PARAMEDICS WITH THE SCOTTISH AMBULANCE SERVICE (SAS) are claiming that the pressure to meet mandated response times is resulting in ambulances not being properly disinfected.

Not only are they not being give time to perform the daily and weekly cleaning, but they are seldom allowed to give proper cleansing after individual transports.  Requests for time to do “deep” cleaning after a patient has vomited or defecated are being refused in order to get the unit available for the next call more quickly.

One paramedic told the Dumferline Press:

“The only thing that seems to matters these days is reaching target figures on response times.

“The standard of hygiene is very basic. Whereas in other areas they have cleaners, in Fife it is down to the crews.  We wipe down surfaces at the start of the shift and that’s it. Sometimes if jobs are already piling up when you’re starting, it doesn’t even get that.”

Jonathan Fox from the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel said: “The fight against superbugs cannot stop at the hospital door. The ambulance service is part of the total patient care package and nobody should have to be transported or work in a dirty ambulance. The issue of ambulance cleanliness is simply not being taken seriously enough.”

The Dumferline Press has the STORY.

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