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56
AMBULANCE SERVICE.
To the Medical Officer of Health.
I submit the Tenth Annual Report of the Croydon
Ambulance Service, for the year ended 31st December, 1951.
During the year the Service was called upon to deal with
46,019 calls, an increase of 486 over the previous year. In this
connection it should be noted that the calls for the year 1952 will
be appreciably less in number, due to a standardised definition of
"journey" as laid down in Ministry of Health circular 25/51,
which requires a return to be submitted showing details of
journeys, etc., but although the number of calls will be less the
same amount of work will be carried out, and in fact, judging by
the increase in the first five weeks of this year, the mileage covered
will be greater.
During the year some difficulty was experienced in conveying
all patients at the exact time, but the system was rearranged in
order to overcome these difficulties satisfactorily.
A new Daimler was delivered to the Service in July and has
proved satisfactory. Some of the ambulances are very old and
uneconomical to run and in addition spares are difficult to obtain.
It is hoped that these vehicles will be replaced in the near future.
In conclusion may I express my sincere thanks to the
Members of the Ambulance Sub-Committee and to the Medical
Officer of Health, for their help and encouragement which has
been of great assistance to me in the administration of the duties
of Chief Ambulance Officer.
A. L. HILL,
* Chief Officer.