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87
Staff
Award of
British Empire
Medal
Her Majesty the Queen was graciously pleased in Her 1952 Birthday Honours to award
the British Empire Medal to Driver F. W. Summerfield for his outstanding devotion to
duty during his 32 years' service in the accident and general sections of the London
Ambulance Service. The citation stated that his duties had always been carried out in
such a manner as to leave no doubt of his concern for the sick and injured. The Medal
was presented to him by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of London at an investiture
at the Countv Hall on 22nd October.
Award of
Meritorious
Conduct
Medal
The Council, in 1938, resolved that a silver medal should be awarded to any officer
or employee in the London Ambulance Service whose conduct in the execution of his
duty should be considered to be sufficiently meritorious. In July, 1952, Driver H. C.
Legon, headquarters station, supervised the removal of a workman who, whilst engaged
on the demolition of the Dome of Discovery on the Festival of Britain site, had been
trapped by a fallen wall 50 feet above ground where he could be reached only by way of
a broken staircase and a steel girder. The action taken by Driver Legon was considered
by the Council to merit the award of the medal, which was presented to him on
28th October by the Chairman of the Health Committee.
Recruitment
I stated in my Annual Report for the year 1951 that owing to the continued difficulty
in obtaining suitable male ambulance drivers to fill vacancies, the Health Committee
had authorised the recruitment, in a temporary capacity, of women ambulance drivers
and by the end of that year 30 women had been so engaged, resulting in a total increase
in the numbers of operative staff from 628 to 699. During 1952 the standard of candidates
seeking employment showed a considerable improvement, with the result that wastage
due to retirements and resignations was more than made good and the total number of
operative staff employed rose by the end of the year to 692, including 45 women;
54 of those employed were temporary reliefs engaged to take the place of those absent
owing to sickness or on annual leave. All new entrants to the operative staff are required
to obtain a recognised qualification in first-aid to the injured, normally within six months
of engagement, and receive an additional 6s. a week for holding the qualification.
They are then examined orally and practically by a medical officer on the staff of the
department to ensure their competence.
Wage
increases
Members of the operative staff received increases of 1½d. an hour with effect from
28th February, 1952, and Id. an hour with effect from 27th November, 1952, which
were authorised by the Council in accordance with a recommendation of the National
Joint Council for Local Authorities' Services (Manual Workers) and an award of the
Industrial Disputes Tribunal, respectively, thus resulting in a basic wage of a driver
qualified in first-aid of 147s. a week. This wage could be enhanced by payments for
shift, Sunday and stand-by duties. The Council also adopted further recommendations
of the National Joint Council regarding the payment of subsistence allowances, the
effects being (a) an increase from 17s. 6d. to 20s. for absence on duty necessitating
absence from home for a period of 24 hours and (b) an increase from 2s. to 2s. 6d. and
from 5s. to 6s. for absence from the usual place of employment of five and under nine
hours, and of nine hours and over, respectively.
Running
repairs
allowance
The revised occupation groupings for motor drivers approved by the National Joint
Council with effect from March, 1949, and adopted by the Council, made no provision
for the extra payment for drivers qualified in running repairs, which had been payable
under the former grading of motor drivers. The running repairs test was, therefore,
suspended but after negotiation the allowance of 3s. a week was restored to those drivers
who had passed the test prior to its suspension. In October, 1951, the test was re-instituted
and the Council approved, with certain provisos, the payment of the allowance to
drivers who passed the test.
Uniform
In September, 1952, a new scale of issue of uniform to members of the operative
staff was approved whereby the period of replacement of some items of uniform was
extended and a cheaper overcoat provided. It had been the practice for some years to