As stated, I have no personal interest but it seems people are not being proactive and finding information for themselves - if I was a subscriber I would have already gone to the Evangelismos Hospital and discussed my membership with the relevant personnel.
11th July 2017 - from this section of the website:
http://www.ambulancecyprus.com/about/TO ALL MEMBERS OF PHOENIX AMBULANCE SERVICE AND EVANGELISMOS AMBULANCE & EMERGENCY PLAN
Rumours and speculation continue to be disseminated on forums and between members. It is important, therefore, that you are fully aware of the facts surrounding Evangelismos taking sole control of the EVH-Phoenix Medical Emergencies Company.
As there is no current Cyprus law governing the organisation and delivery of ambulance services, anyone who offered an Ambulance Service could take advantage of this lack of legislation and they have promoted their ambulance service for all of these years without any specific control from the Ministry of Health.
It should be noted that the Ministry examination of an ambulance happens only once to inspect whether it is carrying the proper equipment and is in a fit state to be used as an ambulance. Subsequently, if they are not operating under a licensed organisation – ie - a Hospital or Medical Centre, they are not examined again by the Ministry of Health.
These are the main reasons why, when Evangelismos merged with Phoenix Ambulance Service, it was necessary to invest a considerable amount of money to upgrade the ambulances. Had there been a critical emergency and a Phoenix ambulance had attended, patients would have found no inverter for the defibrillators, one had failed batteries, no working air conditioning and all the vital medication had expired.
However, Evangelismos Hospital’s ambulances are stringently examined every six months by the Ministry of Health because they are part of a Registered and Approved Private Hospital. An English translation of Evangelismos Hospital Licence can be supplied to any member requesting it.
The former Phoenix Ambulance Service has said, on the forums, one of the reasons for their decision to join Evangelismos Hospital was because a new law is about to be enacted in the Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus which would not allow English paramedics to run the Phoenix organisation. The former Manager of Phoenix Ambulance Service has had to admit on a public forum that he not considered a qualified paramedic under UK law.
Evangelismos has always had paramedics on their emergency team. Mr Chris Laybourne who is especially well known in Paphos for his expertise, gives advice and training to our crew, drivers and nurses and he is instrumental in the Organization as a member of the Emergency Department.
All nurses in the Medical Centre and Emergency department have passed ILS training and they have had refresher training courses. The Resuscitation Council (UK) Immediate Life Support (ILS) course was launched in 2002. It was developed in response to a demand from healthcare professionals who may have to act as first responders and treat patients in cardiac arrest until the arrival of a cardiac arrest team.
Under the new laws being passed in the Cyprus Parliament this year, a nurse with an ALS is considered to be sufficiently trained to be on the ambulance. The Resuscitation Council (UK) Advanced Life Support (ALS) course was launched 1993. It is a standardised national course teaching evidence-based resuscitation guidelines and skills to healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom. The ALS course has also been adopted by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC). Our target is that the emergency nurses will start upgrading to conform to the new legislation.
The existing training, experience and support of our current emergency doctors covering the Medical Centres and emergency department of EVH as well as the on call consultants of every speciality is of a much higher standard than paramedics.
Keep in mind that the term “Paramedic” is not recognized by the Ministry of Health in Cyprus.
Under the existing law in Cyprus, anybody who has been trained to drive a Heavy Goods vehicle can drive an ambulance. There is no Emergency Response Driver Training in Cyprus although it is our plan that all our drivers can be upgraded to the standard of a technician.
The presence of a fully qualified and registered doctor and the 24/7 organisation of the Medical Centres with an “on call” doctor ensures that any medical emergency can be treated immediately and in the utmost safety offering the best practice for a health service.
It was impossible for any Ambulance Service, having only two paramedics (some working part time in the UK) to cover on a 24/7, 365 days a year, an ambulance service.
Evangelismos’ Team has covered, and is covering, all the events of Paphos 2017 with no complaints having been received.
The Evangelismos Ambulance and Emergency Service has dealt with many serious health situations and has saved several lives
As Evangelismos Hospital’s target is to offer professional and responsible safety for the citizens covering the whole district, from Pyrgos to Pissouri we have created:
Medical Centres in the whole district.
Created a Central Dispatcher office in Evangelismos Emergency Department.
Keeping an ambulance crew on 24/7
Polis Medical Centre
Peyia Medical Centre
Evangelismos Emergency Department
Aphrodite Hills Medical Centre
Supporting the Medical Centres with GP Doctors and Consultants on 24/7 basis.
With the explanations given above, I hope all members of the ex-Phoenix Ambulance Plan as well as our own current members, will appreciate the very valid reasons for the merger and will understand that membership of the new EVH-Phoenix Medical Emergencies Company will give patients and family members considerable peace of mind in the knowledge that should an accident or emergency occur, immediate professional treatment will be available.
Dr Nestoras Michael.
CEO Evangelismos Hospital
11th July, 2017
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