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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-01-27, Page 3Ambulance officers by Mona Irwin It's called The Final Report of the Emergency Medical Services Revlew,. But area ambulance officers are skeptical about that word final: That's because this is the third such report drawn up in five years. "We're frustrated and fed up with the continual reviews and recom- mendations," says Art McNaughton, a Seaforth ambulance officer. McNaughton, an aMnbulance of- ficer for 15 years, was one of about 20 officers at a meeting held in Goderich recently. Officers from Seaforth, Clinton, Goderich,' Owen Sound, Stratford 'and Dashwood met to discuss the report. The Final Report of the Emergen- cy Medical Services Review is also known simply as the Swimmer Report, after its chairman, Gene Swimmer. Some 30 people, representing the public, • unions, independent operators and the provincial government provided input to the seven members of the committee that drew up the report. It was released in December 1991 Similar reviews were done in 1987 and 1990, says McNaughton. "And now along comes Mr. Swimmer and his report," he says. "We're afraid it's just going to become a bookend or dust -catcher and in two years we'll have another review." Goderich ambulance officer Liz Blacksays they have three months to make) the public aware of the WI T[E LISTINGS WANTED PAUL ZINN 528-2411 WARREN ZINN 528.37.10 EDGE OF TOWN - 1/2 acre lot 22' x 52' modular home in fair condi- ,tion, septic, no well: $35,000. 399,900 - Newer home approx. 2400.sq. fi., 4 bedrooms,•fireplace. POWER OF 'SALE, - $24,900. Country home on acre lot near Lucknow, well, septic tank. House in poor condition. • 99 ACRE - pasture farm Kinloss, 2 ponds. $7.0,000. VICTORIAN BRICK ori 7 acres, ' 22 x 33 bam, all fenced. $99,000. 41 ACRES - Belgrave, 3 bedroom • brick, small shed, nice setting. $110,000. $89,900 - 2 storey brick, hardwood floors, fireplace, 4 bdrrns. Ross St. • $49,900 - 2 bedroom frame home. 125' x 132' lot. Ludgard St. RETIREMENT BUNGALOW - 2 bedroom carport, family roam. $73,900. • 872,900 - Duplex, 4 and, .2 bed- room, landscaped. Original porch. ONE STOP SHOPPING See Sylvia or Ross for that • - N'EW KITCHEN OR NEW FLOORING You've been looking So hard to find. In Home Personal Consultation & Design Ross' Country Carpets & Kitchens Dungannon 529-7551 importance of the report before the provincial government starts working on its next budget. "The ministry asked for our input (for the report) and got it," she says. "Now it's, been sitting on her desk for a year." There are two important issues at stake for county ambulance officers. The first is the lack of an am- bulance base in Exeter, although it's the county's second largest town. Ambulance service to Exeter is provided by a Dashwood -based service. • The second issue is cutbacks .to Goderich ambulance services made in September 1992. The cutbacks mean the town's second ambulance is no longer automatically staffed and standing by if the first am- bulance is called out of town after 6 p.m. If another ambulance is needed in Lneknow Sentinel, Wednesday,January 27, 1993 - Page 3 are `6frustrated and the Goderich area, officers- will be called 'at their homes - either in Goderich or from nearby com- munities, such as Zurich, Clinton or ever! Kincardine, McNaughton says. This is a matter of particular concern because often, -.when Goderich ambulanc patient to London, the on calls in the London has also suffered cutbac transport a are sent out ea, which "This is happening more and more often," McNaughton says. The Swimmer Report recom- mends, among other things, more extensive training for ambulance officers. This would allow them to operate a wider range of equipment and provide more services, and treatment. "Our level of knowledge has increased; but not the tools -we work with," McNaughton says. "A splint is a splint. Give us more tools so Owners/operators cautious Area ambulance owners and operators are reacting cautiously to a recent report that looks at ways of streamlining Ontario's air and land ambulance services. The Final . Report of the Emergency ' Medic Services Review, chaired by Gene Swimmer, was completed in December 1991. Of the seven ,ambulanbe services 'in Huron County, five are privately owned and the other two owned by hospitals. Goderich and Wingham services are ' owned by. • local Brad Lucas, who provides ambulance service to Zurich, Seaforth and Clinton, said he agrees with some parts of the report "I feel we've ' got. a really good system, probably one of the best in the world," -says. Lucas" "I don't feel it needs to be completely overhauled. Some of the things 1 would like to see are advanced life support, a 911 system - just general - improvements." Harry Hoffman, of Dashwood, provides ambulance service • • to hospitals. • Dashwood and. Exeter, as well as We can help the ,public better." A province -wide 911 system, also recommended, would allow am - balance officers to use defibrillation equipment. Fibrillation, is a con- dition in which -the 'heart muscle quivers rather than beating strongly. But most of all, officers support the recommendation advising the province to bring all ambulance Services under provincial control. Presently the province's 200 am= bulance services are under any one of seven . types of ownership (including provincial ownership)., although all are wholly funded by the Ministry of Health. Bringing them all under one umbrella will allow uniform stan- dards to be set, including minimum response times for emergencies, says McNaughton A two-tiered system would be set up, with vehicles specifically for about report Grand Bend. He declined to comment on the report, saying the Ontario Ambulance Operators' Association (OAQA) would speak for him. OAOA representative Jim Price described the whole issue of ambulance services as "multi- faceted and very sophisticated." The OAOA . agrees with "many areas of the report,' he said, but would not like to see the service become too top-heavy with bureaucrats. tura to page 5 fed up" emergency calls and others transport of patients. Servides kir transporting patients from one hospital to another Are ready , in •the - province, cNaughton says, but many are privately -run companies. from the U.S. for "They're unregulated and uninspected, as far as we know," he says. In spite of that, however, staff employed by many of these services are allowed to operate equipment ambulance officers aren't. "We hope the public will write to (Huron MPP) Paul Klopp and ask why nothing's being done about (the study)," says Paul Kruse, a Clinton ambulance officer. "Ask the Minister of Health to move on it." ' Ambulance officers ' are also wearing, and handing out, orange ribbons oto boost public awareness and support. They are also collec- ting signatures on petitions to show public support for the recommen- dations on the Swimmer Report. Some officers have been threatened with disciplinary actions or dismissal if they wear the orange ribbons on their uniforms. The ban does not apply to ribbons suppor- ting upporting other causes, such as the blue ribbons supporting recently - publicized police concerns or red ribbons to support anti-drinking- and-d>giving programs. Those who wish to write. to -Paul Klopp may do so at ,19' Victoria Si, Clinton, or call him at 482-3132. Klopp could not be reached for comment Most Major Audio Video Suppliers Will - Have Price Increases of -20%byFeb. 1/93 . To Save You Dollars, Bud's Has Brought In Stock At The .Old Prices. SONY SLV49a HI FI VCA 4 HEAD ' ON SCREEN DISPLAY NOW '488. Feb. 1 5530. 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