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13
Jan 2022
Under pressure Yorkshire Ambulance Service drafts in the military
Yorkshire Ambulance Service has recruited 40 military personnel to offer additional support as it experiences "operational pressures" during the pandemic.
The service said as a result of the Omicron variant it is facing rising numbers of staff going into isolation and calls for help from the public.
This has forced the service to redeploy remaining staff to frontline services and bring in military support for less urgent jobs.
The 40 military personal will be working alongside paramedics to attend minor cases and assist with hospital transfers and discharges.
Nick Smith, executive director of operations, said:
The new recruits will begin training with the ambulance service next week and are expected to start working with patients within a fortnight.
They will receive training in driving ambulances, manual handling, kit familiarisation and basic life support.
The service has insisted it is still "fully operational" and said it expects the military will assist paramedics for a "number of weeks".
Read more:
- Harrogate man forced to miss funerals hits out at Downing Street parties
- Nearly 200 Harrogate hospital staff have covid or are isolating
The ambulance service is also temporarily suspending some non-emergency transport to general outpatient appointments.
It will, however, continue to offer transport to patients receiving life-saving treatment, such as renal dialysis or chemotherapy, treatment for covid, those being discharged or admitted to hospital or transferred between hospital sites.
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