Ambulance suspension development film (approx 1977)

A feature exploring the development of ambulance suspension systems, featuring the widely used Bedford CF Dormobile and the Bedford CF Wadham Stringer IX series.
This 16mm film was found in the London Ambulance Service archives and uploaded as part of the celebrations marking 70 years of the NHS.

[@thistimeimhere]

Yet I was in an ambulance 5 years ago, a French van based one and it was earth shatteringly poor ride. I Felt every bump in the road and every one was painful.
The thing wallowed and crashed and I ended up feeling ten times worse by the end of it than when I got in it.
Like a lot of things in the UK we peaked years ago and have went backwards ever since.

[@supertrinigamer]

Absolutely. The peak of the UK was somewhere in the 60s, maybe early 70s. Since then, sadly it's just been deteriorating. The new infrastructure that's being built is sparse and of poor quality, and nobody is maintaining the old stuff as well anymore. You know it's bad when you're better off buying a used car than a brand new one in a country, because the salaries are too miserable to afford a brand new one.

[@patrickcannell2258]

​@supertrinigamer one reason why. Money!

[@pcno2832]

I would think a "comfortable ride" would be a matter of life or death for critical patients, with tubes connected all over and organs in disarray. I've heard that active suspension added about $10,000 to the cost of vehicles like this, but that's probably a small fraction of the total cost of the converted vehicle.

[@saxongreen78]

I have always admired British ambulance design - seems more standardised than most other Anglophone countries, and the walk through format is like a clinic on wheels.

[@nkt1]

Australian ambulances from this era didn’t look very satisfactory; Holden Commodores or American trucks with fibreglass boxes stuck on the back. Why not just use a normal van?

[@saxongreen78]

@@nkt1 Aussie ambulance design was hobbled by numerous factors:
a) The system was divided by State and was initially quite corrupt in terms of procurement practice, with bosses dictating terms based on personal kickbacks and deals. Australian sourced vehicles were preferred due to policy and cost considerations - this limited the choices available.
b) Long distances and poor roads demanded powerful engines and car-like handling - the available vans at the time were deemed unsatisfactory. (An exception was the Dodge AT4 truck chassis which saw use in the 1960s/70s...but it was also a bit slow.)
c) Upon the introduction of paramedic units in 1976 the designs were gradually standardised to the NSW model: Ford F-Series with large fibreglass body. These were quite good. They use M-B Sprinters, now.

[@nkt1]

@@saxongreen78 Interesting, thanks.

[@feierhazzard]

We stopped using walk through vehicles in the late 80s, or rather all new ambulances from the mid 80s on were required by EU legislation to have a solid bulkhead between the cab and the patient care saloon. Some of the older walk through, or dual purpose ambulances stayed in service for some time into the early 90s, certainly in Scotland where I worked anyway.

[@jpht1964]

In the 70’s, the Netherlands, ambulance services choose medium sized Mercedes W114 chassis as Ambulances.
They where very comfy but lacked workspace...

[@philhealey449]

Slight lack of ambulance seatbelt use near the end?

[@pcno2832]

I assume there was a similar motivation for the use of Cadillac hearses as ambulances in the USA. They probably rode like a cloud, but must have been horribly cramped for the EMTs.

[@michaelearith781]

In neighbouring Belgium likewise most ambulance services opted for Volkswagen Kombi Minibus type vans in the 1970s before going over to the then more modern wedge shaped Volkswagen Transporters in the 80s.

[@Polemicist0]

The driver of that 1970s, Bedford CF Dormobile, ambulance should have also put the vehicle's dipped headlights on as well, whilst responding to an emergency call.
This was always undertaken to actually make the emergency response vehicle far more noticeable to all other highway users, as nearly all of the emergency ambulances during that 1970s era only ever had just one blue flashing beacon fitted to the roof.🚑

[@anonymouse7164]

Was filmed before that became regular procedure probably...

[@steuk6510]

It's nice to see some off the old ambulance equipment

[@gregbouchard414]

See a rally good video u do a rally good job on hre keep up there good work on here

[@muicsboxsreview2214]

Keep up the good work on here mate keep up the good work on here mate keep up the good work on here mate keep up the good work on here mate keep up the good work on here mate

[@andypreston1524]

Gotta love William Woollard, he always puts his foot up on the vehicle he's looking at !!!
Great video, thank for sharing.

[@amoureternel6791]

Tus c'est plus vites qui les machines britanniques ambulances Renault Mercedes spritener

[@adventago]

Top Gear???
:)

[@Zeem4]

Citroën Xantia Activa...

[@timwingham8952]

4:58 Kerb there.......