Probe under way after ambulances’ doors open unexpectedly

THE HSE has confirmed an investigation is under way after two incidents this month in which the side doors on two ambulances opened unexpectedly.

As a result, the side doors on several ambulances have been taped up and staff told not to use them unless they are in an emergency situation.

This is the second time the HSE has issued this directive to staff about the side doors — the first was in June last year after a paramedic died when he fell from the side door of a moving ambulance.

Following this, the HSE and the National Ambulance Service had the mechanisms checked in all the doors and the side doors were available for use again.

That work was welcomed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as it meant they were not afraid of being trapped in an ambulance if the rear door became blocked or unsafe to use.

However, earlier this month the HSE told staff there had been two incidents, “one in the east, one in the south where the side door opened as the vehicle pulled away from a parked position”.

“Both vehicles have been extensively checked by our service engineers and no faults have been found with the side doors.”

It is not clear if the doors were fully closed before the ambulances pulled off or whether human error could have been a factor.

EMTs and other ambulance staff are under strict orders to only open the side door when a vehicle is “fully stopped”.

It is only to be used as an emergency exit for safety reasons. There is now a safety notice on the internal window of side doors and tape has been placed over the opening mechanism on the doors.

The HSE said that due to an “ongoing investigation process” it cannot comment further but “staff and patient safety is of the utmost importance to the National Ambulance Service, which is committed to delivering pre-hospital emergency care”.

A spokesperson said the service is “in line with best practice and in accordance with standards outlined by both the Health Information and Quality Authority and Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council.”

One EMT said: “It is now much harder to get out of the side door if, for example, the rear door is damaged in a road traffic accident. Sealing up the door is making me and my colleagues very nervous.”