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Vehicles—By the end of the year 136 of the new type Austin ambulances were in service
in replacement of Daimlers. Many modifications and improvements to the original
prototype were carried out and research continued into the possibility of further improvement.
The vehicle strength at 31.12.61 was:
Large ambulances 249
Single stretcher, sitting case ambulances 62
Sitting case cars 30*
Ambulance coaches 6
Mobile control unit for major accidents 1
Tenders 2
350
* Including four cars for the use of visiting officers.
Staff—The service is under the supervision of an Officer-in-Charge and is staffed by 28
administrative and clerical staff, 77 ambulance control clerks and 859 uniformed supervisory
and operative staff. Recruitment improved during 1961 and 185 new entrants successfully
completed the three weeks induction course at the London Ambulance Service training
school. However, wastage remained high and resulted in a deficiency of 40 ambulance
driver/attendants at the end of the year.
Award of resuscitation certificates—Three drivers were awarded the Royal Humane
Society's resuscitation certificate during the year.
First aid and diagnosis competition—An international competition, organised by the
Casualties Union, was won by the London Ambulance Service team. The competition
was in two parts, a first aid test and a diagnosis test; two cups, the Buxton International
Trophy and the Dawson Cup, were awarded.
Safe driving—66 per cent. of the 779 drivers who entered the National Safe Driving
Competition held by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 1960 gained
awards, 20 per cent. were disqualified and 14 per cent. were accounted for by resignations
and by exemption owing to prolonged sickness.
Civil Defence
In the course of the year the strength of the Ambulance and First Aid Section increased
from 1,678 to 1,895—539 persons were enrolled but 322 persons resigned.
The following courses were held during 1961:
New entrants 6
First aid 3
Ambulance section—part 1 9
Ambulance section—part 2 8
Driving and maintenance 12
Officer selection 6
First aid practical revision 4
After a total of 991 hours' instruction by the British School of Motoring 34 volunteers
passed the Ministry of Transport driving test. A total of 2,726 hours' driving practice on
various types of ambulance was put in by volunteers holding driving licences and 222 tests
were passed on such vehicles. Volunteers visit the Council's accident ambulance stations
to see casualty work at first hand and the number of such attendances in 1961 was 544,
covering 1,088 hours.
Members of the Section took part in a number of exercises and displays: in addition,
an internal competition between teams of the Ambulance and First Aid Section of the
County of London Division proved of great value.
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