MPs WARN OF HOLES IN AMBULANCE COVER

Devon and Cornwall Liberal Democrat MPs are warning that dangerous changes in west country ambulance services could have fatal consequences. 

The MP’s warning partly relates to planned changes in working practices from 1 April, when ambulance staff on meal breaks will no longer respond to emergency calls during their 30 minutes break.  But night time services and the general pattern of cover is also causing concern.

NICK HARVEY, MP for North Devon, asks:

“Do the Police stop answering emergency calls to robberies, armed sieges and threats to life during their breaks?  Do the Fire Fighters let houses burn down with people trapped inside, while they finish their meals?

“Volunteer first-aiders in ordinary saloon cars, are just not adequate substitutes for trained paramedics and technicians in properly equipped ambulances.  Even lightly–trained Care Assistants responding in a Rapid Response Vehicle with a blue flashing light are far from adequate.

“These assistants lack the facilities or training to administer anything other than oxygen and basic life support, and could end up literally ‘holding the hand’ of a patient dying while they wait for the ambulance which could have saved them.”

A further concern to the MPs is the possibility of the Trust removing the Technician grade of ambulance staff in a year or so’s time.  At present Technicians can use much of the equipment and have the skill to help paramedics resuscitate patients.  If axed, the Technicians would be replaced by care assistants who could drive the ambulance but by no means replace the skills of a Technician.

Nick Harvey has today tabled a Parliamentary Question asking whether ministers deem this volunteer cover as adequate to meet the Government target of 8-minute response times to emergencies.

ANDREW GEORGE, MP for St Ives, has condemned the lack of candour in the Trust’s consultation:

“These new shifts go live on the 1st of April, but many local PCT managers seem to know nothing about the impact of the changes in their areas.  There really should be an informed public debate about the roles of both volunteer first-aider responders, and indeed care assistants.

“council scrutiny committees in both counties should have a full opportunity to consider and approve any changes.  We also need to know whether these changes are taking place anywhere else.  We know that health services in the west country are under-resourced by MPs cannot sit back while emergency services are changed in ways which might cost lives.”

Ends