Workers at an ambulance belief have warned they can not drive a brand new fleet of autos resulting from their top and physique form.
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Belief (EEAST) launched the £54m transformed Fiats to exchange its ageing Mercedes vans. The mannequin has been rolled out throughout the nation in an effort to standardise NHS emergency autos.
However paperwork obtained by the BBC revealed a listing of reported issues with the Fiats Ducatos with 160 workers members experiencing issues driving the autos.
Following an evaluation, 94 folks had been recognized as being unable to drive the autos. Complaints included again ache, restricted view of the windscreen and restricted legroom.
Additional points included the engine chopping out when driving over potholes and velocity bumps, pedals being too shut collectively, and palms and fingers getting trapped within the sliding door.
An emergency medical technician instructed the BBC that they’d issues with automobile’s pedals and steering wheel, which made them unable to drive the ambulance.
“I used to be instructed that anybody over 5ft 9in (1.75m) could be unable to drive it as they might not have the ability to obtain a cushty and secure driving place,” they mentioned.
“I did attempt to get into the driving force’s seat however I couldn’t alter the seat to permit me to function the pedals correctly and the steering wheen was pressed towards my legs, making it troublesome to steer safely.”
The brand new fleet of Fiats had been rolled out throughout the nation following a 2019 report, which referred to as for ambulance providers to standardise their autos.
The report acknowledged: “It’s merely unacceptable that trusts buy totally different ambulances and inventory them with distinction tools and medicines.
“This demonstrably will increase prices and there’s an unarguable case to develop a standard specification throughout England and transfer quickly to centralised procurement for the ambulance fleet.”
Intensive testing was carried out on totally different trial autos earlier than buy of the Fiats was accredited in 2018.
The EEAST has shared all particulars of the evaluation with NHS England and Enchancment (NHSE&I) and are in talks with different ambulance trusts concerning the autos.
An EEAST spokesperson mentioned: “Our new fleet of ambulances was rolled out three years in the past following intensive trials with colleagues and session with workers, commerce unions, sufferers and carer teams.
“For the reason that rollout a small variety of colleagues raised considerations concerning the cab space, which is similar as the present nationwide ambulance specification.
“Now we have been working to deal with these points – which have an effect on a small proportion of our colleagues – by evaluation by an unbiased ergonomist to establish potential modifications to the autos.
“Now we have additionally retained a few of our older Mercedes fleet for employees who’re unable to drive the Fiat ambulances, and we’re exploring additional choices for a extra everlasting resolution.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
