Concern about delays in obtaining medical assistance

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 26, 29 November 1983, Page 1

Concern about delays in obtaining medical assistance

Delays being experienced in obtaining medical assistance at accidents is concerning the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade. This concern was expressed in a letter from Ohakune 's chief fire officer, Max Martin, to the Wanganui Hospital Board. copy of this letter was i^Pbnsidered by the Ohakune Borough Council at their regular monthly meeting on Thursday 24 November. The letter states: We, the Ohakune Volunteer Fire Brigade, are concerned at the delay in medical assistance at road accidents we have attended of late.

After contacting a local doctor regarding this matter, we were told that the ambulance personnel are quite capable and fully trained to apply medical assistance and that the doctor could be better used at the Raetihi Hospital receiving the accident victims. However, lately we have attended two accidents that necessitated urgent medical assistance and have experienced delays of up to fortyfive minutes, as the ambulance has been out at other calls. At both accidents the victims were seriously injured and there was a danger of

hypothermia and shock due to the wet cold conditions at thetime. Fortunately medical assistance was obtained by travelling practitioners. Our Brigade has attended double the number of accidents this year than we did the previous year and we feel that, with the influx of visitors during the ski season and the behaviour of some of the drivers, lives will be lost, due to the delays experienced with medical assistance. We therefore ask your Board to assist us in rectitying the matter before the inevitable happens. We await your most urgent reply.

Signed:

M.A.

Martin