** Retired UK medic sentenced to 16 years in jail on child rape conviction
** Alcohol abuse related calls accounting for nearly 50 per cent of Scottish Ambulance Service call-outs, survey finds
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** A retired ambulance medic from Greenfield will serve 16 years in jail for rape offences involving children. That is the word from The Daily Post (Elwyn Roberts/August 24) which said Arwel Roberts, 63, was convicted last month on 12 different counts, one involving a youth under the age of 13. According to the newspaper, Roberts, who has denied guilt, apparently committed the acts over a span reaching back into the 1980s. He retired from EMS in 1999 due to a spinal injury. Prior to his prehospital career, Roberts had served in the Royal Navy. Along with jail time, he will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.
** Scottish Ambulance Service medics participating in a survey have identified alcohol as an aggravating factor in at least 50 per cent of their call-outs. STV News (Matt Coyle/August 24) said the staff poll also included participation from members of the police and fire services. According to the news service, the questioning comes at a time of heightened violence against public safety workers. Results showed that 1 in 3 have been physically abused on the job, while 2/3 have been subjected to verbal abuse. Stats were compiled over a four week period between June 17th and July 15th. A total of 1900 people took part. Scottish Ambulance Service Director of Service Delivery Daren Mochrie said alcohol abuse related calls are an everyday event, rather than a weekend phenomenon. Mochrie said the sheer numbers of drunk people misusing ambulance services significantly delay responses to those in genuine medical need.
