Care of emergencies in the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom can claim the credit for organising the first comprehensive accident service in the world. In 1888 Sir Robert Jones was appointed consultant surgeon to the Man? chester Ship Canal. This major project linking the Port of Liverpool with the city of Manchester employed 20 000 workers on its 35-mile stretch. It took many years to build and exacted a high toll in serious injury. In one five-year period there were 3000 accidents. In order to cope with these emergencies the canal was divided by Sir Robert into three independent sections each with a chain of first-aid stations and each with its own hospital. Each hospital was staffed with a resident doctor and nurses. The hospitals were linked by a railway running the length of the canal that was used to convey the injured to the hospitals. They were also linked by wireless telegraphy to Sir Robert's Hospital in Liverpool so that he could be summoned whenever he was needed.