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A Mechanized Force Against Suffering

23rd January 1948
Page 36
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Page 36, 23rd January 1948 — A Mechanized Force Against Suffering
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Country-tvide Conversion of Ex-Army Ambulances into Luxury Vehicles for Use by Local Voluntary

Organizations.

AT least one important national transport service may never be nationalized. The country-wide operation of ambulances—amounting to the magnitude of a public utility-has always been dependent upon a high degree of private enterprise, even s.; here vehicles have been run on behalf of local authorities,

In few services could flexibility, mobility and rapid action be of greater value. Voluntary operation, close support by paid staff and an appropriate measure of decentralization have in nearly all cases made these qualities available.

A 1918 Silver Lining

A large part in the whole system of maintenance of ambulances throughout Britain has been played for a quarter of a century by a great and growing organization known as the Home Ambulance Service. This body is directly concerned with the task of keeping local ambulances mobile throughout the country.

A department of the joint organization of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and the British Red Cross Society, this service grew out of a 1914-1918 war service of ambulance convoys. Station.; throughout Great Britain house over 1,000 ambulances, the responsibility of running, housing and maintaining them being undertaken mainly by voluntary workers. The object has been to put an ambulance within the reach of anyone who may need it, and this has been largely achieved.

Under the new National Health Service Act, agency arrangements will be permitted and will, no doubt, be encouraged, between local government and the voluntary organizations, so that the service is expected to continue to develop.

At Grosvenor Crescent, London, S.W.!, headquarters of the organization, the joint secretaries of the ambulance department told me that steady progress is being made in the large-scale conversion of ex-Army ambulances to modern, fully equipped civil types. Already, during the past two years a great number of conversions has been made, and all are based on a wealth of practical experience

Goc.d Ex-Army Austins

The Austin K2 2-ton chassis is the basis in every case, and only those are chosen which are in reasonably good trim as purchased and have not covered more than about 4,000 miles.

The service's own repair works, at Lots Road, Chelsea, is carrying out most of the general chassis renovation, whilst reputable outside concerns are responsible for shortening chassis for added manceuvrability, and for bodywork conversion. In many cases, however, the work is encouraged at county level.

General specifications are laid down for bodywork, 'out each of the several contractors may incorporate individual methods and styles. All concerns are experienced in the building of ambu e2

work.bodies, which is highly specialized ,, Mr. Munton, the maintenance engineer in charge at Lcrs Road, told me that this was the maintenance depot for th.e 25 or more headquarters (London) ambulances, as well as the float of about SO always ready for replacements to units. These figures are of necessity approximate, because the whole system is so mobile and elastic.

Replacements are . going out con stantly, just as worn-out, or partly incapacitated, vehicles are coming in, whilst establishments vary according to con dition of vehicles, The ambulances are of Commer, Austin, and Bedford makes.

With such widesptead service, fluctuation in vehicle strengths is inevitable, and, because reliability and perfection in an ambulance, both internally and externally, are vital, replacements are made in all doubtful cases, within the limits of present-day production.

Lots Road is aJso a holding and repairing depot for many of the ambulances to be converted as already described, including those destined for the London fleet itself.

" Conversion involves a great deal," said Mr. Munton, "because a WD, ambulance has many disadvantages for civil use."

He explained that, in the first place, appearance is of the greatest importance psychologically. Vividly remembering the inside of a W.D. ambulance, I heartily agreed.

Interior equipment is far from ideal in the W.D. vehicles and this is being replaced by a much-improved type. Floor height must be lowered, and full-width, solid steps provided at the rear.

Exhaust Dispersal Dispersal of exhaust-fumes must be properly carried out, The driver must be given adequate protection and comfort, including an adjustable seat and clear-vision windscreen. Ventilationand sound insulation have to be of a high standard.

I inspected a mixed bag of over 40 vehicles. Among them were unmodified W.D. ambulances still in drab and dirty khaki, and bearing the ominous red cross and white circle, small " utility " ambulances charitably presented during the war from various sources, " sq ua re-type " conversions, and the new semi-streamlined types.

The broad, sturdy rear step is an impressive feature, and on the semistreamlined type the sliding. mounting

for the spare wheel is practical and neat, being hidden by the -doors when closed. Driver comfort is good, and vision not obstructed by an inconveniently placed horizontal screen division. Workmanship throughout is excellent, and appearance is up to luxury coach standards.

Conditions are not ideal at Lots Road, as the workshops are in badly bombed premises, but there will be considerable expansion and improvement in the near future, when maintenance and conversion will be centralized with garage accommodation, which is at present at Bessborough Place, London, S.W.1, and full workshop and machine-shop plant will be installed. But great work is done with the existing plant, although not always under pleasant conditions when the weather is adverse.

Expert Drivers Only

Mr. Munton has been responsible for instituting a strict system of driving • tests since the war. Potential drivers are tested over a set route in London, which includes traffic driving and all normal difficulties. Marks are awarded according to detailed performances.

The Bessborough Place garage is responsible for running maintenance, such as greasing, topping-up and minor adjustments and repairs, whilst cleaning of the vehicles is constantly in progress. Disinfectant sprays are used when there has been the slightest chance of any infection from a case, but infectious cases are never carried intentionally. In London, the cases carried are all invalids. No accident cases are bandied except in the most unusual circum stances. London County Council ambulances attend to all accident ant infectious cases.

Maternity cases are not carried in the ordinary way, but at present the service is providing yehieles to replace certain Green Line coaches which were used by the Ministry of Health to take expectant mothers to outlying hospitals, but which have now been returned to service to meet present demands.

The permanent London fleet answers calls from the farthest parts of the country, as well a from the metropolis itself. Journeys down for a typical day were as follows: Eltham to Bath; Guy's Hospital to Pembut y, Westminster Children's Hospital to Arkley; Charterhouse Clinic to Dagenham; Fulham to Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton; and the " Royal Free" to Epping. There is at least one longdistance journey every day, usually to a hospital, sanatorium, seaport (for embarkation or disembarkation) or to a private address.—.I.D.M.


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