Invariably these are black Toyota Hiaces driven by men who appear to be undertakers (black jacket and tie, white shirt).
I'm guessing they can't show up to collect a body in the exposed back of the hearse, especially with no coffin, so I can understand why they use vans for the sake of discretion. I can even understand why they're black, for dignity and solemnity.
But why do they all have the slightly nonsensical 'private ambulance' text on them? Purely so they won't get moved on by traffic wardens? And why are they invariably Toyota Hiaces?
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Hmm, I never knew that was what they had in 'em.
There's a black Toyota Hi-Ace knocking around Sunderland now and then, don't know why they're all Hi-Aces though.
Blue
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Oh my, I hadn't realised either that that was what 'private ambulances' were for. That's rather depressing actually.
HF
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Can anybody confirm that to qualify as a private ambulance all you need is a certain equipment in the vehicle. There was something on the radio where a limo driver stuck everything in the boot and now doesnt have to pay the charge.
If this was true, why dont all the plumbers etc, just stick the stuff in the back of there white vans?
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I was reading recently that there is a whole dodgy world of genuine/bogus 'private ambulances'. Apparently there are people who like to play at being ambulance men and turn up at accidents, sometimes just to watch, sometimes trying to interfere. There are apparently no rules about what constitutes an ambulance, nor anything to stop people dressing up in white coats and wandering about crash scenes.
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I heard about this story too a couple of years back. I think it was in the News of the world, IIRC it was more to do with the "owner" of an ambulance company, banned from doing so due to not having the right quals to be doing so. Also I think the main gripe was his drivers were using blues and twos on things like taking patients to hospital for something like fractured ankles etc.
Do you not remember the serial fraudster who likes to dress up as a doctor - has been convicted of such behaviour a number of times (in the UK, I might add) - and HAS actually operated on some poor member of the public?
Believe me, there are idiots out there who like to do these sinister things.
Regards
Dom F
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I don't know if that's true or not but it seems unlikely.
Part of the reason is that limos generally count as minicabs and therefore don't pay the charge.
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Understood that the standard hearse had an underfloor space (lower deck if you like) for collections.
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Understood that the standard hearse had an underfloor space (lower deck if you like) for collections.
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That makes a lot of sense.
I was passing a large London Hospital today and gave way to a hearse exiting apparently empty. It then stopped, double parked, the driver opened up the rear hatch and then legged it back down the road.
I can only assume the open hatch was a way of saying I am stationary but I passed by with a smile at what on earth was going on. Now I will never know.
Only ever seen black vans at hospitals before.
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So is it safe to assume that the prognosis isn't all that good if a PA turns up to collect you ?
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Reminds me of a time I stayed at the San Francisco Hyatt. There was such a vehicle parked outside and one of those "managed" muted commotions going on of the type which are clearly embarrassing to swanky hotels and undoubtedly feature in Section 601.1.3 of the Procedures Manual. Screens, ropes, re-routed guest traffic in the lobby etc.
Now the SFO Hyatt has a vast internal atrium, with all floors having an internal facing corridor. I checked in and accompanied the bellboy up to my room. I asked him what's going on. He said "Oh, we had another jumper today". So I asked if that was a frequent event. He said a couple of times a year. I said how did they deal with that.
"Well, it's kind of a known thing, so they hold body bags in the manager's office"....
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