Ambulance drivers step up action

The health services section of the Union Haddiema Maghqudin has stepped up industrial action in its dispute over a claim for an allowance for ambulance drivers at St Luke`s Hospital.

The section has directed supervisors at the ambulance garage not to drive any vehicle, in sympathy with the drivers.

The drivers themselves were directed to take orders only from the supervisors who are assigned to the ambulance garage.

The drivers are already under directives not to handle patients or work overtime, among others.

The UHM is trying to negotiate a Lm3.75 weekly allowance because of the additional work it claims drivers have to carry out when they pick up patients, particularly those involved in serious accidents.

The drivers had attended a three-day first aid course some weeks ago.

The UHM said that despite the partial industrial action, apart from doing all the emergency work, ambulance drivers were also giving other assistance.

A case in point was when the UHM accepted a request for a Gozitan ambulance driver to drive a coach and take a patient to the Ta` Pinu Sanctuary and back during a pilgrimage.

The UHM said that the request was met despite the directive to ambulance drivers not to drive coaches.