Comfort for Seven Patients
Page 53
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THE absence of -a suitable vehicle to accommodate a number of sitting patients comfortably, , led the health committee of Worcestershire County Council to evolve a type that would seem to meet every requirement at a reasonable initial cost.
An Austin 25-cwt. chassis was chosen as the basis, and the final design was evolved through close collaboration between the technical staff of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd, and officers of the health department of the council. Although of modest dimensions, the body is laid out to provide maximum comfort for six sitting patients, a seventh having a seat beside the driver. By a simple rearrangement of the two centre seats, it is possible to carry one stretcher case in addition to the sitting
cases. The doors on each side of the body and at the rear are of 'generous width and when open are locked in position at an angle of 90 degrees, as, shown in an illustration.
Hand rails, which can be locked in the open or closed position, are fitted to the doorways, as well as wide, double non-skid folding steps. As a safety precaution, the side steps must always be lowered before the side doors an be opened, which can be done only from the outside.
To make riding easier for the patients, softer springs were fitted to the chassis, as well as tyres of larger section. "The Commercial Motor" understands that the vehicle has proved highly satisfactory for the purpose for which "it was evolved. .