MOTOR AMBULANCE

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 129, 31 May 1917, Page 2

MOTOR AMBULANCE

LATEST HOSPITAL PROVISION.

For the past fortnight the Hospital Board has had its second motor ambulance on the road. It has been in regular use, and has given thorough satisfaction. It is somewhat different from tha other motor ambulance, which the board has had for. some time, since it is an ordinary motor chassis .with a special ambulance body built on it; whereas the first motor was specially constructed for ambulance use, and so arranged that the driver's scat should be well forward over the engine. The board, when proposing tbe use of the ordinary motor chassis, had to search for some time to find a type which'would carry the ambulance body well • balanced. The results of the search have proved satisfactory in every respect. The body of the car is well finished on the exterior, and the interior is fitted with all necessary and up-to-date appliances.. Two patients can be carried, and there is 3 special arrangement for raising the upper berth so as to do away with heavy lifting. Speaking to a Post reporter to-day the chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board (Mr. H. Baldwin) remarked that all that was now required was for the City Council to have its own accident ambulance at the central station. The Harbour Board had provided for accidents, but citizens generally had to rely on the Hospital vehicles. The Hospital Board would give the best service it could, hut it could not guarantee that a motor would be available at all times. The board had to provide for the needs of a district extending to the foot of the Rimutakas and far into the Manawatu District. Country patients had an equal call on the service- of the motor ambulances, and it might happen that both vehicles would be in use in this, way at the same time. There were 105.000 people in the Wellington Hospital district, which naturally meant a great amount* of work for the ambulances, apart from accidents.