By Lesley Richardson
The Press Association
DORSET, U.K. — Paramedics fighting to save a nine-year-old girl with a fractured skull were told the nearest crew could not attend as back-up because they were on a meal break, it was disclosed today.
Bethany Dibbs was injured when a car crashed into her scooter in Upton, Dorset after 5pm last Thursday.
Paramedics first at the scene were told they would have to wait nearly 20 minutes for back-up to arrive because the nearest crew in Poole still had a few minutes of break-time left.
A lifesaver at the scene called Poole ambulance station direct and they abandoned their break to be on scene five minutes after the first crew had arrived.
Bethany was transferred from Poole Hospital to Southampton with a fractured skull and she is now making a strong recovery.
A paramedic, who asked not be named, told the Daily Echo newspaper in Bournemouth: ``It’s the way things are going. Things are happening just down the road and they are not sending the nearest crew.
“There is not one member of the ambulance service who would not go, but we have to be given two 30-minute meal breaks and we can’t be interrupted. It’s just a joke.’'
Her father Stephen Dibbs, 48, who runs a motorcycle business near the accident spot, criticised the system and said: ``I’m totally angry with the situation, it’s just crazy.
“I was sitting there, sweating. My wife was with her and we were waiting for the ambulance for what seemed like an eternity.
“She was crossing the road and a car came round the corner.
“I wasn’t actually there, she was with my older daughter.
“Suddenly I was aware, my wife went up there and I went shortly afterwards.
“I knew it was serious because she was drifting in and out of consciousness with a car wheel next to her head.’'
Bethany, from Poole, Dorset, was put into a medically-induced coma after suffering a fractured skull, neck injuries and blood clots.
Mr Dibbs, his wife Anna, 41, and their 11-year-old daughter Charlotte are now waiting to find out if Bethany has any long-term injuries from the crash.
She has regained consciousness but the bleed on her brain has got bigger and may need further surgery.
Mr Dibbs said he was shocked when he found out that the nearest crew was not immediately dispatched because of the strict break rule.
“I was shocked about it,’' he said. “It’s ridiculous, absolutely ludicrous.’'
Joanne Kaye-Smith, regional manager of the union Unison, said: “While there is a national agreement on rest breaks meaning that staff are not paid during this period, we know that our members as professionals would always be willing to be flexible and to put patients safety first.’'
Robert Syms, Tory MP for Poole, criticised the rule and said he would raise it with the chairman of the health select committee.
“It just seems daft that ambulance crews spend a lot of time waiting to be called out,’' he said.
“If you don’t call them when they are on a lunch break then effectively their down time is such that they are not being used for the skills they are being paid for.
“Most of the people I talk to are quite happy to attend local accidents and emergencies and I think these regulations are far too rigid and need to be looked at.
“I find it very disappointing the South West Ambulance Authority who are responsible for the ambulance in our area are still standing by the view it was right not to send the nearest crew because clearly pulling someone from further away isn’t really a good use of resources or a good way to run an ambulance service.’'
Copyright 2009 The Press Association Limited
All Rights Reserved