PROPOSED AMBULANCE FOR STRATFORD

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 34, 12 February 1929, Page 6

PROPOSED AMBULANCE FOR STRATFORD

DISCUSSED BY HOSPITAL BOARD HELP TO BE SOUGHT FROM PUBLIC BOOSES A FuRWARO STEP. The Stratford Hospital Boaru decided to make enquiries as 1,, whether or not. it would be possible to furnace an ambulance for Stratlord. Public bodies are to be circularised as to the amount of help they would be prepared to give. Mr G, ll.Fimierty said there seemed to bo ft feeling among citizens that the Hon id should d.o something about getting an ambulance. He had made inquiries and found that one firm couid supply one. at about £3OO. As to parking one firm had offeree? to park the ambulance free of cost and during their working hours (about sixteen hours n, day) would he pepared to find a driver.

FINANCE. The Racing Club and the County Councils might be asked to contribute tol the cost, and, there seemed no reason why £2OO should not be so raised (including donations from private citizens). If that sum was raised the Board should, be. able to finance the matter. At present tlu> R-.tcing Club had to hire an ambulance from outside for race days, and they should find it good business to have a local ambulance. Even if there were only a lew cases in which an ambulance was absolutely necessary, the suffering which would be saved should make it' worth while. Ihei suggestion made /i,y a correspondent of'lhe 'Tost,* to park the ambulance at the Fnc; Station, was a good one. £owover, if the ambulance was bought lie thought there would not be much difficulty about I parking. The chairman (Mr W. L. Kennedy) thought the best solution was to get: a further permanent hand to help with the work in. the hospital grounds and to drive tile ambulance. The work in the grounds was too much for one man.

Mr Finnerty said he saw that the hospital had been buying eggs. ll' the extra, man was en&aged the hos-! pital could iieep its own hens. Not j much food should have to be bought; for the. liens, ovei- the scraps from' the hospital.

JACK OF ALL TRADES. Mr W. H. Were: The man would bo a jack of all trades and would do none of) the jobs well. Mr J. O'Neill said the Medical Superintendent's opinion was that the cars and lorries in the district could easily cope with the work ol bringing in accident cases. Mr Kennedy: I, think he is still of tho isamc opinion.

Mr O'Neill said the cost of a properly equipped ambulance would probably bo £'6oo or €7OO, and the driver must be available at a moment's notice. Mr Kennedy said .the. Board had practically decided nob to bold a Hospital Day this year ""less there was some special object. Perhaps the Hospital Day could be held m aid of the amibulanoe. Personally, he was beginning to think that the town should haVe an ambulance. Hie Hospital Day would test the feelmg of the public on the matter. On the motion of Mr Fmnerty. seconded by Mr R. V. Kay, it vas decided to circularise public bodies (including the Racing Club, the A. and P. Association and the Automobile Association) as. to what they I would be prepared to contribute.