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36
Establishment of Vehicles. The Ambulance Service fleet will comprise
a maximum number of 250 vehicles (including ambulances, onestretcher
dual purpose and sitting-case vehicles) of which a minimum of
120 ambulances capable of carrying two or more stretchers will be required
to provide an adequate service.
Driver/Attendants. The County Council will ensure that, as far
as possible all ambulance drivers and attendants shall hold one of the
first-aid certificates approved from time to time by the National Joint
Council for Local Authorities Services (Manual Workers) for the purpose
of first-aid qualifications pay.
Mutual Assistance. The following arrangements for mutual assistance
have been made with Local Health Authorities of areas adjoining
the County and will be continued under the present proposals:—
(a) With regard to accident and emergency calls, the Authority
receiving the call deals with it irrespective of County boundaries,
unless it is clear that there is an ambulance on the other side of
the boundary which is nearer and can reach the case sooner.
(b) Calls for the removal of non-urgent sick cases are referred to the
County from whose area the call comes.
Hospital Car Service. The County Council will continue the
arrangements with the Hospital Car Service organised by the voluntary aid
societies whereby a number of cases are transported by the Hospital Car
Service on payment by the Council
Hire of Ambulances. The County Council proposes to continue
the arrangements whereby ambulances are hired from the local branches of
the British Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Brigade for
the transport of suitable cases as and when necessary.
Hire of Vehicles. The County Council will continue to hire coaches
and cars from private firms when necessary for the transport of sitting
cases.
Railway Transport. In accordance with the original proposals,
the County Council has made arrangements with the railway authorities
for the transport of patients where very long journeys are involved. The
County Council proposes to continue these arrangements and also those
with the British Red Cross Society for the provision of escorts when
required. These arrangements provide, inter alia, for the reimbursement
of the out-of-pocket expenses of the escorts.