Leyland Lifeliner

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33650, 27 September 1974, Page 4

Leyland Lifeliner

A mobile casualty and communications centre for use in major emergencies and accidents, and based on a bus, has been shown for the first time in London.

Called the Leyland Lifeliner the converted bus is designed to bring hospital casualty services direct to the scene of an incident. It can be staffed by a team of doctors and nurses, and is equipped to permit minor surgery to be carried out. The condition of seri-ously-hurt patients could be “stabilised” before they were moved to a hospital, the makers say.

For use in remote areas, the Lifeliner is designed to carry a small hovercraft on its roof: the hovercraft could be sent over rough ground to search for casualties and bring them back to the bus. The bus itself can be used on rough tracks, and its air suspension has been modified so that the bus can be levelled when standing on uneven ground.

Stretcher patients enter the bus on an electric lift, through a large hatch at the rear. In the reception area, their condition is checked, and medical notes recorded on cassette tapes. The main treatment area has six beds, each with its own medical equipment and electronic monitoring aids. The front section of the bus contains the communications area and the crew compartment.

Equipment in the communications area includes

radio-telephone, tape recorders, a loudspeaker system, closed circuit television. and controls for powerful searchlights mounted on a roof pylon on top of the bus.

The equipment in the Lifeliner makes it possible for a doctor to undertake intensive care without needing to transfer criticallyinjured patients.