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AMBULANCE FACILITIES.
Infectious Cases. The conveyance of cases of infectious
disease to hospital has always been undertaken by the Wandle
Valley Joint Hospital Board by means of their own vehicles and
staff.
Non-Infectious Cases. Accidents and cases of general
illness for removal to hospital have been the responsibility of
the Merton and Morden Council who provide this service free for
residents up to certain limits. The tabulated statement below
shows the scope of the work during the year 1947. The extent
of the use of the Council's Ambulance Service has steadily grown
as is shown by the statement of annual calls given below.
In the tabular analysis on this page, it will be seen that
this year we accepted 461 calls under the reciprocal arrangements
and transferred 226. While, therefore, we appear to have
given more than we have received under this reciprocal arrangement,
we do not underestimate the value to our residents of this
cover for periods when our own vehicles are engaged and the
fact that we have been able to assist a neighbour to maintain this
service to its public is a source of gratification. As this is the
last time that it will be our responsibility to record the work of
the ambulance service, I may be forgiven for introducing a more
personal note here on this occasion, to express the warm appreciation
of those of us responsible for the administration of the
service, to drivers and attendants who have consistently maintained
such a high standard. It has been a great source of
satisfaction to put on record from time to time the messages of
gratitude from the public whom they have served and it is
equally a matter for gratification to have this opportunity of
adding our own appreciation of their work.