An ambulance driver in Ohio abandoned a patient they were taking to hospital after getting lost and decided to call an Uber and go home.
The bizarre incident played out in Cleveland last week when the patient was being transported to the Cleveland Clinic with chest pain. According to the local broadcaster KWTX: “The ambulance driver got lost, told her he was done driving for the day, and called an Uber.”
The driver worked for a private ambulance company Lynx EMS, and not for Cleveland Emergency Medical Services.
The Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees (Care) Local 1975 said that once the driver had abandoned the patient, a local Cleveland EMS unit responded and administered aid to them and then continued the journey to the hospital.
“We want to clarify it was NOT a Cleveland EMS ambulance, but rather a provider working on a private ambulance,” the organisation said in a statement. “Once that provider left, Cleveland EMS responded to the scene, administered care, and transported the patient to the hospital.”
In a statement to local media reported by KWTX, a spokesperson for Lynx EMS (motto: Expert. Agile. Dependable.) said: “Upon becoming aware of the situation, immediate steps were taken to address the matter and ensure the patient’s well-being and care needs were addressed.”
It added: “We are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding this incident and will take appropriate action based on the findings of that review. As this involves personnel and patient related matters, we are unable to comment further.”
