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34
The average time for an ambulance to attend a call has
remained substantially the same at 4 minutes 25 seconds, in spite
of the fact that new drivers have had to be trained who are not
so familiar with the roads in the district as the older members.
On numerous occasions during the past year the Croydon
Ambulance Service has been requested by neighbouring Boroughs
to stand by for accident calls.
Three private cars and one breakdown van have been commissioned
for the Service, and have proved of great value. In
addition, one Buick ambulance obtained from the Civil Defence
on their disbandment is being used for the conveyance of anteand
post-rratal cases to and from Mayday Hospital and St.
Mary's.
The ambulance at the Borough Isolation Hospital has now
come under the control of this Service. The ambulance is still,
however, maintained at the Borough Hospital, although the
drivers are interchangeable with the other personnel.
One other innovation is the introduction of the 8-hour shift
system for officers and men at the Stations, and this is working
satisfactorily.
Our system of "flagging" accident calls on a special map
has been maintained, and from this I am able to derive the
following figures showing the comparison between 1944 and 1945
at the various "Black-spots" in the Borough:
1944. 1945.
District 1.
(Mayday Road to Bensham Lane) 73 30
District 2.
(George Street to "Davis Theatre." and
Crown Hill) 143 98
District 3.
("Swan and Sugar Loaf" to "Red
Deer") 86 27
District 4.
(High Street, South Norwood and Portland
Road) 82 41
District 5.
(North End, Croydon, from Tamworth
Road to Kennards, North End) (no record 48
in 1944)
and districts adjacent to these spots.