St John Ambulance in crisis (From Western Telegraph)

St John Ambulance in crisis

The Pembrokeshire branch of St John Ambulance is facing a funding and volunteer crisis. And, unless it is solved, the organisation may not be able to provide first aid back-up at many events in the county.

The branch operated six ambulances up to two years ago. Now the number has been reduced to three, and by the end of the year it will have gone down to two.

This is because St John Ambulance in the county does not receive the same support and donations it used to from the public and it cannot replace its older vehicles.

Keith McNiffe, regional duty officer for West Wales, said: "The money has just dried up. Ambulances now have to conform to EU regulations and we cannot buy ex-ambulances like we used to. "By the end of the year we will lose our Pembroke Dock ambulance." Stringent insurance cover now means that many events require ambulances on site as well as first aiders.

Mr McNiffe, who comes from Pembroke, says the county needs three new 0vehicles over the next 12 to 18 months which will cost £120,000. He explained that if any company or organisation would like to sponsor an ambulance, their name would be put on the side of the vehicle.

The branch also urgently needs more volunteers. "Our organisation relies on volunteers but unfortunately we have fewer people coming forward than we used to," said Mr McNiffe. "This is due to a combination of circumstances. There is a change in people's attitude. "Many want to be paid rather than do something as a volunteer. And there are also many more organisations and charities looking for volunteers." Anyone who would like to help or join St John Ambulance can contact Mr McNiffe on 01646 683998.

The importance of the role of St John Ambulance was highlighted at a recent moto cross event at West Atheston Farm, near Narberth, on bank holiday Monday when a participant, a 47-year-old Swansea man, suffered a heart attack.

An off-duty nurse was first to reach the man, but St John Ambulance volunteers were on the scene in two minutes and they were able to carry out defibrillation within four minutes.

Sadly, despite the fact that paramedics and an air ambulance also arrived within ten minutes, they were unable to save the man. The moto cross meeting was abandoned after the incident and the riders agreed that the entry fees should be shared between St John Ambulance and the Air Ambulance.