Monday, October 22, 2007

** British medics to don body armour?

** Victoria, Australia patient dies after ambulance breakdown

UNITED KINGDOM

** British medics across the country can now don body armour. That is the word from The People (Nigel Nelson/October 21) which said Health Minister Ben Bradshaw signed off on the idea last week. Bradshaw’s decision comes after some 10 years of lobbying on the part of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel. It also follows newspaper reports that 1,000 paramedics were subject to on-the-job assaults last year. According to the newspaper, NHS Trusts will, however, make the final decision on whether or not to supply the vests.

AUSTRALIA NEWS

** The Friday death of a Melbourne cardiac arrest patient has prompted the state’s ambulance union to ramp up its campaign against aging ambulances. The Brisbane Times (October 20) quoted Ambulance Employees Association Victorian secretary Steve McGhie as saying the 56-year-old man’s demise is not surprising, given the poor state of repair of some EMS units. According to the newspaper, medics were forced to run two blocks to the man’s home after their ambulance broke down en route. By the time they reached the Elmwood location, the patient was already dead. Calling on the state government to do something, McGhie said prehospital rigs should be retired at 150,000 kms or 3 years, rather than the 230,000 kms or 5 year mark advocated by the Metropolitan Ambulance Service. An MAS spokesman, however, brushed aside McGhie’s concerns, saying Friday’s mechanical problems were unrelated to the age of the ambulance.