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Welfare State Influences Ambulance Design
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By Ashley Taylor, A.M.I.R.T.E.
WORKINGS of the Welfare State affect all our lives and the impact of the present public health service is to be noted in changes that have taken place in the demand for ambulances, These changes, in turn, are reflected in the welfare vehicles exhibited at, or in connection with, the present Commercial Motor Show.
Time was when the ambulance, usually subscribed for by the more generous of local inhabitants, virtually carried nothing but stretcher cases, the seriously sick. In days when public transport was much less plentiful than at present, the "sitting patient" had to make his, or her, way as well as possible by the use of tram, bus, train or taxicab.
To-day, I am told by those who have access to authoritative records, only 10 per cent, of ambulance travellers are stretcher eases; the other 90 per cent. are sitting patients. Thus, the trend in ambulance building is towards the dualpurpose vehicle. The preponderance of "sitting" passengers, however, must not be regarded as abuse of the health services.
Caring for the " Semi-sick "
Not only does the availability of the ambulance ease life for the sufferer, but it reduces time spent in obtaining treatment and facilitates the work of medical staffs by enabling patients to
I be kept in groups for attention. With the needs of the " semi-sick " in mind, some study has been made by several ambulance builders with a view to increasing comfort for such travellers. In some cases, plain upholstered benches have been improved by providing armrests, but more especially there has been a trend towards facing' forward seats.
There is some indication of health authorities feeling that where sufficient traffic exists to keep one vehicle busy with sitting patients, a semi-production model close to the shooting-brake category should be able to fill the bill. Otherwise this is a market that continues to offer the fullest scope for the coachbuilding craftsman, who creates a thing which will give solid service to its last days. On the average, ambulance mileages have risen sharply in recent years, but with the present standard of building it is safe to say that most ambulances will be out-dated before they are out-worn.
The immediate post-war years saw a heavy demand for the replacement of obsolete fleets, but the call, even when based on a five-year plan, has largely been satisfied. In addition to normal purchases to take up wastage, local authorities are now finding the provision of additional facilities a possibility, and a " junior " size of ambulance is an attraction.
There can be little paring of costs on bodybuilding for health vehicles, consequently the reduction in initial expenditure is not large, although there is a more substantial saving on the chassis. A greater advantage lies in the reductions made possible in running costs, as well as on the score of savings in garage accommodation.
Large industrial undertakings, especially if located at a distance irom health centres, often feel the provison of theirown transport for sick or injured personnel to be desirable, and the convertible " junior " ambulance is well planned for this type of work.
A good specimen of this •variety, to be seen outside the Show, is that introduced by Appleyarcl of Leeds, Ltd., one of the approved ambulance builders to Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.It employs the MorrisCommercial P.V. 15-20-cwe forwardcontrol chassis. Overall dimensions are: Length, 15 ft., width, 6 ft. 2 ins., and height, 7 ft. 9 ins. Interior measurements are: Length, 9 ft. 9 ins., width, 5 ft. 6 ins., and height, 5 ft. .3 ins.
Interior equipment includes lowloading single-stretcher gear on the near side. On the off side is a fulllength bench seat which winds out on Chapman Leveroll fittings if required for the carriage of an additional stretcher. Upholstered drop arms can be lowered on the bench to give extra comfort for the passengers.
Tele-communication
To provide for the fitting of telecommunications equipment, if required, a ventilated locker to carry a radio set is located beneath the bench and wiring is built in to link the locker with a roof block for the setting of an aerial. _This model is, of course, additional to the larger type on the Morris-Commercial N.V.S. chassis, which continues as standard.
Intended for use as a hospital local runabout, a conversion of the MorrisCommercial J-type 10-cwt. van is also featured by AppIeyard and is arranged with a low step at the rear of the saloon. Primarily, this body is designed for half a dozen sitting cases, hut can be used for one stretcher and three seated patients. A folding stretcher is supplied and a full-length locker runs under the bench seat.
Bodies on both the N.V.S. and the P.V. chassis are also featured by Wadham Bros., Ltd. (Stand 1). Here, again, increased interest in the telecommunications system is to be noted, a special Pye set being incorporated. This make of radio equipment is also fitted to the Lever ambulance on a Bedford chassis (Stand 11A).
Another Lever product which is being demonstrated is a light transit ambulance on a Bedford C.A. chassis, which carries nine sitters, or one stretcher and four sitting cases. The Lomas ambulance (Stand 6) provides for either two recumbent patients or one lying and three sitting in facingforward seats.
A striking innovation is the Lomas all-metal design on a Humber Pullman Mark III ambulance chassis, which is being supplied to the Shell Caribbean organization. In this machine there is no wood whatever, and the steel panels are welded direct to the metal framing. The Lomas metal saloon-type body is employed and incorporates a double roof; the whole is fully insu B18 lated. The interior equipment includes two electric fans, folding, plated washbasins with water supply and waste pipe, and a Lomas wheeled cot-stretcher. Several possibilities are offered by the products of Martin Walter, Ltd. (Stand 82), which feature different versions of Utilecon bodywork that is already largely used in hospital work. Although not offered as an ambulance, the new Dormobile has valuable versatility, in that it can be used as van, seven-seater passenger carrier or with two off-thefloor beds.
On the Bedford C.A. chassis is a full ambulance body with a raised roof at the rear, so that an attendant of full height has no difficulty in standing inside. Alternative arrangements allow for two stretchers and attendant or one stretcher and three sitting cases. So that the near-side stretcher shall fit snugly to the wall of the body, a neat swivelling device is incorporated. Altogether these smaller types show the possibility of distinct advantages in congested industrial situations or in country areas reached only by narrow tracks.
A different method of catering for the sitting patient is to be seen on Stand 28, where Carbodies has an ambulance based on the Austin 16 hire-car chassis. Following the general lines of the Austin taxicab, this model has fully enclosed front seats for driver and attendant. In the passenger saloon there are the usual comfortable rear seats, with folding seats in front.
An alternative plan is for a child's stretcher to be provided forward in the saloon and for the nurse to sit at the rear. Here again, two-way radio is installed so as to give direct contact with,the control room. Easily washable materials are employed for roof lining and floor mats.
The Austin organization (Stand 72) shows the Sheerline ambulance; on Stand 71 is the famous and lavishly equipped Daimler design. Taking a long-term view, there is much to be said for the employment of four-berth equipment in ambulances which may be called upon to deal with heavy casualty work. This extra capacity is, of course, normally needed only in
emergencies, and in the case of the Daimler there is an excellent arrangement by which the four berths can be quickly brought into use. 'Ordinarily, with only two cots, the large saloon offers every advantage in the way of spaciousness, but the two extra berths can quickly be folded down when required.
In exile among the gallery exhibits is a Red Cross ambulance built by Pilchers (Stand 130 RU) on a Commer chassis. As usual in designs from this maker, the ground clearance is high, a specially desirable feature for operation in many overseas territories where, also, health services are being extended.
Alternative arrangements are four sitting and one stretcher, or two stretchers and nurse's armchair. A water tank is carried in the cab roof and there is a tap in the interior with provision for a washbasin. The windows are of clear glass, all being fitted with blinds. Although not demonstrated, a special hoist and ramp are available for the loading of invalids' wheeled chairs.
Lying and Sitting
Ford (Stand 73) have a four-stretcher ambulance for the export market only. Comfort for n dozen sitting patients (with emergency accommodation for a stretcher) is provided in one Kennings model on a Morris-Commercial chassis (Stand 84), whilst another allows for six sitting patients, one stretcher case and an attendant.
Other exhibits of interest to medical authorities include the Spurling Red Cross ambulance on Bedford 3-ton chassis and the Bedford-Spurmomet short-wheelbase all-metal design, also a Reall body on the Austin hire-car chassis. (Demonstration Park.) Built-to-last is the motto of the fireappliance manufacturer, as well as of the ambulance builder, and among fireengines some excellent specimens of design and craftsmanship are to be seen. One is the Dennis F14 turntable ladder which rises like a young skylon from Stand 51. The engine has a 600 g.p.m. main pump.
Among the Bedfords (Stand 52) is a dual-purpose appliance with escape work by Bayleys, Ltd., and an Alfred Miles body. Something quite luxurious in the way of R.A.F. foam crashtenders is a contribution from Whitson (Stand 3).
The Commer appliance based on an underfloor-engined chassis is a wellestablished model that is seen again, Windovers (Stand 78) having a tender of this type with a 400-gallon tank. Other appliances in this class include (on Stand 4) Carmichael's ThornycroftNubian water tender, and a Ford
Thames tender for the Salvage Corps.
Among other vehicles in which the public, the ratepayers, have a direct interest are the neat little Land-Rover fire tender, the Garner mobile library on a Ford Thames chassis, and the Karricr Bantam 2-ton highways tipper with single-ram gear by Edwards Bros. (Tippers), Ltd.
Although the mobile library mentioned is not displayed in municipal form, it should have a definite appeal to local authorities. Entrance is at the rear, and there are a folding scat and table for the librarian, together with card-index drawers and spaces for literature. On the near side, there are five full-length bookshelves. On the off side the shelving is set at different angles, so as to reduce congestion.
Outside there is a spring-loaded hinged flap to permit the display of books. The vehicle can carry over 1,500 volumes.