dronfield EYE our money refunded
Dronfield St John doing the fund raising, at no time did anyone say it was purely for Dronfield’s use and would only be used very infrequently. I would like to know how much it cost for the ambulance to sit doing nothing; insurance, servicing, MOT, road tax, licence etc. Does this come from donations? If so, what a waste. Is it not a better idea to put the ambulance to a more efficient use? M Atkinson, Conalan Avenue, Bradway
Dear Dronfield Eye,
AS Secretary to Dronfield Cardio Club, I am writing to express support to those who are trying to retrieve the Dronfield ambulance taken from Dronfield St John Ambulance Brigade. We in the Cardio Club are only too aware of what it means to have our own ambulance on site at whatever function our members, and members of the public at large, attend.
Dronfield people, be they members of organisations such as ours or individuals giving whatever they can, worked hard to support Dronfield St John members in fund raising for this ambulance. It involved a lot of hard work for all involved and the community at large was extremely proud when enough funds were raised by donations, coffee mornings, summer fairs, etc to purchase the ambulance. We followed with pride the progress of Sybil Naylor and her team when they took possession of the vehicle and brought it home to Dronfield. This ambulance belongs to Dronfield. We are not selfish - I am quite sure it may have been loaned to deserving causes, had the correct procedure been taken. However, there is nothing to stop other communities doing what Dronfield did, ie pulling together and raising funds for their own ambulance.
The hierarchy in St John has lost a lot of support at national level by their actions. I suggest they act quickly to retrieve the situation and return our ambulance! In a relatively small place like Dronfield, mileage does not come into the equation. The distance from local hospitals does. Action on the ground by members of the local brigade is very important, and the team attends many events which the enterprising people of Dronfield organise. This action is important, but made more so by the back up and reassurance to the people (who come from far and wide) attending functions, knowing that an ambulance is there should the need arise.
I suggest that the St John decision-makers at county level, or even national level, have seriously miscalculated the effect that this action has had on the people of Dronfield and their friends. I urge them to seriously reconsider their action. Norma Phillips, Secretary Dronfield Cardio Club
Dear Dronfield Eye,
HOW ironic that you chose the picture of the members of Dronfield St John stood in front of the ambulance, waving. Looking at it now, rather than celebrating, it seems like they are waving it goodbye. I have noticed that SJA seems to have changed its stance on Dronfield having access to an ambulance when required. In the June issue Dronfield Eye, it was stated that “the unit will still have access to a vehicle when needed, so their first aid output will not change.” In the July issue it states: “When a risk assessment has shown that an emergency ambulance is required, we have provided one.” The SJA spokesperson later says that, regardless of risk assessment requirements, one may not be available as they have to prioritise. So, has Dronfield always had access to an ambulance when required? I have also noticed that if Dronfield requires an ambulance it seems that the SJA spokesperson states that it is only used as a first aid post. I’m sure that this was not the case. As I recall, Dronfield Division has been praised on a number of occasions for turning out their ambulance and
crew in times of floods, snow and other emergencies. Also quoting from last month’s Dronfield Eye, “The unit is being provided with a new fully-equipped portable first aid post which will be stored at Dronfield for use in the local community.” Would this be the mini-marquee that was bought last year by the unit, for adults, band, cadets and CFR use, out of a legacy that was left to them? Will this too be redeployed elsewhere, when someone in an office decides that Dronfield no longer needs it?
Where did the spokesperson get the idea that the Dronfield ambulance dronfield EYE 9
is worth “£50k+”? As a person employed, for many years, to fit out vehicles including ambulances for the NHS and SJA, there is no way that this vehicle is now worth anywhere near that amount. Even if it was worth that amount, it was raised in the Dronfield area. I noticed that Michael Williams raised a concern about the Dronfield St John band. Do we know what, or if, there are to be any changes regarding the band? Despite everything that’s going on around them, it was nice to see members of Dronfield St John Ambulance celebrating their successes, awards, medals and certificates. Well done. C.T. of Pilsley, Derbyshire
Dear Dronfield Eye, SO St John say the Dronfield ambulance has been removed from the town to somewhere else where it will be put to better use... but what of the equipment on the vehicle? I recall a defibrillator was bought specifically for use on the Dronfield ambulance, for the benefit of Dronfield people. The money to buy it was donated by the Dronfield Masons who had no doubt raised it here in Dronfield. The understanding was that it would be on standby to help people in need here in Dronfield.
If anyone else had taken this life-saving piece of kit away from our town, we would surely be dealing with a case of theft. Michael Williams, Holmley Lane, Dronfield
Dear Dronfield Eye, WHY should the people of Dronfield raise money for the benefit of those in Leicester?
Without a word to those who made all the effort, the Ambulance has been “stolen”. Surely the law should not allow this to happen. W.Dace, Gosforth Green, Dronfield
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