The London Ambulance Service turns 50 today and is celebrating with ambulance drivers from the 1960s meeting current paramedics in old and new vehicles. 

On April 1 1965, nine ambulance services merged to create the London Ambulance Service.

News Shopper:

News Shopper:

Ambulances have in fact worked in the capital for well over 100 years and Deptford ambulance station, where this week's celebrations took place, is itself 127 years old.

In the 1960s, suited up drivers picked up patients to take them to hospital - unlike today's highly skilled clinicians who diagnose and treat patients at the scene. 

Chief exec of London Ambulance Service Dr Fionna Moore said: "Back in the old days we used to 'scoop and run' patients straight to hospital and staff had eight weeks training.

"Today an increasing number of our paramedics have a three year paramedic science degree, they carry up to 30 different drugs and make life and death decisions."

News Shopper:

News Shopper:

Peter Hayman, 74, who worked for the service from 1965 to 1994 and attended the ceremony to mark the creation of the new ambulance service, added: "All we really had back then was a satchel of bandages and dressings, it's nothing compared to the kit they have on an ambulance today."

It's not just the technology that's improved, so has the diversity. In 1965 women made up just 6 per cent of the workforce compared to 44 per cent now. 

Amidst all the transition and reform, Dr Moore insists though that there is one thing that hasn't changed. She said: "The commitment of ambulance staff to the health and wellbeing of Londoners.
 
"50 years ago the whole of the UK only had 1 million emergency calls for an ambulance, in London alone we now receive over 1.7 million a year. The staff are committed, caring and compassionate people who continue to work in extremely challenging situations to help save the lives of Londoners".