Northern Ireland ambulance cut back ‘will put patients at risk’
14th September 2009
Lives could be put at risk if cut-backs in Northern Ireland’s
ambulance service are allowed to continue, Unite, the country’s
largest union, has said.
Unite is calling for Northern Ireland’s minister for health,
social services and public safety, Michael McGimpsey to reverse his
cost-cutting plans which will see one-person rapid response
vehicles (RRVs) taking over the role of emergency ambulances which
are staffed by two paramedics.
The move to RRVs comes despite the ambulance service recording a
10 per cent year-on year increase in the number of 999 calls.
Unite's Northern Ireland’s lead officer for health, Kevin
McAdam, said: “You could have the bizarre situation where someone
has a heart attack; a RRV rushes to the scene only for the
paramedic to call an ambulance, as RRVs can’t take the patient to
hospital.
“In such situations, time is of the essence, especially in
remote rural areas of Northern Ireland, and lives could be put at
risk.
“A single manned RRV is no substitute for a fully equipped front
line ambulance service and replacing them will reduce the service
to the public by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
“However, Unite has never been opposed to the concept of RRV’s
running in conjunction with traditional emergency ambulances, but
is opposed to them replacing them. No matter how many additional
RRV hours are announced, they still cannot take people to
hospital.”
ENDS
For further information, please ring Kevin McAdam 07768 693 941
004, David Fleming, National Officer, Health on 07798 531013, or
Shaun Noble, Communications Officer (Health Sector) on 020 7420
8951 or 07768 693 940.
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS:
Unite Health Sector web page: www.unitetheunion.org/health
Unite/CPHVA press releases can be seen on the CPHVA website:
www.unitetheunion.org/cphva
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