Ambulance Single Responders - UNISON Reaction, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Dec 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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UNISON National Ambulance Officer, Sam Oestreicher warned that the increase in the number of single response vehicles could put ambulance staff and patients at risk.

He said:

"This is a fundamental shift in the way the ambulance service responds to emergency calls. It will affect the way a patient is treated. We are worried that it could become too easy to send a single responder when what is need is a fully equipped ambulance to treat the patient at the scene and then get them safely to A&E.

"It must be rigorously controlled to make sure that there is no detriment to patients.

"The lone responder could also be placed at risk of attack. Staff already suffer an unacceptably high level of violence and abuse, so we need robust lone worker policies in place to make sure this does not get worse.

"UNISON is not convinced that all ambulance trusts have these in place and will be working with the employers to address this.

http://www.unison.org