DON'T ABANDON VITAL AMBULANCE CAR SERVICE DEMANDS NICK HARVEY
October 30, 2008 1:31 PM
Nick Harvey, MP for North Devon, says: 'Ever since the South West Ambulance Service withdrew from the bulk of the Voluntary Ambulance Car Service (VACS), Devon Primary Care Trust has systematically failed to plan ahead.'
Councillor Adam Symons, Lead Member for Health in Torridge, has recently highlighted how Torridge Community Transport Association, which supports VACS and serves North Devon and the hospital, fears for the future. Councillor Symons notes:
'There is to be new criteria as to who is eligible for ambulance transport to and from hospital and there is real concern that there will be no support for Community Transport Associations as a result of this change. The next phase of hospital transport to be withdrawn is apparently for those patients requiring disabled-accessible vehicles. We cannot simply abandon the elderly and frail to the mercy of public transport.'
Nick Harvey adds: 'It is no secret that SWAST and North Devon Hospital are chaffing at the bit to withdraw completely from the provision of VACS. However, there seems to be no substitute and already renal and cancer patients seeking guaranteed transport, which SWAST acknowledges; nonetheless there is real confusion as to how a total withdrawal from VACS can take place and what the impact will be.
'There must be definite plans, particularly timescales, funding, and guarantees for 'frequent flyers' such as renal and cancer patients.'
'I and Councillor Symons are currently pressing the PCT, Hospital Trust and Minister to take urgent action before the uncertainty gets worse.'
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats