Thursday, September 4, 2014

** 2 UK medics and nurse accused of negligence in case of heart patient who later died

** Australian medics at Wellington station under siege by thieves;lobbying for increased security

** A pair of paramedics and a nurse from Walsall have been remanded on bail until September 19th on charges they failed to provide prompt and appropriate medical care to a patient who later died. That is the word from The Walsall Advertiser (September 3) which said the trio were nabbed by authorities in relation to the June 23, 2012 death of Carl Cope, 47. Cope collapsed and died outside the doors of the Walsall Manor Hospital after attending the site suffering from chest pain. A coroner found he died of a heart attack. Specific details on the alleged failures of the health care providers remain murky. However, pleas are expected shortly and a trial date has been set for January 5th. All three appeared in court Tuesday. The names of those involved include paramedics Simon Hunt, 54, and Matthew Geary, 36, as well as nurse Lisa Cooper, 44.

** New South Wales Ambulance Service medics in Wellington are calling for stepped up security measures at  their station after several recent break-ins have caused practitioners to fear for their safety and their belongings. The Wellington Times (September 4) said providers are requesting 24 hour closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance at the site, as well as a high security fence around the building`s perimeter. The call comes after thieves recently broke into the locale 3 times by cutting holes through an existing barbed wire fence. In one breach, there was a failed attempt to acquire emergency lights. In another, a successful heist of an LED light bar worth around $1,000 from a private vehicle was accomplished. A battery charger still attached to an ambulance was also taken. Politician Andrew Gee (Member for Orange) said he would take the matter up shortly with the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to see how security upgrades could be funded.