Questions Asked Over Ambulance For West End
In the last session of the House of Assembly, Independent MP Terry Lister –who represents Sandy’s South — questioned former Health Minister Trevor Moniz about the feasibility of having an ambulance for the west end.
Speaking after the session, Mr. Lister said, “My first question asked was what were the costs associated with providing an ambulance stationed permanently at the Port Royal Fire Station.
“I asked this question as before demanding the establishment of the ambulance in the West, I wanted to have Government tell us what the costs of such an operation would be.
“Minister Moniz responded by stating that the Ministry is in the early stages of performing a feasibility study for stationing an ambulance in both the East and the West.
“He added that Government knows the costs associated with this ambulance being stationed at Port Royal Fire Station will include the vehicles,maintenance, equipment, overhead and personnel. The Minister pointed out that the study needs to be completed so that Government can find a defined service model in order to better determine total costs.
“I was pleased to learn that the Government is conducting this study. I then asked when the study would be completed. Government was unable to set a time to when a report would be forthcoming from the study. I also asked whether the Minister had any idea of the number of additional staff would be required to make the ambulance a reality.
“Again the Minister was not able to give an answer to this question stating that this decision would be made once the study was complete. Minister Moniz said he hoped that there would be no overall increase in staffing in operating the new service.
“My second question addressed the fact that there are many cruise passengers at Dockyard each year. I asked the Minister whether he has calculated the positive impact in terms of superior emergency response from having an ambulance stationed at the Port Royal Fire Station.
“The Minister’s response was that a specific cost benefit analysis has not been conducted regarding the positive impact in terms of superior emergency response from having an ambulance stationed at the Port Royal Fire Station.
“He concluded that locating an ambulance with the appropriate Emerging Medical Technicians at Port Royal Fire Station will provide residents and visitors with faster transportation to the hospital.
“Given the age profile of our cruise visitors, I believe the sooner we get a dedicated ambulance the better able to serve our visitors Bermuda will be,” Mr. Lister added.
Great idea Mr. Lister.
in the house the former heath minister had no answers to mr listers questions
“The Ministers response was that a specific cost benefit analysis has not been conducted regarding the positive impact in term of superior emergency response from having an ambulance stationed at Port Royal Fire Station”.
I agree whole heartily with you here Minister Terry Lister. The time saved by having an ambulance in the West end 24/7 can be the difference between life and death…Govt. must deal with this requirement as soon as possible
Thus the “feasibility study”.
The “E” in EMT is for Emergency not Emerging.
De PLP could have done it,they were too busy doing deals with their buddies.
We have fast ferries.
Our Ambulances are like riding in a delivery van.
Why don’t you convert super fast a B.M.W or Audi to do the job.
You can get mussel car with fancy wheels and tires from ill gotten gains.
I have an idea. Take that expensive white tinted W&E car/jeep (that the purse paid for) away from that guy and use that.
@Somuchless
I have an even better idea . Take the money that would have gone to the disgraced former premier Craig Cannonier , couple that with the salary of the soon to be disgraced Tourism Minister (we don’t need one now that the TA is functioning) and walla we got all the money we need .
The new gov. Fiscal year started April 1, stop pay for Craig , May 31 . Ten months pay left over . Micheal Dunkley should only draw one salary .
Better still, close the LFUCC facility in St David’s and use the money saved to have an ambulance at both the West End and East End.
First they need to resolve the reliability problems with the current fleet. There should be a ambulance stationed at both ends of the island.
Here…here!” micro…
One ambulance? How does that solve anything as they still have to drive to town to drop off patients, therefore taking same response time to respond to a call from the hospital back to dockyard? Get with the rest of the world and have ECP’s or fast response medic cars to look after and stabilize patients whilst waiting for ambulance transport.