News Release

18th October 2006

STAFFORDSHIRE AMBULANCE FIRST RESPONDERS DOWNGRADED (UPDATE)

Further to the news release dated 17th October, Staffordshire Ambulance Service has now just announced the withdrawal 7 drugs from First Responders leaving 6 still in use. The drugs to be withdrawn are Atrovent, Diazepam Stesolid, Entonox, GTN, Midazolam (Buccal), Pulmicort, and Salbutamol. This is in contrast to the letter written to Staffordshire MPs by Steve Coneys, Head of Special Projects, NHS West Midlands which stated:-

"At a meeting of the newly established Partnership Board between Staffordshire Ambulance Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service it was established that Staffordshire Community First Responders are using a range of 13 medicines in their role as First Responders. Only 3 of these medicines are eligible for use by lay people (non-health professionals) under the legal framework for medicines. I should stress that the Community First Responders are trained lay people and not paramedics or paramedic technicians. The 3 medicines sanctioned for use in a "life saving emergency" and as such, can continue to be used by the Community First Responders."

Michael Fabricant now says: "This is a confused and worrying development. If it weren't so serious, it would be a farce. While I am pleased that in Staffordshire fewer drugs have been withdrawn than first demanded by the NHS West Midlands, the 7 drugs withdrawn are life savers. There is no evidence that they have been wrongly prescribed in the past and this latest development will cost Staffordshire lives".