Emergency medical services

The Health Ministry is awaiting the findings of an investigation conducted by the National First Aid Center (EKAV) and the 1st Health Region of Attica regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of a 19-year-old pregnant woman in Nea Makri on Tuesday and the complaints of the ambulance service's delayed response.

The death of a 63-year-old woman on the eastern Aegean island of Kos on Sunday has underscored serious medical service shortages on the Greek isles and promoted fresh calls from for more staff and equipment.

Slovenia is marking 20 years since the helicopter emergency medical service was first introduced. The service began in 2003 as a pilot project and is now an indispensable tool in the search and rescue toolbox.

The unit, dubbed the HEMS Brnik, was located at Ljubljana Airport and used Slovenian Armed Forces helicopters.

The decision by several hospitals in Athens to contract private ambulance companies to transport patients after the completion of their hospitalization has drawn a reaction from the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Worker (POEDIN) and staff of the EKAV ambulance service, citing an unclear legal framework.

The mayor of the East Attica town of Oropos has expressed regret over an incident concerning the treatment of a troubled 69-year-old resident by the crew of a private ambulance service working for the municipality, describing the incident "like something from the Middle Ages."

A 30-year-old man is in a coma after an accident on the Ring Road in Sofia.

The accident occurred shortly after midnight, involving a vehicle driven by the victim and an EMS-Montana ambulance.

The seriously injured driver of the car was admitted to the Military Medical Academy.

The British government has dangled the prospect of public-sector pay hikes next year in an attempt to end strikes by nurses and ambulance staff that have piled pressure on an already overburdened health system.

The ambulance workers have, in theory, chosen to be freelancers, as they also have the option of taking up permanent employment with the service. In practice though, self-employment tends to be the only offer on the table. For the managers, treating the paramedics like Uber drivers makes sense - it delivers savings and greater flexibility.

Sabiha Sözer, 28-years-old, serves as Turkey's first and only motorcycle emergency paramedic in the northwestern province of Eskişehir.

The work of ambulance service employees represents a true "act of care and responsibility", and they are "an example" for us all, said Prime Minister Florin Citu in a message sent, on Wednesday, on the occasion of the National Ambulance Day in Romania.