AMBULANCE bosses have announced a series of safety improvements on controversial US-built ambulances.
The measures were disclosed at an emergency meeting with union leaders after the rear wheels fell off an ambulance on an emergency call in Sunderland, on Friday.
But Ray McDermott, Unison branch secretary, said yesterday that he still wanted to see all 24 of the remaining American Chevrolet ambulances taken off the road.
The North-East Ambulance Service said all wheel nuts and studs would be changed immediately, a complete safety check would be carried out on each ambulance in the next five weeks and that, in the future, wheel nuts and studs would be changed every 40,000 miles, instead of 75,000.
There would also be an application for more money to replace the US ambulances.
The safety measures were announced after a meeting on Monday night.
A meeting to discuss the new safety measures will be held for Unison ambulance workers next week.
Mr McDermott said: "I personally will not sleep until every one of the American ambulances is taken off the road."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article