XN000022-1987-06-17 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1987

HE NOTED THAT THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE STATED THAT THE DUTIES OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHALL BE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO CONVEY ANY PERSON WHO APPEARED TO NEED PROMPT OR IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION TO A HOSPITAL OR OTHER PLACES WHERE MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS AVAILABLE.

HE SAID LAWFUL BUT IMPROPER USE COULD BE ILLUSTRATED BY A SIMPLE EXAMPLE: A PERSON SPRAINED HIS FINGER DURING A BALL GAME AND CALLED AN AMBULANCE TO CARRY HIM TO A BONE-SETTER.

THIS DID NOT VIOLATE THE LAW BUT JUDGING BY ORDINARY STANDARDS THAT PERSON HAD MISUSED THE AMBULANCE SERVICE, MR TAM SAID.

"IF THIS SITUATION IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE UNCHECKED, THE MORALE OF THE AMBULANCEMEN AS PROVIDERS OF EMERGENCY BE AFFECTED?" HE QUESTIONED.

WILL ASSISTANCE

NOT

ACCORDING

TURNING TO NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES, MR TAM SAID THAT TO DATA IN THE REPORT ON AMBULANCE SERVICES, BETWEEN 1975 AND 1985 NON-EMERGENCY CALLS HAD INCREASED PERSISTENTLY BY FIVE TIMES WHEREAS EMERGENCY CALLS HAD JUST MORE THAN DOUBLED DURING THE SAME PERIOD.

"GIVEN THE LIMITED RESOURCES, THE DRASTIC AND RAPID INCREASE OF DEMAND FOR NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES WAS BOUND TO RESULT IN A LOWERING OF THE QUALITY OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, HE SAID!

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WITH THE CONTINUING GROWTH OF NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE AMBULANCEMEN WOULD HAVE TO SPEND LESS TIME AND EFFORT ON EMERGENCY SERVICES. THIS MIGHT DAMPEN THE ENTHUSIASM WHICH HAD AT THE OUTSET INSPIRED THEM TO TAKE UP THIS MEANINGFUL CAREER, HE ADDED.

ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE GRADING OF AMBULANCE STAFF, MR TAM SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE AMBULANCE SERVICE REPORT HAD CORRECTLY PROPOSED TO CREATE A LARGE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL AMBULANCE OFFICER POSTS, RUMOUR HAD IT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD AS A CONSEQUENCE DELETE ONE RANK FROM THE NON-OFFICER GRADE.

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"IF THIS IS TRUE, IT WILL SERIOUSLY CURTAIL THE LATTER'S PROMOTION PROSPECT AND WOULD DEFINITELY DEPRESS THEIR MORALE, HE SAID. HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE ASSURANCES TO THE RANK AND FILE REGARDING THEIR PROMOTION PROSPECTS.

TAM SAID

AS

то

IN DEALING WITH THE MISUSE OF AMBULANCE SERVICES, MR IT WAS PARAMOUNT TO REVIEW THE ILL-DEFINED AREAS IN THE LAW SO PLUG THE LOOPHOLE ALLOWING "LAWFUL" MISUSE OF THE SERVICES, AND то STEP UP INVESTIGATIONS INTO AND PROSECUTIONS OF UNLAWFUL USE OF THE SERVICES.

/AS TO