Collection LCC/PH/LAS - PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE

Identity area

Reference code

LCC/PH/LAS

Title

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT: LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE

Date(s)

  • 1903-1930 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.66 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The question of an ambulance service for street accident cases was first debated by the Council in 1901 but it was not until 1905 that application was made to Parliament for powers to provide such a service. The Bill was rejected by a Committee of the House of Lords but a Metropolitan Ambulances Act was passed in 1909. This Act was permissive only and a long period of debate ensued as to whether the existing services provided by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, the Boards of Guardians and the Metropolitan Police were adequate. Finally, in March 1914, the Council decided to provide a street accident Ambulance Service which was placed under the command of the Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade. The first station was opened in February 1915 and, by October of that year, the service was in operation in all parts of the County.

On 1 April 1930, when the Council took over the functions of the Metropolitan Asylums Board and the Boards of Guardians it also took over their ambulance services. A unified London Ambulance Service under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health was then formed from the combination of these services with the Accident Section previously administered by the Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade.

Archival history

LCC/PH/LAS 1903-1930 Collection 0.66 linear metres LCC , London County Council x London County Council

The question of an ambulance service for street accident cases was first debated by the Council in 1901 but it was not until 1905 that application was made to Parliament for powers to provide such a service. The Bill was rejected by a Committee of the House of Lords but a Metropolitan Ambulances Act was passed in 1909. This Act was permissive only and a long period of debate ensued as to whether the existing services provided by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, the Boards of Guardians and the Metropolitan Police were adequate. Finally, in March 1914, the Council decided to provide a street accident Ambulance Service which was placed under the command of the Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade. The first station was opened in February 1915 and, by October of that year, the service was in operation in all parts of the County.

On 1 April 1930, when the Council took over the functions of the Metropolitan Asylums Board and the Boards of Guardians it also took over their ambulance services. A unified London Ambulance Service under the supervision of the Medical Officer of Health was then formed from the combination of these services with the Accident Section previously administered by the Chief Officer of the London Fire Brigade.

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council.

Records of the London County Council Public Health Department relating to the London Ambulance Service, 1903-1930, including leaflet on facilities provided by the London Ambulance Service with instructions for obtaining the help of the service, 1930; pamphlet "London Ambulance Service - Historical Sketch of the Origins, Development and Present Organisation", 1949; reports on the Ambulance Service, 1892-1939; statistics of use of ambulances attached to fire stations, 1903-1909; inspections of horses and vehicles by the Fire Brigade, 1905-1910. Also daily records of calls received, 1915-1919.

LCC/PH/LAS/01: General; LCC/PH/LAS/02: Calls received.

Available for general access.

Copyright: City of London
English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

For further information on the history of the LCC please see Achievement: A Short History of the London County Council by W Eric Jackson (1965), LMA Library reference 18.0 1965, The London County Council 1938, LMA Library reference 18.7 SER 4, and The Youngest County: A description of London as a county and its public services, 1951, LMA Library reference 18.0 1951.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April to June 2009 England London London Ambulance Service Public Health Department , London County Council Health services LCC , London County Council x London County Council Transport Vehicles Emergency vehicles Architecture Ambulances Buildings Public buildings Ambulance stations Health policy Health Public health Emergency services Ambulance services UK Western Europe Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Acquired with the records of its parent body, the London County Council.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the London County Council Public Health Department relating to the London Ambulance Service, 1903-1930, including leaflet on facilities provided by the London Ambulance Service with instructions for obtaining the help of the service, 1930; pamphlet "London Ambulance Service - Historical Sketch of the Origins, Development and Present Organisation", 1949; reports on the Ambulance Service, 1892-1939; statistics of use of ambulances attached to fire stations, 1903-1909; inspections of horses and vehicles by the Fire Brigade, 1905-1910. Also daily records of calls received, 1915-1919.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

LCC/PH/LAS/01: General; LCC/PH/LAS/02: Calls received.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright: City of London

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area