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49
Owing to the disbandment of the Auxiliary Ambulance Service, several ancillary
duties, hitherto undertaken by that service, had to be provided within the peacetime
organisation.
The Volunteer Car Pool, which had undertaken during the war the conveyance
of out-patients to and from hospitals, was disbanded on 31st July, 1945; and
arrangements were made under Ministry of Health circular 140/45 for this service to
be taken over by the Hospital Car Service with effect from 1st August, 1945.
In the County of London the British Red Cross Society is responsible for the
provision of the hospital car service for the conveyance of sitting patients attending
hospitals and clinics who need special transport other than a public conveyance.
Owing to the acute shortage of volunteers and cars, however, it was agreed
with the B.R.C.S. that all calls from the Council's hospitals in the London area
to the Hospital Car Service should be referred to the London Ambulance Service,
and only in the event of special urgency where no Council car was available, would
the British Red Cross Society be asked to provide necessary transport. After some
initial difficulties, owing to the number of ambulance vehicles under repair, the
arrangements worked satisfactorily and the London Ambulance Service was able
to meet all requirements.
At the request of the Ministry of Health (Circular 116/45), the Council provided
eight ambulances and twelve cars for inter-hospital removals, etc., following the
disbandment of the auxiliary ambulance service on 2nd July, 1945. From time
to time the number of vehicles has varied in accordance with the requirements
of the Emergency Medical Service. For example, on the disbandment of
the American Ambulance Great Britain Unit on 3rd November, 1945, the number
reached a maximum of 27 ambulances and 22 cars.
The Council authorised the provision by the London Ambulance Service of
transport, as required on behalf of the Ministry of Pensions, of seriously disabled
war patients, both ex-Service and others, requiring hospital and other forms of
treatment, who reside in the County of London, upon payment by the Ministry
at the rate of ls. a mile.
Incorporating the suggestion contained in Ministry of Health circular 70/45
that local authorities should include in their peace-time ambulance service a number
of motor cars which might be used for the transport of sitting patients, the Council
authorised the acquisition of 30 cars from former auxiliary ambulance service
vehicles for the conveyance of sitting patients, of domiciliary midwives when
public transport is not available and in cases of urgency, of district medical officers,
and for other purposes.
Owing to the mechanical deterioration of the vehicles of the regular ambulance
fleet, many of which are fifteen years old, and the length of time which must elapse
before new vehicles can be obtained, the Council decided to act on the Ministry
of Home Security circular 125/44 which authorised, inter alia, local authorities to
purchase auxiliary ambulances for their own peace-time use. For this purpose
125 Bedford auxiliary ambulances were acquired from the former auxiliary ambulance
service vehicles and these are being brought into service after considerable alterations
have been made, to adapt them for the needs of the regular London Ambulance
Service.
The Council extended reciprocal arrangements in respect of accident section
ambulances previously existing with the borough of Hornsey, to include the boroughs
of Finchley and Wood Green and the urban district of Friern Barnet on the operation
of a joint ambulance service by those four local authorities.
As an offset to the additional duties falling upon the London Ambulance
Service, it may be noted that the war-time responsibility for the maintenance and
operation of a fleet of vehicles to take physically handicapped children to and from
school was transferred to the education officer's department on 30th August, 1945.
Thus 1945 was a memorable year in the annals of the London Ambulance