20 per cent of emergency patient deaths blamed on traffic jam delays
More than 20 per cent of patients needing emergency treatment have died on their way to hospital because of delays due to traffic jams and uncooperative motorists, National Institute of Emergency Medicine secretary-general Anucha Setthasathian said. Anucha revealed the startling statistic on January after a video clip went viral showing a pickup obstructing an ambulance on an emergency call. The incident reportedly took place in Chiang Mai on Sunday. Instead of giving way to the ambulance, the clip showed the pickup driver being angry that the ambulance overtook. He then sped up to catch the ambulance and complain. Anucha said: “Many people suspect that ambulances that rush around may not really carry a patient in need of urgent medical treatment. But the truth is, even if there is no patient on board, an ambulance that turns on its sirens is definitely heading to pick up a patient.”
