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primarily as a time-saving method of passing information between general ambulance
stations and headquarters control, but it was hoped that with the general spread of this
system it would provide a valuable means of communication with major hospitals and
with other ambulance services.
Major incidents are fortunately very few in number—the outstanding one of the past
decade being the Lewisham disaster in 1957, when two trains collided in dense fog and
85 people died as a result. In all 223 casualties were removed by ambulance, the last vehicle
leaving the scene of the disaster 60 hours after its occurrence. Arising from this disaster
existing plans of the hospitals and other authorities for dealing with these emergencies
were reviewed and these have been amended from time to time to suit changing circumstances.
The plans provide for close co-operation between the Ambulance Service and
hospital authorities, the London Fire Brigade and the Police. Since 1951 a mobile control
vehicle has been maintained at headquarters. This is designed to serve as a mobile control
room with radio communications with Headquarters Control, as well as 'walkie/talkies'
enabling officers to maintain control while moving about the scene of an incident. It
carries, in addition, a considerable supply of reserve equipment (see Annex).
Agency services—In addition to the services directly provided by the Council, services
under agency arrangements have continued to be given by the Hospital Car Service and the
Joint Committee of St. John and the British Red Cross. The latter having indicated their
wish to hand over to the Council, negotiations to this end were opened during the year.
Vehicles
As previously stated, the ambulance fleet at the end of the war was in a run down
condition and the Council's officers gave much thought to the design of a suitable replacement
vehicle. A prototype vehicle was built under the direction of the Council's transport
officer in the Mechanical Works division of the Supplies department. Trade enquiries drew
from the Daimler Motor Company 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 appointed to advise the Minister of Health on the subject.
The Daimler, which became the standard vehicle in the London Ambulance Service and
for years was used also by many other services, set a new trend in ambulance design. Its
salient features were low loading; a spacious, well equipped and easily cleaned interior;
a high powered engine; fluid transmission; pre-selective gear box, off-set transmission
shaft; excellent suspension and independently sprung front wheels.
These vehicles gave excellent service, their only defects being lack of manoeuvrability
and heavy petrol consumption. It became apparent, however, that the Daimler Motor
Company would discontinue the manufacture of these vehicles and the need to provide an
alternative became a matter of urgency. During 1956 a fresh prototype ambulance was
designed in the Mechanical Works division of the Supplies department, which took
advantage of developing techniques in the use of resin bonded fibre glass for the manufacture
of vehicle bodies. While preserving the same low-loading level and providing
accommodation for patients comparable with that of the Daimler ambulances, the new
vehicle was smaller in over-all dimensions, lighter in weight and more economical in
operation. The Council authorised the production of these vehicles by direct labour in the
Supplies department and nine were in operation by the end of 1958. In due course they
replaced the Daimler ambulances entirely, the last Daimler being taken out of commission
in 1964. The vehicle strength at 31 December, 1964, was:
Large ambulances 264
Single stretcher, sitting case ambulances 104
Sitting case cars 18*
Ambulance coaches 6
Mobile control unit for major accidents 1
Tenders 2
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* Including four cars for the use of visiting officers.
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