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Lawmakers probe reasons for lack of EMS in Eastern District

Emergency Medical Services hopes the 20 recruits currently taking part in the EMS Academy, upon their graduation this summer, will be able to stabilize the EMS workforce and provide needed personnel for an EMS unit to cover the Eastern District, according to Galumalemana Popo Avegalio, head of EMS, which is now under jurisdiction of the Chief Medical Officer of the LBJ Medical Center.

 

The lack of an EMS unit stationed in the Eastern District, which means the district depends solely on the main EMS base at LBJ, was one of the issues discussed at last Friday’s House Public Health Committee hearing chaired by Rep. Maugaoali’i Tusipa Anoa’i, who requested the appearance of LBJ officials to answer questions.

 

More than a week ago, Rep. Fatulegae’e Mauga told his colleagues of the Eastern District’s EMS situation.

 

During the hearing, Mauga noted there was an EMS unit at the Fagaitua police substation set up during the time of the Lutali Administration, but that was closed down many years ago, leaving residents of the Eastern District to depend on the EMS at LBJ, in Faga’alu, which is too long a wait.

 

He emphasized several times the need for such a service in the Eastern District, saying that over the years when there is a dire emergency, private vehicles coming from as far away as villages such as Tula and Onenoa have to bring patients in and meet up with the ambulance.

 

“I must remind you that there are a lot of people living on the Eastern District,” Mauga stressed to LBJ officials, which included Galumalemana, LBJ board chairman Mase Akapo and LBJ chief executive officer Joseph Davis-Fleming.

 

Speaking on behalf of the board and LBJ, Mase apologized to residents and lawmakers of the Eastern District, saying that EMS had been transferred out of LBJ a couple of years ago (to the Department of Public Safety) and was only transferred back to the hospital (about three years ago).

 

With the new administration in place since January last year, and a newly appointed  LBJ board, Mase said EMS now has better control of its operations, including their own budget. He noted that one of the areas being addressed by EMS is staff shortage, and the EMS academy currently in place will address the issue of a unit for the Eastern District, as well as personnel for Manu’a.

 

Galumalemana added that one of the main problems over the years was the lack of a maintenance plan for EMS ambulances and other response vehicles. He says there was also the issue of budget constraints, which prompted the removal of staff from substations, transferring them back to the base at LBJ.

 

Furthermore, there was a plan to have an EMS budget, but changes in hospital management impacted EMS plans for the future, he said, and confirmed that an EMS Academy is expected to end in May, when hiring personnel to man the EMS stations will begin. This will include the LBJ station, the Tafuna substation, as well as a new unit for the Eastern District and Manu’a—where there is already a multi-purpose emergency vehicle.

 

“It’s just a matter of us having funding,” he said, and also explained that of the five box-ambulances on Tutuila, two of them are operating along with two smaller emergency response vehicles, which are accessible to narrow roads.

 

Regarding the three box ambulances which are down, he noted that EMS is awaiting parts from off island and reiterated again the “need for a strong maintenance plan” which includes sufficient funds.

 

Right now “it’s a matter of funds to get the parts" for the three downed ambulances, he said.

 

Later this week, Samoa News will report on other matters covered during the more than 90-minute hearing, where Mase opted to give up his attendance at another scheduled meeting, staying instead to answer any and all questions from lawmakers.