Concern at shortage of ambulance drivers

THE PUBLIC health services have become increasingly concerned over the shortage of volunteer ambulance drivers at rural health centres, reports said yesterday.

The problem has become so widespread that it is affecting the transportation of patients to and from peripheral hospitals, Phileleftheros said.

According to the paper, the Health Ministry has been unable to recruit volunteer ambulance drivers because there is no one available who wants to undertake the role, despite financial incentives adopted three years ago to promote it.

The daily said eight or nine rural health centres possessed an ambulance, with five volunteer drivers needed for each one.

Authorities fear that what has already become a worrying concern will worsen if proposals to restructure the ambulance service are not adopted. The proposal foresees the creation of two ambulance stations in Astromeritis and Trimiklini, pending the approval of Health Minister Charis Charalambous. Once the minister has approved the proposal, it will go to the Finance Ministry and from there to the Cabinet.

Recently, DISY deputy Stella Kyriakides also brought up the issue of the Palechori community’s only ambulance, which the village lent to Nicosia hospital to use during its move from the old building to the new one in Latsia last October. The Palechori community health centre never saw its ambulance again after that. The reason, Phileleftheros said, was due to a lack of volunteer drivers.

Evrychou village also has a shortage of ambulance drivers due to sick leave.

In order to cover both villages’ needs, Kyperounda hospital has taken over.

Health Minister Charis Charalambous could not be reached for comment.

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