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Comparative figures for the years 1948 - 1950 are not given here, as the records for
these years were not in the standardised form of those for 1951 a^d 1952. There is no
doubt, however, that the demands on the Service greatly increased in the years 1948 and
1949. In 1950 the calls were showing a tendency to become fairly steady, especially in the
case of ambulances. It was during this year that the Council accepted the responsibility
for the inter-hospital transfer of patients from Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, to
Hillingdon House, Harlow, Essex, which necessitated an additional vehicle to the ambulance
strength. These transfers had previously been carried out by the ambulance retained by
the Hospital Management Committee. During 1951 the demands again began to rise, mainly
on the ambulance cars. The year 1952 saw rather an alarming increase in the demands; as
will be seen by the above table, the number of patients carried was 7,517 more than during
the previous year. Of this number, nearly 6,000 were carried by ambulance cars, and it
was only by very careful scheduling that the mileage was kept within bounds.
Every effort is made to keep the demands on the Service at a minimum. The closest
co-operation is maintained between officers of the local hospitals and officers of the
Health Department. Where difficulties arose, meetings were arranged between them, generally
with satisfactory results.
Despite the close co-operation between hospitals, local medical practitioners, and
the local health authority, the number of patients carried continued to increase. More and
more patients attend hospitals and clinics for out-patient treatment, and transport is only
provided on certificate from hospital or doctor. In the case of patients attending for long
courses of treatment, certificates for the need of transport are required at monthly
intervals. While it is not possible to view these trends with any reassurance, there has
been very little evidence of any abuse of the Service.
The only new type of vehicle brought into use in the Service is a multi-seater
ambulance car, which is used in conveying out-patients to and from London Hospital.
Towards the end of 1952 the Council agreed to accept an offer fop a short-wave radio
control system to be installed in their ambulances for a trial period. The results of this
trial are not yet available.
With the present divided control of the Ambulance Service, certain difficulties must
arise occasionally. These are not permitted to interfere with the smooth and efficient
running of the Service, which has been maintained since the appointed day.
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