View report page

ANNEX A
METHODS OF CALLING AN AMBULANCE
(1) Accidents (wherever occurring) and sudden illness (in the streets, public places or places
of employment).—For the conveyance to hospital of persons meeting with accidents
(in the home or elsewhere) or suffering from sudden illness (in the streets, public places
or places of employment) within the County of London. The ambulance may be called
by private, public or police telephone; full instructions are given in every telephone
box. Where the dialling system is in operation ' 999 ' should be dialled and the
operator asked for ' Ambulance'. No charge is made for the use of the telephone if the
call is made from a public call-box.
(2) Very urgent illness at home.—For the conveyance of sick persons from their homes
to hospital, provided a doctor certifies that the case is one of top priority and that
arrangements have been made with a hospital for the patient's admission. Application
should be made to one of the following telephone numbers:—WATerloo 6000,
NEW Cross 2645, RELiance 3622, CENtral 6301 or REGent 4000.
(3) Maternity cases.—For the removal of maternity cases to hospitals etc. Normally,
if the expectant mother has booked a bed at a hospital or nursing home, she is in
possession of a white card (Form L.A.S. 23) confirming the booking arrangements and
giving full instructions for summoning the ambulance. Where no previous arrangements
have been made, however, the London Ambulance Service cannot accept direct
applications for removal to hospital except in the case of emergencies occurring in the
street or other public place, when the procedure as in (1) above should be followed.
In all other cases application should be made by a doctor or midwife to the Emergency
Bed Service, telephone No. HOP 7181.
(4) Other illness.—For the removal to and from hospitals etc. of sick persons,
provided the ambulance is ordered by the hospital authority, by the Emergency Bed
Service or, in certain circumstances, by a private doctor. Application should be made in
writing or by telephoning WATerloo 3311.
(5) Analgesia apparatus.—For the delivery to addresses within the County of London
of analgesia apparatus. Orders for this service are normally accepted only from the
Council's domiciliary midwives.
(6) Arrangements in North Woolwich.—The West Ham Ambulance Service undertakes,
on behalf of the London County Council, ambulance work in the two parts of
the Borough of Woolwich, which he north of the River Thames and the procedure
for obtaining ambulance service in these areas is as follows :—
For accidents (wherever occurring) and for sudden illness (in the streets, public
places or places of employment)—As in (1) above.
For booked maternity cases and very urgent illness in the home—Telephone
GRAngewood 9621.
For all other removals.—Telephone GRAngewood 4477.
86