Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 2:06pm
The following was posted in Camposol Facebook groups. I post it here for info.
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MESSAGE FROM BAZ HAMILTON PRESIDENT FAST IN RESPONSE TO A RECENT MESSAGE FROM OUR COUNCILLOR: SILVANA BUXTON.
THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE FINAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE FAST ORGANISATION UNTIL OUR CURRENT SITUATION IS RESOLVED.
Dear Residents and Visitors,
It is not my intention to criticise, defame, vilify or discredit any individual, in particular our Good Lady Councillor. This message is purely and simply information of events leading up to the current suspension of services and how we intend to resolve the situation.
After many months of requesting a meeting with the Mayor and other Town Hall Officials, we (FAST) had a meeting with the 112 Manager and Silvana Buxton who claims to have attended as an Observer; unfortunately, the Mayor had other business to attend to at theRlast minute.
The purpose of the meeting was to request permission to install two Semi Automatic Defibrillators (AEDs) on both Commercial Centres on Camposol and train interested parties and business employees on CPR/AED.
This was deemed achievable by the 112 Manager, but was later considered wasteful as the Council are intending placing three AEDs on Camposol next year.
I made it clear that FAST will always be compliant with all Rules, Regulations and Protocols and our aim is to compliment the 112 Ambulance service, which through no fault of their own, have on occasions taken up to an hour to respond.
The 112 Manager said he was very happy with the Excellent training we deliver and that we should continue training as many people as possible. However, he would like FAST to comply with the following:
• That the livery on our Vehicles has the words URGENCIA and EMERGENCIA removed.
• That our Uniform Shirts remove the words URGENCIA and EMERGENCIA
• We should ensure that 112 services are called first
• The recovery position is not to be used if the casualty is not being left unattended
I agreed to all these conditions on behalf of FAST. At this point Our Councillor brought up the subject of Insurance and how 6 years ago she resigned because she was told she would be culpable should FAST make any mistakes or endanger life. She then declared that FAST’s current Insurance was insufficient as an organisation. Our Legal Advisor and Translator then suggested that we could attend those in need as individuals with NO livery on the vehicles and wearing NO uniform to which the 112 Manager was agreeable working under the Good Samaritan/Neighbour umbrella. Again, our Councillor felt the Insurance was insufficient and our Responders would have to take out personal Insurance as she had previously been advised, unless this could be done, we were breaking the law.
At this point, I declared we had to SUSPEND OUR SERVICE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT as we were being left with NO alternatives.
FAST does have Insurance and has had insurance for over three years however the main problem appears to be the interpretation of the phrase “SOCIAL CARE” which we were informed, when originally taking this insurance, that Social Care meant everything from making someone a cup of tea, consoling someone in need to delivering First Aid. This combined with the professional Level 3 / 4 Qualification accredited by the EU/UK Resuscitation Councils was considered enough for us to operate by the previous Town Hall Administration and 112 Management
It is worthy of noting that our Councillor has never seen our Insurance Policy and, therefore, was commenting on previous information she may have had some years ago. Further to this, for just under a two year period I took full responsibility and agreed all liability for FAST would remain with me as we could not acquire the correct Insurance and this was witnessed by our legal advisor and 112 previous management. I did this without ever discussing this matter publicly not even with my family. Therefore, I think I am very aware of the severity of not having the correct Insurance and as a IOSH member Health and Safety RISK Assessing including Managing a Risk, which I did in this case.
It is our intention to have our current Insurance viewed by a senior Lawyer regarding definition and interpretation, ASAP. This morning I was contacted by a very well respected local charity who are now helping us seek a bespoke Insurance policy.
In the meantime, we will continue training and preparing for our return to doing what every volunteer joined to do: Preserving Life, Preventing Conditions deteriorating and Promoting Recovery. As previously stated this is about delivering a lifesaving service to all our community and not about individuals and officials.
On behalf of FAST please stay safe and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I promise we will do everything legally possible to return your service soon
B Hamilton BEM(Mil) BEM OstJ MSc MRCS (Faculty of Pre Hospital Care)**