Innovation through time at the Historic Collection! 

As part of the Historic Collection’s recognition of International Paramedics Day, this week we’d love to shine a light on the journey and innovation that shaped today’s London Ambulance Service. 

 

The story goes back to the 1940s, when the service was part of the London County Council. At that time, crews weren’t yet Paramedics, EMTs or AAPs, their role focused mainly on first aid and basic patient transport. Everything began to change in 1965, when London’s ambulance services were brought together into a single pan‑London organisation. Training also took a big step forward. Crews completed the Ambulance Services Proficiency Certificate, an eight‑week programme combining practical skills and driving training. 

A year later, Dr E. L. M. Miller published the influential Report by the Working Party on Ambulance Training and Equipment. This report transformed pre‑hospital care by recommending that crews deliver life‑saving treatment at the scene, the foundation of modern paramedicine. Those who completed the new, more advanced training earned the distinctive Millar’s Badge, a symbol of professionalism that many still recognise today.

Beyond that crews could further progress their scope through training to gain the Ambulance Services Advanced Proficiency Certificate. Fast‑forward to today, and Paramedics now complete a 3-year degree through university or apprenticeship routes, reflecting the complexity and responsibility of the role. 

  

Back in the late 1980’s, Emergency Clinicians had their first defibrillators rolled out including the S&W Defib. This defibrillator is an old-style manual defibrillator that was commonly used by emergency personnel. These defibrillators required clinicians to manually interpret the heart rhythm and manually input the correct joule setting before administering a shock using handheld metal paddles. Vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate also had to be obtained manually, requiring a level of operator skill and continuous patient assessment. 

 

 

 

In the 2000s, the LifePak machines were introduced. Ambulance crews used the LifePak 12 to check a patient’s heart with a 12-lead ECG, measure oxygen levels, heart rate, blood pressure and carbon dioxide levels. It could also be used as a manual defibrillator or an AED. Since then, the London Ambulance Service has used the LifePak 15, which is a newer version of the LifePak 12 with the same main features. These technological advancements have significantly improved patient care, allowing emergency clinicians to spend less time operating equipment and more time focusing on treatment and patient outcomes.  

 

 

Clinical practice has also come a long way. In the early days, crews weren’t permitted to carry or administer medicines. Today, Paramedics carry around 30 different drugs and bring a wide range of enhanced clinical skills to incidents, dramatically improving patient care and outcomes. Ongoing CPD ensures our clinicians can continue to grow, learn new skills and stay up to date with the latest developments. 

Thank you to every clinician who continues to provide exceptional care to the people who depend on us. You make a life‑saving difference every day and bring calm to the capital. Step back through the decades and discover the innovations that helped shape today’s service. Explore our Historic Collection or support our Historic Collection.