Wednesday, October 10, 2007

** BC paramedics cry foul over dirty stations

** Sydney, Australia medics fear for patients

CANADA NEWS

** BC Ambulance paramedics in Victoria are publicly complaining of poor working conditions, saying EMS stations are often bug and rodent infested, as well as being health hazards. The Globe and Mail (Murray Langdon/October 9) quoted CUPE Local 873 regional vice-president Paul Embury as likening the locations to sheds, saying at least six are below provincial standards. Along with noting the presence of asbestos in one station’s sealed off rooms, Embury said another station was closed for two days to facilitate insect extermination. With medics working out of the Royal Jubilee Hospital station about to be relocated from three trailers to yet another temporary locale at a long term care facility, Embury said enough is enough. He said the stop gap site is small and unable to accomodate the storing or cleaning of equipment. Service spokesman Dave Maedal, meanwhile, ackowledged problems existed, but said planning is underway to alleviate the issues.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** ER crunches at Syndey’s Royal North Shore Hospital are prompting some EMS pundits to question whether patient lives are being endangerd. The Daily Telegraph (Joel Christie/October 10) said a Monday incident saw six EMS units detained at the facility because their stretchers were being used as hallway hospital beds. In one instance, a woman with a fractured hip waited seven hours to see a doctor, while several car accident victims took more than four hours to be viewed by more definitive care.