Monday, June 2, 2008

** Two female UK medics held hostage by patient

** One of founders of BC Ambulance Service honoured

** South Australia to boost medic numbers

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** Two female North West Ambulance Service medics were taken hostage last weekend, after a distraught patient first hailed help from his personal doctor. The Lancashire Evening Post (Matthew Squires/May 28) said the Feckleton individual, who is now in a secure hospital ward, sparked a 30 minute standoff behind locked doors. According to the newspaper, the man had initially called his doctor who was located some 200 miles away. The physician then contacted his local ambulance service which then contacted North West. No one was injured in the incident

CANADA NEWS

** A former British Air Force doctor, credited for helping start BC Ambulance, is to receive the Order of BC. The Victoria News (Rebecca Adams/May 30) said Dr. Peter Ransford was announced last week as one of 15 people to be given the province’s highest honour. Ransford came to the province in 1949. In 1973, he drafted a report on how to establish a provincial EMS service.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** In the next four years, staff complements at the South Australia Ambulance Service could rise by 72 full time positions. ABC (May 30) said that is the plan announced by Health Minister John Hill in advance of this week’s budget. Hill said $27 million will be available between now and 2012 for funding the staff. In addition, the money will pay for four new ambulances, seven light EMS cars, and global positioning technology.