2024-03-06 14:29:26
The administration of the EKAV categorically denies the complaint regarding the refusal of the EKAV branch of Ioannina to carry out an inter-hospital transfer of a child, from the University Hospital of Ioannina to the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital in Athens, due to the end of the rescuers’ shift.
According to what was reported by the father of a 7-year-old girl, he was forced to make the transfer with his IX car, as the EKAV of Ioannina could not undertake the transfer, because the crew’s shift ended at 8 in the morning. Something, however, which the EKAV emphasizes is not the case, as there was no refusal to transfer, but it was said that it cannot guarantee the completion of the transfer of the girl to the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital before 8 in the morning, when the on-call ended of.
The EKAV states in detail in its response: “On Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 2:50 am the call center of the EKAV Branch of Ioannina received a call from a doctor of the P.G.N. of Ioannina, regarding a question about the possibility of carrying out an inter-hospital transfer of a child to the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital in Athens, pointing out that the ambulance crew should have delivered the child to the doctor accepting the incident before 8:00 am which the duty of the Athens Hospital ends. The operator explained to the calling doctor that based on the distance in kilometers (about 420 km) and the required time of the protocols for receiving and delivering the patient, combined with the security issues that arise, it is not possible to guarantee the arrival of the ambulance in Athens before 8:00 am when the duty of the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital ended.
Then, specifically at 3:10 am, the doctor from P.G.N. of Ioannina again called the telephone center of the EKAB Ioannina Branch and requested, now officially, the realization of the inter-hospital transfer to the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital.
At 3:23 am, the process of preparing the ambulance for the transfer was activated. However, at 3:45 am, a 3rd call was made by the doctor of P.G.N. Ioannina where he requested the cancellation of the inter-hospital transfer, because at the initiative and sole responsibility of the child’s relative, he would be transferred to Athens by private means.
In conclusion, it is obvious that a refusal to transfer was never formulated or reported by the staff of the EKAV Ioannina Branch, and even more so because of the end of their shift. On the contrary, what was brazenly mentioned, concerned the impossibility of a guaranteed arrival time of the ambulance in Athens, before the end of the duty of the “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital (and not the end of the shift of the ambulance crews), given the kilometer distance in relation to by achieving the safe passage of all passengers to the point of destination.
The rescuers of EKAV, nationwide, carry out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year hundreds of transports (whether primary or secondary), with the primary concern being both the safety of each patient and themselves”.