Two patient transfer ambulance staff were admitted to hospital and treated with oxygen after suffering from suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning this week.
The pair, who work for Emed Group, the non-emergency patient transfer contractor for Brighton and Hove, were admitted to the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), in Haywards Heath on Tuesday (25 November).
Both felt ill on the journey from their base, in Littlehampton, and when they arrived at the PRH, one of them was violently sick while both had complained of headaches and nausea.
They were admitted and kept in overnight and were reportedly treated with 15 litres of oxygen.
Their union, the GMB, has taken up the matter, contacting Emed and bringing it to the attention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE said: “We have received the concern and are making further inquiries.”
Sussex branch secretary Mark Turner said: “We are calling for all of their vehicles to be withdrawn and checked for the health and safety of our members and patients.”
The union said that it had not received a response from the company which employs staff in Hailsham and Burgess Hill as well as in Littlehampton and Tangmere.
The company took over the £230 million 10-year contract for Sussex in April from the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
The service transports eligible patients to and from hospital for non-emergency appointments such as those needing kidney dialysis.
Patients are considered eligible if
- They have a medical condition that prevents them from using other forms of transport without damaging or risking their health
- Their mobility means that they would be unable to use any other means of transport, for example, patients on stretchers
- They need the skills and support of specialist patient transport staff, for example, to administer oxygen during the journey
It was not clear whether any patients were being carried at the time. Emed was contacted for comment.
I suspect, more accurately, they were treated with 15L/min of oxygen. The high-flow concentration of oxygen to displace is the treatment for CO2 poisoning. Minor clarification!
Minor correction to Benjamin’s comment. It was carbon monoxide poisoning so CO not CO2 which is carbon dioxide.
Yes, absolutely! That was a silly typo. Thanks.
Two more staff members down yesterday with the same and still nothing being done by EMED.