O’Love Jacobsen identifies Gaps on Ambulance Services
Acting Director of Health Peter Fetaui said that the department currently has 6 ambulance drivers on staff.
He told BCN News that the department management is working with the drivers to improve the ambulance service of the health department.
Common Roll MP Hon. O’Love Jacobsen, whose husband Patrick Jacobsen passed away two weeks ago, yesterday in the Fono Ekepule extended her gratitude and that of her family for the assistance provided by the Health Department and the government. Jacobsen also revealed gaps in ambulance services of the health department highlighting two cases where the ambulance driver was not available.
BCN News extends our condolences to the Jacobsen family on the passing of Patrick Jacobsen, affectionately known to many as Fao.
Hon. O’Love Jacobsen thanked the government for the medical evacuation flight called to take her husband to New Zealand, unfortunately, he passed away 45 minutes before they arrived.
Hon. Jacobsen also informed the House and called on the Minister of Health to help address some of the issues with the services provided by the hospital. She explained that on the day her husband needed to get to the NIuefoou hospital, there was no ambulance driver available. Two nurses had to use one of the department vehicles to transport her husband to the hospital.
BCN News reached out to Acting Director of Health Peter Fetaui who said that ‘The Health department regrets the actions of their ambulance driver and apologized to the family for the events of that day when the ambulance driver was not at the hospital.
Jacobsen informed the Fono that sadly a similar incident happened a week after her husband passed when his brother called the hospital requesting an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
The ambulance was late to respond and the man passed away in his home.
Peter Fetaui told BCN News that the ambulance driver involved is aware of the impacts of his actions and is remorseful for what happened.
The ambulance driver was placed under disciplinary action and is undergoing performance management.
Acting Director of Health Peter Fetaui said that the department currently has 6 ambulance drivers on staff.
He told BCN News that the department management is working with the drivers to improve the ambulance service of the health department.
