Latest news with #ambulances
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT: 'Art and science' to emergency care planning
There is an "art and science" to planning the emergency healthcare response to the annual TT festival, the man tasked with running the ambulance service has said. More doctors, nurses, surgeons, and ambulances are available over the fortnight on the Isle of Man, which runs until 7 Care's director of ambulance services Will Bellamy said there was ongoing forward thinking to factor in what marks the health care provider's busiest time. He said: "It's a massive influx of population to the island and we factor that into our planning." As well as an increase of on-call and on-duty staff within Manx Care, Mr Bellamy said a further eight members of "mutual aid" had come over from the south east coast ambulance service. While the local team would receive an average of 500 calls to 999 over a two-week period, during the TT fortnight that rose by about 200, he said. 'Myriad of procedures' Over the racing fortnight elective surgeries are paused to enable extra capacity for trauma care at Noble's Hospital. Mr Bellamy explained that there were additional doctors and nurses on shift within the minor injuries units and emergency department, as well as more surgeons, to cope with the potential increase on were also extra teams to operate aircraft to transport patients to hospitals in the UK whenever needed, with daily discussions held with tertiary specialist hospitals about available capacity, he said. Throughout most of the year there are four frontline ambulances on duty during the day, and three at night on the island. But Mr Bellamy said that increased to seven during the day and five overnight during the TT said while you could not predict the number of incidents any one year, there was an "art and science to be applied".He said the "art" came from years of history and experience knowing "where accident black spots will be".The science was looking at the data, especially 999 calls, "to come up with an activity plan and a response plan for the island", he Bellamy also offered a reassure local residents and visitors that if anyone fell ill during the TT, especially during racing, that there were "a myriad of procedures to get around this island" and no one should delay calling them. "Whether we come to you via cars, ambulances, or we come to you in the air via a helicopter, it's all been part of our planning," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Should I go through a red light if an ambulance is behind me?
ONE of the most difficult positions drivers can find themselves in is being stuck at red lights and seeing blue lights approaching in their rear-view mirror. Emergency services such as fire engines and ambulances are permitted to drive through red lights when on their way to an emergency which often means drivers will attempt to move out of the way to let the vehicle pass. However, if drivers cross the white line by the traffic lights, they are committing a traffic offence and could cause another accident by doing so. A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance has shared advice on what to do. They said: "If you are at the lights and can see an emergency vehicle behind you, stay where you are until the light turns green or the emergency vehicle has passed. "Our teams are trained to safely navigate through traffic, sometimes using oncoming lanes or filter lanes. "But when it is not safe, we will maintain a safe distance, turn off sirens but keep lights on, and wait until it is safe to move." Crossing the white line when a light is red can result in points and a fine, but could also pose a danger to pedestrians and other cars not expecting a vehicle to cross the line.
The Independent
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
M4 crash: Major incident closes motorway at junction 10 near Reading
A motorway has been closed in both directions with six ambulances at the scene of a major incident on Sunday afternoon. National Highways said the M4 in Berkshire was closed eastbound, between junctions 11 and 10, and westbound, between junctions 8, 9 and 11, following a "serious injury incident' and overturned vehicle. Just before 4pm, Thames Valley Police said the closure would likely be in place "for the foreseeable future" and urged drivers to avoid the area. A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: 'The M4 is closed in both directions, between Junction 11 and Junction 8. Officers are at the scene of a road traffic collision. 'Please avoid the area. The closure is likely to be in place for the foreseeable We will provide further updates when possible.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Russia has destroyed and damaged over 2,300 medical facilities since February 2022
Russia has damaged and destroyed over 2,300 medical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war. Source: Ministry of Health of Ukraine Details: According to updated information from the ministry, Russia has damaged over 2,300 medical infrastructure facilities. Of these, 2,020 have been damaged and 305 destroyed completely. Medical institutions in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts have suffered the most. In addition to hospitals, outpatient clinics and maternity wards, Russian forces also systematically target ambulances. A total of 116 ambulances have been damaged, 274 destroyed and another 80 seized since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Quote from the Ministry of Health: "It is important to note that thanks to the coordinated efforts of the state and international partners, 700 medical facilities have been fully repaired and another 312 partially repaired, including critically important hospitals and primary healthcare centres in frontline oblasts. In total, over 1,000 repaired medical institutions can now receive patients again." Background: In August 2024, the World Health Organisation confirmed that Russia had conducted 1,940 attacks on Ukraine's medical system since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
