Friday, September 7, 2007

** NSW Ambulance Service under fire over ECG machines

** Yukon ambulance workers still waiting for government to act.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** The New South Wales Ambulance Service is taking heat from the public, apparently for failing to train medics in using ECG machines. That is the word from the North Shore Times (Janne Seletto/September 6) which said the issue came to the forefront after Royal North Shore Hospital (RNS) cardiologists published results of a heart attack trial. Acording to the newspaper, more lives could be saved if practitioners could transmit ECG data to hospitals. NSW brass, meanwhile, say providers won’t be trained in the devices until the the trial is completed. Cardiology group member Dr Peter Hansen, however, seemed baffled by the stance, saying publication of the data indicates the end of the trial.

CANADA NEWS

** Yukon ambulance workers in Watson Lake and Dawson City are still waiting for a government response to their en masse resignations in July. The CBC (September 6) quoted Haines Junction practitioner Neale Wortley as saying providers have now compiled a list of demands to jump start the negotiation process. Wortley, who said he hoped discussions could begin in the next couple of weeks, said key to the outcome will be the establishment of some paid positions. Dawson Mayor John Steins echoed Wortley’s impatience, saying the use of interim paramedics to fill gaps is not working. Out of the loop when it comes to communication with Health Minister Brad Cathers, Steins said he is now writing the minister to force an update on the situation.