | 101 | 19 | 120 | 11 | 109 |
| Aug. | 89 | 45 | 134 | 8 | 120 |
| Sep. | 121 | 30 | 151 | 13 | 138 |
| Oct. | 107 | 34 | 141 | 12 | 129 |
| Nov. | 132 | 64 | 196 | 23 | 173 |
| Dec. | 144 | 8 | 152 | 18 | 134 |
| Total | 1329 | 243 | 1572 | 136 | 1436 |
Time taken in executing the calls (from
leaving Station to return) 1,165 hours
Mileage covered 11,614 miles
Average time per call 43.5 minutes
Average distance per call 7.3 miles
The Volunteer Car Pool established during the war by
the W.V.S. has been continued under the auspices of the
British Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Brigade and is
now called the Hospital Car Service.
The service continues to cater for ambulance patients who
are required to attend out-patient departments of hospitals
for treatment. Work continues on a voluntary basis and the
transport is provided by public spirited persons who put themselves
and their vehicles at the disposal of the organisation.
A charge of 3d. per mile is made to'cover partly the actual
running cost. This cost is met by the Council for residents
in the district. These arrangements are a most valuable
extension of the ambulance facilities provided in the district.
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