Water ambulance coming to Corfu in June - Corfu Ambulance Service facing series of problems
ambulance
13 May 2021
/ 14:19
CORFU. The long-awaited water ambulance is expected in Corfu in June - the first in the Ionian Islands.
The water ambulance will cover the needs to transport patients elsewhere - in a lot of cases a key factor in saving lives.
Deputy Regional Governor for Public Health, Social Welfare and Employment Kostas Zorbas told Enimerosi that the arrival of the water ambulance coincides with the start of the tourist season, which is of especial importance as with the presence of visitors on the island in addition to local residents the needs are greater.
According to Mr. Zorbas, another water ambulance is also expected, which will be based at another Ionian island, as yet undetermined. The €500,000 for the two ambulances is being completely funded by the Ionian ISlands Regional Administration via the ESPA funding programme.
There is, however, the important question of who will man the ambulances. The Ambulance Service (EKAB) Workers' Union President Christos Kypriotis said, "There has been no information regarding who will man them. It is expected that the water ambulance will operate in a similar way to Coastguard patrol vessels. We are asking that EKAB rescuers be included in those manning the vessels in order to respond immediately and provide first aid. They will supervise the equipment and carry out daily checks on the monitors, oxygen and supplies."
EKAB facing a series of problems
In the meantime, the problems faced by Corfu EKAB remain unresolved. High on this list are the issues of premises, repair and maintenance of ambulances, additional vehicles, return of the call centre to Corfu from Ioannina, recruitment of more personnel in order to set up a base in the north and the setting up of a Haemodynamics Laboratory at Corfu Hospital in order to avoid transportation of patients to other hospitals, which reduces the number of ambulances available here.
"Since 2003 we have been occupying unsuitable premises, which used to be a police station. There is no space for the ambulances to be parked, the roof is made of asbestos and there is a kindergarten below. There is an immediate need to relocate to premises with all the necessary standards required for the ambulance service," stressed Mr. Kypriotis and added that EKAB also needed a doctor.
There is increased concern now ahead of the upcoming tourist season, when needs are greater due to the large number of visitors. The need for an EKAB base in North Corfu is immediate due to the amount of time lost when an ambulance has to drive up to the north and then return to the hospital. "There was a satisfactory addition of extra personnel in 2020 because of the pandemic and we got 10 new staff with 2-year contracts," said Mr. Kypriotis.
Additional ambulances
There is an ongoing need for additions to the fleet of ambulances. At the moment there are six ambulances for the whole island. However, depending on the programme and staff days off, shifts operate with 2, 3 or 4 ambulances at the most!
Ionian Islands Regional Administration is taking action to deal with the need for more ambulances and the decision to acquire 5 ambulances and 4 mobile units was included in the ESPA funding programme on 31 October 2019 with a budget of €737,800. The tender procedure, however, has not moved forward.
"We need more vehicles immediately," said Mr. Kypriotis. "But we don't really see that happening in 2021."
Deputy Regional Governor for Public Health, Social Welfare and Employment Kostas Zorbas told Enimerosi that the arrival of the water ambulance coincides with the start of the tourist season, which is of especial importance as with the presence of visitors on the island in addition to local residents the needs are greater.
According to Mr. Zorbas, another water ambulance is also expected, which will be based at another Ionian island, as yet undetermined. The €500,000 for the two ambulances is being completely funded by the Ionian ISlands Regional Administration via the ESPA funding programme.
There is, however, the important question of who will man the ambulances. The Ambulance Service (EKAB) Workers' Union President Christos Kypriotis said, "There has been no information regarding who will man them. It is expected that the water ambulance will operate in a similar way to Coastguard patrol vessels. We are asking that EKAB rescuers be included in those manning the vessels in order to respond immediately and provide first aid. They will supervise the equipment and carry out daily checks on the monitors, oxygen and supplies."
EKAB facing a series of problems
In the meantime, the problems faced by Corfu EKAB remain unresolved. High on this list are the issues of premises, repair and maintenance of ambulances, additional vehicles, return of the call centre to Corfu from Ioannina, recruitment of more personnel in order to set up a base in the north and the setting up of a Haemodynamics Laboratory at Corfu Hospital in order to avoid transportation of patients to other hospitals, which reduces the number of ambulances available here.
"Since 2003 we have been occupying unsuitable premises, which used to be a police station. There is no space for the ambulances to be parked, the roof is made of asbestos and there is a kindergarten below. There is an immediate need to relocate to premises with all the necessary standards required for the ambulance service," stressed Mr. Kypriotis and added that EKAB also needed a doctor.
There is increased concern now ahead of the upcoming tourist season, when needs are greater due to the large number of visitors. The need for an EKAB base in North Corfu is immediate due to the amount of time lost when an ambulance has to drive up to the north and then return to the hospital. "There was a satisfactory addition of extra personnel in 2020 because of the pandemic and we got 10 new staff with 2-year contracts," said Mr. Kypriotis.
Additional ambulances
There is an ongoing need for additions to the fleet of ambulances. At the moment there are six ambulances for the whole island. However, depending on the programme and staff days off, shifts operate with 2, 3 or 4 ambulances at the most!
Ionian Islands Regional Administration is taking action to deal with the need for more ambulances and the decision to acquire 5 ambulances and 4 mobile units was included in the ESPA funding programme on 31 October 2019 with a budget of €737,800. The tender procedure, however, has not moved forward.
"We need more vehicles immediately," said Mr. Kypriotis. "But we don't really see that happening in 2021."
