PARAMEDICS were forced to abandon their ambulance and run to a stricken patient after the vehicle got stuck behind electronic bollards in Long Causeway, Peterborough.
Shocked onlookers on Long Causeway in the city centre watched as a van in front of the ambulance repeatedly tried pressing a button on the bollards - controlled remotely by CCTV operators - but they would not lower.
Worried that vital treatment would be delayed, the medics leapt out of the ambulance and ran with stretchers to the 26-year-old woman, who was just a few yards away outside the French Connection clothes shop. She had suffered a fit and was taken to Peterborough District Hospital.
An eye-witness, who did not want to be named, said: "It's an absolute disgrace. Someone could have lost their life due to the bollards not coming down. They kept trying the button but no one came."
Although the care of the patient was not compromised this time, ambulance chiefs are concerned the bollards could have proved an obstacle to reaching someone in a life-threatening situation. They have urged Peterborough City Council to review the bollards.
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust assistant general manager Phil Parr said: "There was a van in front of the ambulance trying to get through the barriers. But there was a problem with the CCTV link. We have identified it as a major concern with the city council and have asked them to look into it.
"The Highways Agency are also working with CCTV so we can get more reliable and speedier access in the city centre."
Suggestions have been made to fit electronic transponders to ambulances and other emergency vehicles so bollards automatically lower when they approach.
Stuart Hamilton, Peterborough City Council's resilience services manager, said a network cable in the CCTV room had been accidentally disconnected, leading to a break in communication with the bollards.
The cable breakdown meant a telephone link was disabled. The camera showing the bollards was one of 158 on screen and was not noticed immediately.
He added: "We are treating this incident extremely seriously and an investigation is underway to establish how this could have happened so we can take steps to safeguard against it happening again.
"Fortunately the ambulance crews were able to carry out their duties while arrangements were made to lower the bollards manually. We would like to apologise for the delay."
The rising bollard in Fitzwilliam Street, which some motorists claimed "speared" their vehicles because of poor signage, is being reviewed by the council.
The council said drivers were at fault and pursued six compensation claims. Three are still being followed up but the rest have been dropped.
Related articles:
Fitzwilliam Street: Rising bollard on collision course, 25 September 2009.
Video: Guard's bollards job has its ups and downs, 26 June 2009.
Nigel Thornton: Bollards... again! 15 January 2009.
