News 13th February 2007 - www.community-responders.co.uk

Gosport ambulance driver Tom Hope said the new team would be a big help - currently there are just four ambulances based in the town.

He said: 'There are teams like this dotted around the county, and it is good to make more use of defibrillators.
'Obviously we are very busy all the time and we can't always get there as quickly as we would like to due to the workload.'

Health and safety officer Keith Perkins said: 'We are unique in that we are the first authority to take part in a scheme to provide this sort of service to the public - not just our own staff.

'Usually it is a dedicated emergency or rescue team or rescue response team who undergo training, not staff working from the local authority whose day job could be arranging for your bin to be emptied.'
The equipment cost the council £1,626.

Half of that cash was provided by the British Heart Foundation's 'First Responder' scheme, and the rest put up by the council and UNISON, the staff union.

Initial training has been provided by South Central Ambulance Service with local health company Medicot.
In the event of an emergency the ambulance service will immediately contact the town hall giving the patient's location and age.

Council staff will cover the area from the top of Stoke Road to the Harbour, including Haslar Marina, and from ASDA across to Mumby Road.

They will be on call from Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm

Source article: The News - 13^th February 2007
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