In a message dated 2/12/99 2:15:11 AM GMT Standard Time, [log in to unmask]
writes:
<< The DoH
issued guidelines for private companies (1994-5) obliging them to call the
statutory ambulance service in emergency cases and restricting them to
non-emergency work, yet these companies take not a blind bit of notice >>
Horror story.......I was driving home from A&E one night and came upon a two
car RTA, there were a few casualties, non serious. I began making the scene
safe and saw to my initial relief, blue lights in the distance...phew I
thought, help at last!
It turned out to be a private ambulance company who proceeded to drive through
the wreckage and glass and open its back doors! These chaps insisted on taking
some casualties to the local A&E........I refused and demanded that they call
their control for a 999 ambulance. This they did as they began to suspect I
nearly knew what I was doing. The point being, they wanted to do the
job.....worrying as I doubt there was any credible training given to these
chaps, their insurance would have been way off what is required and to top it
all they had no legal mandate.
The patients knew no different...for all they knew these were bonifide
ambulance crew as their uniform gave this impression......shouldn't they wear
white like the nurses in "Shortland street" that would stop them being
mistaken for 999 crews, .................and they would not want to get their
trouser dirty would they :)
Andy Thurgood
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