Water ambulance coming to Corfu in a week
water ambulance
05 Nov 2021
/ 17:12
CORFU. The new Coast Guard patrol boat will arrive at Corfu Port in a week, specially equipped for transporting patients.
According to Coast Guard sources, it is scheduled to arrive on Thursday 11 or Friday 12 November, or at the beginning of the week after next, depending on the weather.
It should be reminded, however, that the vessel is coming with a significant delay, since the Ministry of Maritime had assured that it would be in Corfu last June, in order to be available for emergencies during the tourist season.
Training
Meanwhile, according to information, three members of the Coast Guard have gone to Piraeus to be trained, given that the new patrol boat has different equipment from the vessels they currently use. During the transport of patients, a doctor will be present.
The new vessel – the so-called ‘water ambulance’ – was funded by the Ionian Islands Regional Operational Programme, and is one of the first that the Ministry of Maritime and Insular Policy is receiving in order to meet the increased – due to the distance from health facilities – needs of patients and injured people residing in island areas.
Skiathos Coast Guard received the first one on 18 October 2021, in order to cover the needs of the wider area of the Northern Sporades. Next was the Aegina Port Authority on 21 October 2021, while Corfu, Ithaca and Samothraki will follow.
According to the Port Authority, the Minister or the Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime will attend the handover ceremony in Corfu.
Sigh of relief for Corfu EKAB
The vessel is expected to solve the huge problem regarding the transport of patients to the hospitals of Ioannina.
To date, the Corfu EKAB (Hellenic Ambulance Service) is very often called out to transport patients in need of specialised medical care with its own ambulance. This means that part of the limited EKAB staff has to work away from the island for several hours.
It should be noted that patient transports are currently being made by conventional Coast Guard vessels. However, to date, they did not have the necessary equipment to support the patients’ needs.
It should be reminded, however, that the vessel is coming with a significant delay, since the Ministry of Maritime had assured that it would be in Corfu last June, in order to be available for emergencies during the tourist season.
Training
Meanwhile, according to information, three members of the Coast Guard have gone to Piraeus to be trained, given that the new patrol boat has different equipment from the vessels they currently use. During the transport of patients, a doctor will be present.
The new vessel – the so-called ‘water ambulance’ – was funded by the Ionian Islands Regional Operational Programme, and is one of the first that the Ministry of Maritime and Insular Policy is receiving in order to meet the increased – due to the distance from health facilities – needs of patients and injured people residing in island areas.
Skiathos Coast Guard received the first one on 18 October 2021, in order to cover the needs of the wider area of the Northern Sporades. Next was the Aegina Port Authority on 21 October 2021, while Corfu, Ithaca and Samothraki will follow.
According to the Port Authority, the Minister or the Secretary General of the Ministry of Maritime will attend the handover ceremony in Corfu.
Sigh of relief for Corfu EKAB
The vessel is expected to solve the huge problem regarding the transport of patients to the hospitals of Ioannina.
To date, the Corfu EKAB (Hellenic Ambulance Service) is very often called out to transport patients in need of specialised medical care with its own ambulance. This means that part of the limited EKAB staff has to work away from the island for several hours.
It should be noted that patient transports are currently being made by conventional Coast Guard vessels. However, to date, they did not have the necessary equipment to support the patients’ needs.
