XN000022-1987-06-17 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987

TURNING TO THE TRAINING OF AMBULANCE CREW, PROF. POON SAID THE EXISTING LEVEL OF TRAINING WAS CONSIDERED BARELY ADEQUATE TO ENABLE AMBULANCE PERSONNEL TO RECOGNISE THE PATIENT'S CONDITION AND ΤΟ RENDER STABILISING TREATMENT ON THE SPOT, INCLUDING RESUSCITATION TO CONTINUE SUCH TREATMENT DURING TRANSPORT TO HOSPITAL.

AND

HE SAID IT WAS DESIRABLE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SOME OF THE STAFF AND THE LEVEL OF TRAINING THEY RECEIVED.

"THEY SHOULD BE TRAINED TO HANDLE CLINICALLY URGENT CONDITIONS SUCH AS HEART RESUSCITATION AND SERIOUS TRAUMA," HE SAID, NOTING THAT THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS REQUIRING HEART-LUNG RESUSCITATION WAS VERY LARGE.

HE SAID TRAINING SHOULD INCLUDE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN THE TRANSFER OF NEW BORN BABIES TO HOSPITALS. THERE HAD BEEN GROSS DEFICIENCY OF TRAINED PERSONNEL IN THIS AREA.

PROF.

TURNING TO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AMBULANCES AND HOSPITALS,

POON SAID DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN THE AMBULANCE CREW AND DOCTORS IN AN EMERGENCY WARD MUST BE ESTABLISHED WHILE AN AMBULANCE SERVICE WAS BEING DELIVERED.

HE NOTED THAT IN NORTH AMERICA, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS DIRECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AMBULANCE CREW AND HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS. THE CREW WOULD FUNCTION AS NURSE-PRACTITIONERS TO CONDUCT FIRST CONTACT ASSESSMENTS ON THEIR PATIENTS. THE EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS WOULD GIVE ORDERS OR ADVICE OVER THE PHONE FOR APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN,

PROBLEMS IN AMBULANCE SERVICES IDENTIFIED

* * *

SAID THAT THREE OF SERVICES, WERE MISUSE

GRADING OF AMBULANCE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG PROBLEM AREAS IN AMBULANCE SERVICES EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STAFF.

SPEAKING IN THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON AMBULANCE SERVICE, MR TAM SAID THAT SERVICES HAD TWO MEANINGS, THE FIRST OF WHICH THE SECOND WAS LAWFUL BUT IMPROPER USE.

DURING THE ADJOURNMENT "MISUSE" OF AMBULANCE WAS UNLAWFUL USE AND

/HE NOTED

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