Call for inquiry over 12-hour surgery wait
%26bull; Crash victim in 12-hour ordeal
The Dominion Post reported today that Reece Lloyd-Grimwood had to wait 12 hours for his surgery because there was no ambulance to transport him from Masterton to Hutt Hospital.
The 20-year-old badly scraped his arm and hand in an car accident at 1.30am on Wednesday.
He needed to be transferred for plastic surgery. Initially when an ambulance could not come his mother Anne-Maree Grimwood offered to drive him herself. Five hours later her offer was accepted.
I didnt get into theatre until 11pm, Mr Lloyd-Grimwood said.
I mean 12 hours to get a trip over to Lower Hutt? What do they mean they cant get an ambulance?
Wairarapa Ambulance Service manager Shaun Camp told the newspaper the service had four ambulances but only one was used for transfers and it did not want emergency ambulances tied up doing transfers. No off duty drivers were available.
We do have limited resources. Sometimes we cant fulfil every need all the time.
He said anyone whose life was in danger would get an ambulance.
Green MP Sue Kedgley said Mr Lloyd-Grimwoods treatment was shocking.
Ambulances are a core part of our emergency services, they are a necessity, not a luxury, she said.
I urge ACC and the Wairarapa District Health Board to launch a formal inquiry into this incident and the state of the regions ambulance services.
- NZPA
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Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 12:44 am under