Cabbie 'moved ambulance' on emergency call
A TAXI driver has been arrested for driving an ambulance away from the scene of an ill baby.
Police arrested the 64-year-old after he allegedly moved the ambulance, which was blocking the street while preparing to take a five-week-old baby to hospital.
Paramedics called police after the incident at 12.40am on Sunday (August 15).
They reported the taxi driver had become frustrated that the ambulance had temporarily blocked the road.
The cabbie is said to have got in to the vehicle and then driven it a short distance up the street before returning to his taxi and leaving the scene.
The ambulance crews had been called out to a five-week-old baby girl who was potentially suffering from breathing problems and was being treated as an emergency,
The paramedics had to retrieve the ambulance before taking the baby to Eastbourne District General Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
The baby remained in hospital overnight but has now been discharged.
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust has warned that a baby's life could have been put in danger.
James Pavey, senior operations manager for South East Coast Ambulance Service, said, "Our clinicians could have been dealing with a very poorly baby.
"Until an assessment of a patient is carried out, we need to treat all emergencies with the same level of urgency.
"With any emergency it is vital ambulance staff have easy access to the vehicle so they can not only transfer the patient to the ambulance quickly but also have access to the necessary equipment and drugs should they require them.
"We recognise that it can be frustrating when an ambulance is forced to block a road.
"But we would ask the public to remember this is only being done to ensure we get to those who need our help quickly."
A Sussex Police spokesperson added, "The 64-year-old came to the police station of his own accord a short while later and was arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent and obstructing an emergency worker contrary to the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006.
"He was bailed without charge until August 31 pending further enquiries."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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