News Release

22nd January 2007

GUARDED WELCOME TO DRUGS RETURN TO COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS

Michael Fabricant has guardedly welcomed the announcement made today by the Staffordshire Ambulance Service that some of the drugs and equipment withdrawn from service from Community First Responders will be restored. But Michael Fabricant says: "This is a helpful step in the right direction, but life saving equipment like ResQPOD which increases blood oxygen in a major heart attack and the drugs Midazolam and Diazepam which are anti-convulsives and Pulmicorte which is an inhaled steroid used in breathing disorders have not been restored. There is considerable evidence that First Responders have used this equipment and drugs effectively in the past to alleviate suffering and save lives and I remain very concerned that they remain withdrawn from service.

"Nevertheless, I welcome the return of Salbutamol ('Ventalin' used by asthma sufferers), GTN (used to alleviate heart conditions), and Entonox (a sedative gas). They should never have been removed in the first place. Indeed the whole issue has been handled in a cack handed manner by Ambulance chiefs.

"I will now be consulting with Community First Responders to see where we go from here. In the meantime, I have a meeting with Anthony Marsh, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Service, on Thursday (25th January) to discuss this issue in further detail. I shall be asking when ResQPOD and the drugs still withdrawn from service will be restored."