Friday, October 26, 2007

** Yorkshire, UK medics call for better ambulance cleaning policies

** Winnipeg’s EMS and fire dispatchers cooperate at new centre

UNITED KINDGOM NEWS

** Yorkshire’s ambulance union is lobbying for professional cleaning teams to sanitize ambulances while medics wait at ERs. That is the word from The Press (Nicola Fitfield/October 25) which quoted Unison spokesman Ray Gray as saying the pricey option is necessary due to the increase in MRSA infections. His comments come after Healthcare Commission inspectors said the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) was bottoming out when it comes to cleanliness levels. Noting practitioners try to keep rigs clean, Gray said it is virtually impossible when 999 calls come close together. Concurring with Gray, YAS spokesman Mick Farmer said a new program to deal with the problem will soon be launched.

CANADA NEWS

** Ambulances and fire trucks in Winnipeg will now apparently be sharing information. The Winnipeg Free Press (Bartley Kives/October 25) said the cooperation is part of a new approach that includes placing dispatchers from both sides in a new Assiniboine Park centre. Twelve fire operators and 18 EMS call takers will function side-by-side. Each is trained in software from both disciplines. Service chief Jim Brennan said the tact will allow emergency calls to be processed quicker during high call volume periods.