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
London County Council 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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45
LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE
Particulars of the normal ambulance service will be found in the Annual
Report of the Council for 1937, Vol. IV, Part I. Owing to the growing political
tension during 1938, a considerable development of the service took place during
the year.
Authority for the temporary installation and maintenance of ten additional
exchange lines to the switchboard at the headquarters of the London Ambulance
Service has been continued until such time as the installation of a "Turret" system
switchboard can be effected.
The enlargement of the petrol-charging area at the Western Ambulance Station
has been approved.
Air raid
precautions
Recruiting for the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service commenced in March,
1938, following an appeal by the Home Secretary for volunteers for A.R.P. duty.
Preliminary arrangements for the training of volunteers were approved by the
Council on 5th April, 1938.
Prior to the international crisis in September, 1938, 130 volunteers had been
enrolled, but during the period of the crisis, 1,250 applications were received and by
31st December the total number had reached 1,964.
The training of volunteers included, apart from driving practice with heavy
vehicles, instruction in first aid to the injured and anti-gas precautions. For training
purposes approval was given to the seconding of fourteen ambulance station officers
to act as instructors. The resultant vacancies were filled by the up-grading of fourteen
ambulance drivers to the position of ambulance station officer.
Staff
The following is a statement of the number of stall employed at accident and general section stations as at 31st December, 1938:—
Table 51—
| Grade | Permanent | Temporary | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superintendent | 1 | - | 1 |
| Ambulance station officers | 18 | - | 18 |
| Acting ambulance station officers for A.R.P. purposes (14 positions authorised) | 13 | - | 13 |
| Drivers, Grade H | 74 | 8 | 82 |
| „ F (i) | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| „ E (i) | - | 6 | 6 |
| Not graded | 1 | — | 1 |
| Attendants, Grade H | 64 | 2 | 66 |
| „ F (i) | 17 | 3 | 20 |
| Total | 190 | 21 | 211 |
Table 52
| Superintendents | Senior ambulance clerks (men) | Ambulance clerks (men) | Operative staff | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | Drivers | Attendants | Drivers temporary | Washers & helpers. Not graded | ||||
| H | 142 | 5 | 8 | |||||
| 6 | 6 | 23 | F (i) | 11 | 11 | - | 1 | 249 |
| 5 temp. | E (i) | 4 | — | 9 | ||||
| Not graded | 17 | 1 | - | |||||
The fixed establishment of operative staff is: 1 superintendent (accident
section), 18 ambulance station officers, and 379 drivers and attendants.
The Council, on 26th July, 1938, agreed to the award of a silver medal to any
officer or employee in the London Ambulance Service when conduct in the execution
of his duties is considered to be sufficiently meritorious.
Vehicles
The number of vehicles in commission is as follows: 153 ambulances, 20
ambulance omnibuses, 2 staff cars, and 1 ambulance tender.