Friday, July 17, 2009

** Ontario Ministry of Health investigating delayed EMS response to heart attack call

** Troubled Welsh Ambulance Service still struggling with response times

** Victorian medics in Australia go on strike for first time in 36 years

CANADA NEWS

** A June ambulance call, in which a Toronto heart attack patient died after a lengthy EMS response, is now being investigated by the Ontario Ministry of Health. That is the word from CTV (July 16) which said the city instigated the look-see after the call hit the news headlines earlier this week. According to the news site, allegations have surfaced pointing to the current labor strike as being responsible for the delay. Toronto EMS Chief Bruce Farr discounted the notion Wednesday, saying ambulance operators were only told patient James Hearst had hit his head;no mention was made of heart involvement. The June 25 call saw EMS hailed 3 times before attending the scene after an over 30 minute wait. Paramedics had arrived within an acceptable 9 minutes, but remained outside the building because of safety concerns.

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** The beleaguered Welsh Ambulance Service is once again hitting the headlines for poor EMS response times. Wales Online (Madeleine Brindley/Western Mail/July 16) said complaints to the organization have doubled during the last 12 months. According to the newspaper, December saw only 47.6 per cent of life threatening calls have EMS units arrive on scene within the eight minute standard. Though 2009 has seen average responses rise to about 65 per cent, in areas like Powys the stat hovered at a bleak 46.4 per cent in May. An unidentified Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman acknowledged the disparity, saying while improvements have been made, more can still be done.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** In an effort to secure longer breaks between work shifts, Victorian medics have decided to strike. News.com.au (July 17) said the decision means practitioners will undertake the action for the first time in 36 years. Beginning today, work bans will begin, with 49 shifts being withdrawn at 7 a.m. across the state on Wednesday. Negotiations between the Ambulance Employees Association (AEA) and the government stalled Thursday. Ambulance Victoria CEO Greg Sassella said because he believes lives could be endangered by the strike he will apply to the Fair Work Commission to force medics to remain on the job. Current mandatory breaks between work shifts sit at eight hours, while EMS workers say 10 should be the norm.