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LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE
since the inception of the National Health Service, the pressure of work has
increased annually and resources are being taxed to the fullest extent to cope with the
heavy demands. A full statistical analysisis shown on page 91 but the following comments
underline the main trends.
In 1955, the percentage increases in the number of patients carried and mileage
covered by the general section of the Service, as compared with the previous year,
were 6.5 per cent, and 1.4 per cent, respectively. Whilst efforts are continually being
made to achieve the most efficient use of the Service, by the combination of orders and
reduction of mileage per patient, there are limits to such possibilities. It was not found
economical to extend much further the decentralization arrangements mentioned in
the 1954 Report, although those in operation continued to relieve the strain on the
control room at Headquarters and fostered close contact between certain hospitals and
their appropriate ambulance stations. In some cases the periods during which vehicles
were stationed at various hospitals were extended by agreement with the hospital
transport officers.
From 12th August, responsibility was undertaken for providing transport, outside
normal office hours and on Saturdays and Sundays, for mentally deficient adults and
children to be taken to various hospitals and homes.
Rail
rtansport
The responsibility for the payment of rail fares formed the subject of correspondence
and discussion at the beginning of the year between the Council, the County Councils'
Association, and the Ministry of Health, as a result of which the number of patients
for whom the Council now pays rail fares has decreased. Thus, whilst the number of
patients eligible for free rail transport was 5,867 during 1954, it fell to 3,466 in 1955.
The total number of persons for whom ambulance-train-ambulance arrangements
were made (including those persons who were not eligible for free rail transport) was
of course considerably higher and there is no doubt that hospital authorities are now
more appreciative of the advantages of rail transport over long distances. Since London
has many specialist hospitals a considerable number of orders are received from other
local health authorities for patients to be met at railway termini, conveyed to hospital,
and returned to the station later the same day. In view of the limitation of resources of
men and vehicles, particularly at peak periods, these journeys, which involve precise
timing, have to be given a disproportionate degree of preference as compared with
others which would, otherwise, be considered to have a higher priority. During the
year the continual efforts made to limit the number of 'lost' journeys resulted in a
reduction in 'wasted' mileage from 1.56 per cent, of total mileage covered by the
general section in 1954 to 1.33 per cent, in 1955.
Emergency
calls
Pressure on the accident section has been slightly relieved by the addition of the
second new ambulance station to be established since the war, but the total number of
calls showed another increase over the previous year. On December 23rd a record
number of 481 calls was received during the 24 hours. On that day the peak period
occurred between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. during which time 191 calls were received, and
another 'peak' was experienced during the first hour of Christmas Day when 55 calls
were recorded.
During the year, 2,369 calls were received at the Headquarters control room
describing emergencies in which it was clear that medical assistance rather than ambulance
transport was required. In these cases, the caller was advised to summon the patient's
general practitioner or was given particulars of other local medical practitioners who
might be called upon.
Ancillary
services
The ever-mcreasing demand tor ambulance transport was reflected not only m the
statistics showing the work undertaken by the directly-provided Service but also in
those relating to the ancillary services. During 1955, the measure of relief afforded by
these latter services was particularly significant at a time when the London Ambulance
Service was experiencing recruiting difficulties and was particularly hard pressed in
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