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65
PART VI
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
Under the National Health Service Act, 1946, control of this
service passed to the County Council on the 5th July, 1948, and,
therefore, this report covers the first half-year only.
A 24-hour service was maintained for the conveyance of noninfectious
sickness or accident cases to hospitals or clinics for
treatment. Maternity cases were also dealt with upon request, no
prior notification being required.
No charge was made to Tottenham residents for the use of the
ambulance within the district. The service was also provided
free of charge for the conveyance of cases to hospitals within the
Metropolitan Police Area, but a fee of 5s. Od. was payable for
return journeys. A reduced charge of 2s. 6d was made with
respect to the North Middlesex Hospital, which is situated in the
adjoining Borough of Edmonton.
A fleet of six ambulances was used to operate the service, but
the age of some of the vehicles, and the difficulty of obtaining spare
parts, made it difficult to keep all the vehicles in commission.
Nevertheless, by the careful arrangement of timetables for the
routine treatment cases, it was possible to provide an efficient
service at all times, and for an immediate response to be made to
all urgent calls.
The first of three new Austin " Welfarer " Ambulances
ordered in May, 1947, was delivered and put into service on the
3rd February, replacing vehicle AMD 836, which had been in
continuous service since 1933.