** UK police sometimes transporting patients in cruiser cars because of too lengthy EMS delays
** Rhode Island EMT has licence suspended after allegedly punching patient
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** A lack of available ambulances to respond to calls in Nottingham has prompted police officers to begin transporting patients to hospitals in cruiser cars. That is the word from the Nottingham Post (Dominic Howell/July 3) which said the practice is starting because officers are giving up on lengthy waits for EMS. According to the newspaper, Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said prehospital responders were sometimes delayed for hours before attending scenes. Tipping said during that interval his officers were unacceptably left to tend to injured people as best they could.
UNITED STATES NEWS
** A Rhode Island paramedic has had his EMT licence suspended after allegedly punching a patient five months ago following an EMS transport. The Providence Journal (Richard Salit/July 6) said Lt. Anthony P. Toro was handed the indefinite pause Friday. According to the newspaper, Toro apparently hit the combative 35-year-old male at the hospital after the latter pushed him. State health department director Michael Fine said Toro used a closed fist to strike at the man’s head and face. Prior to hospital arrival, the man had deliberately banged his head inside the police cruiser car. He also kicked police when exiting the vehicle. Toro, who has worked for the Providence Fire Department since 1987, can appeal the matter.
