Injured person taken to hospital by fire engine!
ambulance
08 Apr 2022
/ 09:54
CORFU. There was no ambulance available for an incident in the centre of town - The Fire Department΄s reaction to the situation.
Yet another incident highlighting the problems and the dangers due to understaffing of the ambulance service. Just a few days after an ambulance taking an hour to reach the scene of an accident in South Corfu, there has been another complaint - this time from Corfu Firefighters Union.
The firefighters have issued a statement in which they say that they were called out to an incident in the town centre. When an ambulance was requested for an injury, they were told that there wouldn't be one available for one and a half hours. Eventually, the injured person was taken to Corfu Hospital by fire engine!
Statement from union president Karatakaris and secretary Boubas:
"On 7 April at approximately 12:20 the Fire Service was called out to an incident at Mantzarou 13. A man had been seriously injured in the leg. The Ambulance Service call centre told us that an ambulance wouldn't be available for one and a half hours. The injured person ended up being taken to Corfu Hospital by fire engine.
On numerous occasions, especially in the summer period, the Fire Service is called upon to assist in situations where an ambulance is necessary but there isn't one immediately available.
Corfu Firefighters Union understands the long-standing problem regarding Corfu Ambulance Service's lack of personnel - a problem that the Fire Service also has - but those responsible need to FINALLY take action and do that which should go without saying in order to provide proper safety and assistance for Corfu residents. It is unacceptable that an island with 100,000 permanent residents - and in the summer it is five times that number - should in many cases have to rely on just one ambulance."
The firefighters have issued a statement in which they say that they were called out to an incident in the town centre. When an ambulance was requested for an injury, they were told that there wouldn't be one available for one and a half hours. Eventually, the injured person was taken to Corfu Hospital by fire engine!
Statement from union president Karatakaris and secretary Boubas:
"On 7 April at approximately 12:20 the Fire Service was called out to an incident at Mantzarou 13. A man had been seriously injured in the leg. The Ambulance Service call centre told us that an ambulance wouldn't be available for one and a half hours. The injured person ended up being taken to Corfu Hospital by fire engine.
On numerous occasions, especially in the summer period, the Fire Service is called upon to assist in situations where an ambulance is necessary but there isn't one immediately available.
Corfu Firefighters Union understands the long-standing problem regarding Corfu Ambulance Service's lack of personnel - a problem that the Fire Service also has - but those responsible need to FINALLY take action and do that which should go without saying in order to provide proper safety and assistance for Corfu residents. It is unacceptable that an island with 100,000 permanent residents - and in the summer it is five times that number - should in many cases have to rely on just one ambulance."
