** UK man charged in death of paramedic
** Australian ambulance service starts phone referrals to free up paramedics
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** A Brockenhurst man has been charged in relation to the death of a paramedic and elderly patient on April 26th of this year. The Bournemouth Echo (October 24) said Richard Husband, 26, stands accused of causing death by careless driving x 2. According to the newspaper, Husband is out on bail and will next appear in court November 15th. The incident in question claimed the life of medic Gillian Randall, 42, and patient Frances Ironside, 88. It also seriously injured a second male medic and the patient’s relative.
AUSTRALIA NEWS
** In an effort to free up paramedics from unnecessary call-outs, Ambulance Victoria is implementing a new phone referral service. ABC News (October 24) said the undertaking would see some help hails transferred to nurses and paramedics who will specialize in telephone triage. According to the news site, the new approach will now be instituted in the state’s four rural regions after first being trialed earlier this year in the south-west zone. Health Minister David Davis said his department is supporting the initiative as pilot results were very encouraging.
