Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
Proposal to base paramedics in fire stations to improve 999 emergency response
By richard wheeler
Thursday, January 24, 2013
6:30 AM
Paramedics could be based at fire stations across Norfolk to improve emergency responses to major incidents.
Norfolk Fire and Rescue has cut costs by £2.5m in the last two years and is expected to save a further £1.3m by 2014/15.
And chief fire officer Nigel Williams told councillors yesterday the best way to preserve frontline services while saving money is to make the most of their assets, including their stations.
Mr Williams was asked whether any more could be done to help firefighters attending road crashes.
This followed the inquest of Catherine Barton, who died on the B1107 near Thetford golf club, when her Ford Ka was involved in a crash with a Volkswagen Golf in August 2011. Firefighters and police were first on the scene and praised by coroner William Armstrong for doing all they could to get more medical assistance for Miss Barton.
But the 27-year-old’s chances of survival were “substantially” reduced by “systematic and individual” failings within the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST), Mr Armstrong said last week.
Chief fire officer Mr Williams told yesterday’s fire and rescue overview and scrutiny committee he was aware crews had “some frustrations” over what happened at the scene. He said he was awaiting suggestions from the coroner, with fire, police and ambulance services expected to be consulted.
After further questions about the impact of ambulance delays, Mr Williams said they were looking to improve firefighters’ trauma care skills although it was important to remember they were not paramedics.
He added: “We are taking steps to have a number of fire stations used by the ambulance service.”
County councillor Nigel Shaw said: “Why can’t there be a paramedic station in each fire station?”
The EEAST has said it acknowledged the coroner’s comments and had already taken measures in response to Miss Barton’s death, including better communication between emergency services.
The EDP launched its Ambulance Watch campaign in response to concerns over the service’s performance.
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10 comments
Selective crew alerting would be fine but the fire service struggles to get enough crew in many parts of the county as it is
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norfolkandgood
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Like Rolf says, location is not the problem because crews never get to any standby during a shift. EEAT receive approx 3000 calls per day, half of them a waste of time due to lack of public education or society today, but disturbing the firefighters in the middle of the night would probably not go down too favourably. I do agree that fire crews should have extended trauma skills if first on scene to an accident until a paramedic arrives though.
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Newuser07
Thursday, January 24, 2013
I am afraid to say in this day and age the Ambulance Service is a joke, day after day the Ambulance Service is not perfrorning to the standards it should be, my family in 2012 needs the Ambulance Service 3 times and on all 3 occasions the Ambulance Service was useless, and we will not be calling them again. we waited a total of 6 hours for them to turn up, the Police and Fire Service do what they are asked, so why not the Ambulance Service, the excuse of under staffed and over worked does not cut it..
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Footyboy16
Thursday, January 24, 2013
logistics would need ironing out but you could always use selective crew alerting.
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Cromer cranky
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Will the fire stations remain open anyway?The FBU warn up to 70 are set to close because of cuts.With the scale of the cuts to come there will inevitably be more proposed for closure.
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Peter Watson
Thursday, January 24, 2013
having the fire service repsond is a good idea but soon there would be critics moaning about the cost of having a full size fire engine turn up with a crew of up to nine firefighters for someone who has stubbed their big toe or to one of the many wasters out there who ring the ambulance service on a daily basis! the problem is with the ambulance service will only be solved with having more qualified staff on amulances and not community responders who are only there to meet response times and not save lives.
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norfolkandgood
Thursday, January 24, 2013
What a top wheeze. I say, someone tell StevieB, quickly now. I mean co-locate plod there too and imagine the savings. He could bank the council tax rise for the next 3 years to pay for a council tax freeze sort of bribe thingy before he comes up for re-election. Theresa, what do you think about elected Fire and Rescue Commissioners? I think that's exactly what the country needs at this time, A Fire And Rescue Commissioners Election.
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Mr Cameron Isaliar
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Fire fighters ain't paramedics says Mr Williams, thats right but their better trained than the first responders that EAAT want to push out onto the public, i've sadly had dealings with both and would rather have fire fighter turn up than first responder until a paramedic turns up. I said it once and i'll say it again, co respond surely it would help in rural areas
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Cromer cranky
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The problem is not location, it is lack of double FULLY QUALIFIED crewed ambulances. Are they talking about a paramedic in a response car or double FULLY QUALIFIED crewed ambulances ? With the new so called Rota Redesign there will be less cover of double FULLY QUALIFIED ambulances.
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Rolf
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Using Fire Stations for standby was used about five years ago. What happened WRONG PLACE - WRONG TIME that was of course if there were any vehicles available to use for standby. When will people understand the ambulance trust problem, to many calls not enough resources and co-operation from other Health Service providers to cope. Credit to the Fire Service after years of telling everybody what they can now do, Boy they know how to back pedal from it when it hits the fan. One last thing, Lamb for Chief executive as he seems to have all the answers and as a politician we know we can trust him to do what is right.
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bazza
Thursday, January 24, 2013