Ice fall victim taken to hospital in fire engine
A WOMAN with a suspected broken leg had to be taken to hospital in a fire engine as no ambulances were available.
The woman, in her 20s, had slipped on the ice near Bradford magistrates’ court.
David Williams, secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in West Yorkshire, said: “What if the casualty had gone into shock in the back of the appliance? There’s no drips or equipment like that to help her. We aren’t equipped.”
The union said incidents like this may occur more often because of pressures on the ambulance service.
West Yorkshire Fire Service said an ambulance was not available at the time on December 18 due to high demand. John McSorley, of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said as her injuries were not life- threatening they had prioritised other patients.
He added: “We work closely with our emergency service colleagues and are grateful for their support on this occasion.”