HOSPITAL AMBULANCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5012, 11 August 1926, Page 2

HOSPITAL AMBULANCE.

DECISION BY THAMES BOARD.

MODERN MACHINE DECIDED QN.

The question o£ procuring a more modern ambulance for ,the district’s requirements has been exercising the minds of tire members/ of the Thames Hospital Board for some time. Lt was generally agreed that the present motor ambulance, which had been supplied by the Defence Department after the war, was too costly to maintain, and, considering its, condition, had out-lived its usefulness. A special sub-committee was set up to go into the matter of disposing o!£ the present machine a.nd the purchase df a new one.

At the meeting of the board on Monday the chairman (Mr W. E. HaJe) reported that the committee recommended the purchase of a Dodge chasteis at a cost of £275. To that a suitable body would be built with accommodation for two lying-down ca.ses. The .total cost was estimated at approximately £4OO. Atter receiving numerous quotations and correspondence the committee was of the opinion that the machine recommended was quite suitable lor the needs of the district.

In answer to Mr Lange the chairman said that there had been no provision made for heating the ambulance or for a hand-basin. A patient would only be in the ambulance for three or four hours at the most, and the extra provisions mentioned would add to the cost of the machine. It was resolved to purchase the ambulance, as recommended by the committee.

Mr J- W- Danby said that the acquisition of a new ambulance raised the question of maintenance costs and custody of the machine, He thought that mattejls would be put on a more satisfactory basis if the board considered building its. own garage and employing a gardenerchauffeur.

The chairman said that he had already gone into the mattar, and * agreed that it was desirable for the board to house and maintain the. Ambulance. There was a large shed which had been erected to house a pelton wheel- and motor that was now out of commission, and it could be used for the purpose. A builder would be asked to report on the matter and submit an estimate for renovating and making the building suitable as a garage.

Mr Danby asked it the members considered it necessary or desirable to have red crosses and the words; ambulance, etc., painted on the sides of the new vehicle. He said tha,t it appeared to be unnecessary to advertice sickness or accidents in such a •manner The chairman said that he had never heard the point rajsled before. He thought the idea was so that should there be a congestion of traffic at any time way was usually made for an ambulance on its errand of mercy. He sa,w no objection to the sign-writing. .

The matter was, allowed to drop.