The Star (Sheffield)
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All Rights Reserved
YORKSHIRE — A MUM-to-be in labour was delayed in getting to hospital to give birth after thieves stole a satellite navigation system from an ambulance in Sheff-ield.
The ambulance crew had answered an urgent call to collect the woman from her home in Sands Close, Gleadless Valley, and rush her to the Jessop hospital in Broomhill.
But when paramedics returned to the ambulance to help the woman on board, they realised a window had been smashed and the satellite navigation system stolen.
A spokeswoman said the theft resulted in a short delay while another crew was despatched because the ambulance was unroadworthy.
Chris Lucas, operations manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “It is beyond belief that this theft occurred when paramedics were attending to a patient.
“The person responsible is contributing to a potential delay in the delivery of emergency medical assistance to the people of South Yorkshire. This is a problem we shouldn’t have to encounter.”
The emergency vehicle is now off the road while the broken window is fixed and a new satellite navigation system fitted. The systems, which are specially designed for use in emergency vehicles, are useless to anyone else.