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since a large proportion of the increase is accounted for by the marked rise in the
number of patients conveyed to and from hospital for out-patient treatment,
among the most successful of these measures are the arrangements, to which
reference has already been made, under which ambulances are stationed at hospitals
and operated during specified periods by transport officers appointed by the hospital
authorities.
Analgesia
apparatus
An increasing number of requests are being received, also, for the use of the
analgesia apparatus provided by the Council for parturient women being confined
in their own homes. This apparatus is located at accident ambulance stations and
the number of sets has been increased in order to ensure that, upon receipt of a call,
the apparatus can be delivered without delay at any address within the County.
Enlargement
of fleet
Steps have been taken also to increase the number of men and vehicles available
for both emergency and general work and at the Headquarters Station a
"flying squad" of ambulances has been established to provide, from day to day, a
reserve of vehicles and men to relieve those of the general ambulance stations at
which the pressure of work is greatest.
Removals
by train
When the Council was itself a hospital authority, experience gained over many
years showed that, when a patient had to travel a long distance (e.g., to a distant
sanatorium, etc.), satisfactory arrangements could be made with the railway
authorities for the major portion of the removal to be carried out by train when
the condition of the patient permitted and rail transport would be quicker and
more comfortable than a long journey by road. With the co-operation of the present
hospital administrations and their medical officers, these arrangements have continued
to be made in appropriate cases. Reserved accommodation is arranged on
the train and ambulance transport is provided as necessary at each end of the rail
journey. Not only is the appreciable shortening thus achieved of the time taken for
the overall journey a significant factor in minimising the fatigue occasioned to the
patient but the saving gained in vehicles and manpower affords valuable relief to
the ambulance service.
New type
of
ambulance
It may be of interest to include here a brief reference to the new type of
ambulance which has now been accepted as standard for the London Ambulance
Service.
At the end of the 1939-45 war it was apparent that there was an urgent need
to replace a large number of the vehicles in the ambulance fleet, many of which
were more than 10 years old.
The Council's technical officers gave much time and thought to the design of
an ambulance which would provide the maximum comfort for the patient.
Eventually, after many trials and experiments, a prototype was evolved. Trade
enquiries drew from a well known firm of manufacturers of motor vehicles an
offer to produce an ambulance which would embody practically every feature of
the Council's prototype, including the requirements regarded as essential by a
Working Party which had been appointed to advise the Minister of Health on this
same subject.
The result of these co-operative efforts was the production of an ambulance
which has now been adopted by the Council as standard for the London Ambulance
Service. An example of this ambulance was exhibited at the Commercial Motor
Show at Earl's Court, London, in October, 1948, and at the British Motor Show in
New York in April, 1950.
The salient features of the new vehicle are low loading; a roomy, well
equipped and easily cleaned interior; a high-powered engine; fluid transmission;
a pre-selective gearbox and an off-set transmission shaft. These features, combined
with excellent suspension, including independently sprung front wheels, give
smooth, comfortable and silent riding for both patients and crew.