From Ambulances to Almonds

About the Book

The author held a unique position in the history of UK ambulance service development, commencing his career as an ambulance in 1962, rising to the top position of Chief Officer in eight years, becoming a central figure in the significant professional development of the service for another twenty-nine years, making him the UKÕs longest serving Chief Officer of any of the main emergency services. He has a very personal insight into all the policy decisions affecting the service over that period and of the many trials and tribulations behind many of the decisions leading to the modern paramedical ambulance service reflected in today's modern ambulance service.

A people person, the author shares his experiences right from early childhood, which he believes influenced his management style and subsequent successes in introducing new and often radical change, whilst taking his workforce with him, often against strong national and local political opposition.

The book clearly defines the progress of ambulance services since the inception of the National Health Service in 1948 up until his retirement in1999. It illustrates both the technical and procedural techniques used to modernise what is and always will be a publicly sensitive and essential emergency service. As such, it provides a much needed professional historical record of the ambulance service in the last half of the twentieth century, from someone who lived the experience first hand.

The author draws on his particular management style and experiences, relating them back to his formative childhood years and shares some hitherto unknown behind the scenes facts with the reader. The book succeeds in informing the health care professional about the ambulance service and its modern day role in the community and yet also provides a valuable insight for students studying for a University Management Degree, whether in Health Service management or general management. It is fascinating reading, not least because the ambulance service touches all our lives at some time or other, but also because the authors natural writing style is obviously borne out of having lived all the experiences, first hand and at a very senior level.

A unique opportunity to learn about an essential life saving service and the management techniques involved in operating at CEO level in a politically charged and often controversial public environment.

About the Author

Laurie Caple retired in July 1999 from the National Health Service in the UK after a thirty-seven year career. He was a career ambulance officer who for twenty nine years was Chief Executive of various ambulance services in England. In 1983 he commenced the most controversial and radical period of his career when appointed as Chief Executive of the Northumbria Ambulance Service in the predominantly industrial North East of the country, a post he held continuously until his retirement in 1999.