South Australia's health system is currently so focused on COVID-19 cases that police officers are being forced to act as paramedics by ferrying patients with head and other injuries to hospital, the ambulance union says.
South Australia's health system is currently so focused on COVID-19 cases that police officers have been forced to act as paramedics by ferrying patients with head and other injuries to hospital, the ambulance union has said.
"In one case in particular, there was a patient unconscious and bleeding. The police were on scene. They had called for an ambulance but the wait was so long that they drove the patient in the back of the police car to hospital, and that's just incredibly unsafe," Ms Watkins told ABC Radio Adelaide. "I'm hearing this has been happening frequently on a couple of nights now, where SAPOL has driven patients to hospitals including the Lyell Mc[Ewin], RAH [Royal Adelaide Hospital] and Flinders [Medical Centre]," she said.SA Police confirmed that officers had been forced to take injured patients to hospital, including one of its own personnel.
"The officer sustained an injury to her arm and was taken to the Calvary Hospital immediately by her patrol partner where she was treated."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New COVID restrictions across South Australia as cases soar to record highSouth Australia has recorded a new daily record number of new COVID infections and a range of restrictions will be introduced from midnight. 7NEWS
Read more »
South Australia records 774 new COVID cases, announces new social distancing measuresAs South Australia again sets a new daily record for the number of new COVID-19 cases, the SA government announces new restrictions for hospitality venues, gyms and home gatherings.
Read more »
South Australia introduces more COVID-19 restrictions, scraps PCR tests for arrivalsBreaking: South Australia will impose further COVID-19 restrictions from midnight while scrapping mandatory PCR tests for arrivals, Premier Steven Marshall has announced.
Read more »
Currently 18 active cases of COVID-19 in Western Australia
Read more »
Australia faces Boxing Day virus surge with new COVID cases tipped to break 10,000Australians are bracing for virus case numbers to soar past 10,000 after the second Christmas Day since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
Read more »