Paxos patient transferred in back of truck as 22-year-old ambulance in need of repair!
Paxos
10 Feb 2022
/ 10:44
PAXOS. The cosmopolitan Ionian island transforms into the ΄poor relation΄ in the winter.
The photos posted on social media remind one of a scene from a war-zone. The elderly patient, wrapped in blankets, had to be transferred in the back of a truck as the island's only ambulance is old and in need of repair - demonstrating yet again the tragic lack of resources in the Corfu region!
The truck driver, who posted the photos, said that he was asked to transfer the patient yesterday because the ambulance needed repairs.
The 92-year-old woman was supposed to leave for Corfu in the morning and was eventually transferred to Corfu Port by flying dolphin at 14:15. The photos were shared throughout Greece.
22-year-old ambulance!
Paxos Health Centre Director Michalis Kantas told Enimerosi that, despite the efforts of personnel to serve patients' needs as best they can, the Health Centre has only one ambulance with one driver plus one crew member, who came to the island recently.
He said that the transfer of the woman had been arranged the previous day but, unfortunately, the old ambulance (22 years old) had an electrical problem and they missed the morning ferry service. The sole driver is also on sick leave.
The Health Centre director has received assurances from the Regional Health Authority they will shortly be given another used ambulance from Patras. He added that a local businessman has offered to donate a new ambulance and the matter is proceeding with the Health Ministry.
Understaffing
The staffing of public services is extremely limited and is similar to Corfu with its lack of human resources. Mr. Kantas said, "An ambulance should have four to six people in order to cover all the shifts. Frequently, needs are covered by whatever means are available and volunteers provide significant assistance.
Antipaxos
"With the two new ambulances we are expecting, we hope to be able to provide Antipaxos with one in the summer, when there is a lot of tourism. With the numbers of people at that time, there are often emergencies at sea which need an ambulance to be available.
"At the moment, the Health Centre has three general doctors - one is on maternity leave - and one paediatrician to serve all the patients, write prescriptions and vaccinate adults and children."
Mornings only
The Health Centre doesn't operate at night and hospitalisation of patients isn't possible and they often can't be transferred to Corfu due to weather conditions. Mr. Kantas considers the new water ambulance to be a positive development but the matter of staffing it with ambulance personnel still needs to be resolved.
The Director also considers it a positive step that a Regional Surgery will open in Lakkas with a doctor. "We hope that it will be ready soon along with another surgery in Loggo. We are also making efforts for a cardiologist to come to the island."
The truck driver, who posted the photos, said that he was asked to transfer the patient yesterday because the ambulance needed repairs.
The 92-year-old woman was supposed to leave for Corfu in the morning and was eventually transferred to Corfu Port by flying dolphin at 14:15. The photos were shared throughout Greece.
22-year-old ambulance!
Paxos Health Centre Director Michalis Kantas told Enimerosi that, despite the efforts of personnel to serve patients' needs as best they can, the Health Centre has only one ambulance with one driver plus one crew member, who came to the island recently.
He said that the transfer of the woman had been arranged the previous day but, unfortunately, the old ambulance (22 years old) had an electrical problem and they missed the morning ferry service. The sole driver is also on sick leave.
The Health Centre director has received assurances from the Regional Health Authority they will shortly be given another used ambulance from Patras. He added that a local businessman has offered to donate a new ambulance and the matter is proceeding with the Health Ministry.
Understaffing
The staffing of public services is extremely limited and is similar to Corfu with its lack of human resources. Mr. Kantas said, "An ambulance should have four to six people in order to cover all the shifts. Frequently, needs are covered by whatever means are available and volunteers provide significant assistance.
Antipaxos
"With the two new ambulances we are expecting, we hope to be able to provide Antipaxos with one in the summer, when there is a lot of tourism. With the numbers of people at that time, there are often emergencies at sea which need an ambulance to be available.
"At the moment, the Health Centre has three general doctors - one is on maternity leave - and one paediatrician to serve all the patients, write prescriptions and vaccinate adults and children."
Mornings only
The Health Centre doesn't operate at night and hospitalisation of patients isn't possible and they often can't be transferred to Corfu due to weather conditions. Mr. Kantas considers the new water ambulance to be a positive development but the matter of staffing it with ambulance personnel still needs to be resolved.
The Director also considers it a positive step that a Regional Surgery will open in Lakkas with a doctor. "We hope that it will be ready soon along with another surgery in Loggo. We are also making efforts for a cardiologist to come to the island."
