Emergency responders have not been allowed to operate in a village for 30 days and have had to ignore three heart attack calls – after volunteers were targeted on duty.
West Midlands Ambulance Service has told the volunteer first aiders they are not permitted to operate in Shawbury after threats were made against them by a local man.
The responders, who are trained by the ambulance service, have been working in the village for four years and are linked to the emergency control centre which contacts them first as they provide the quickest response time. But following a number of incidents the responders have been forced to halt the service.
Clive Ireland, who is one of the responders based in Shawbury, said: “The man who has threatened us nearly put our door through by punching it. He also blocked in one of the responders in his car. Terry Foster, the paramedic we report to, called us and said the man wants marked vehicles off the streets and also doesn’t like uniforms.”
Mr Ireland added he had spoken to the police about the situation.“The calls are still coming through because we can usually respond first before an ambulance but we’ve had to listen to calls knowing they’re heart attacks and not be allowed to go. It’s been 30 days and we’d like to get back on the road.”
Paramedics have had to attend instead.
The responder service, which is partly funded by North Shropshire District Council, is a charity.
Simon Jones, district councillor, said: “They’re so much quicker than sending an ambulance. That one person is causing a problem concerns me greatly.”
A spokesman from West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We can confirm the responder group is not currently active within Shawbury but the trust is working on resolving the issue so the responders can continue to provide life-saving treatment.”
Maria Hawkaluk, West Mercia Police spokesperson, said: “Police are investigating a number of allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the first responders in Shawbury.”
