Phoenix Ambulance Again

[josef k]

@josef k: If you find a particular thread 'boring' for whatever reason, remember that nobody is forcing you to read it. Your choice on which buttons to click, surely?

Cheers- AL

Of course you are quite right Al. Unfortunately I have to read these things to see if my "boring" position is still warranted.

What, in your mind, would shift a Phoenix Ambulance thread from boring to interesting? I could set up a notification system so that if the word "tigers" is used in it, you get sent a PM. Would that work or do you have some other criteria?

Let's face it. Tigers make any thread more interesting.

I have to admit, a tiger would make it interesting (or any large cat for that matter). I accept your offer of the notification system. What fun!

[smudger]

Sorry to rain on the parade but from an accountants perspective I can see no way that this would work. I qualify my comments by stating that I'm not party to Phoenix accounts (nor do I wish to be) but this suggestion is simply unworkable, given the huge capital costs the company must have, along with vehicle upkeep and wages/salaries. As I'm pretty sure John worked out damned well when he set the enterprise up in the first place.

Businesses are not usually set up on hope, but on reality and realistic monetary prospects. Firstly, prospects don't pay the bills, hopes don't, only reality does. Secondly, bills and costs have to be met and assumptions about numbers don't usually fulfil those costs.

The third aspect is that if costs could be initially covered by the €100 joining fee, where would Phoenix stand with insufficient ambulances to cover call outs, regardless of what revenue, in retrospect, would then be brought in.

And what would be the priorities? My understanding of the company priorities were that members, rather than ad hoc callers would be prioritised (did you factor this in Lloyd?) So how would the priorities work with everyone paying a simple sign-on fee??

Not workable IMHO. €8 per week is not a huge amount to ensure priority attendance in an emergency when your life may be at stake.

[smudger]

Aquila, you're correct, John did confirm that. I feel that he has such a determination and care that there really has to be an efficient ambulance service in Cyprus that he was prepared to commit almost everything he had to it, but sadly, constantly propping a business up with personal funds rarely works. Means have to be found to not only fund it, but also give those funding it a return in their input.
Sadly, thus has so far not yet worked out. I pray it will, soon.

[Bograt]

@josef k: If you find a particular thread 'boring' for whatever reason, remember that nobody is forcing you to read it. Your choice on which buttons to click, surely?

Cheers- AL

Of course you are quite right Al. Unfortunately I have to read these things to see if my "boring" position is still warranted.

What, in your mind, would shift a Phoenix Ambulance thread from boring to interesting? I could set up a notification system so that if the word "tigers" is used in it, you get sent a PM. Would that work or do you have some other criteria?

Let's face it. Tigers make any thread more interesting.

Pah ha ha....yes please. Tigers. Although I will read this thread with or without them, a bit of predation from a tiger does indeed makes life interesting.

[Bograt]

I have been thinking a lot about this since all this palavar.

I used to be with Phoenix, and paid €80 annually for 2 months cover as a visitor. I'll be there much longer soon, and I don't want to be stuck without help, that's for sure. Looking at the Royal Artemis hospital, they say they have a fleet of ambulances which are equipped with a doctor, at least one nurse, and a driver (phew). They have a clinic in Kissonerga so I had thought of using them for any ailments, anyway. I would be happy to pay for an emergency service if that is what I need, so perhaps this could be the way forward for me. Any thoughts? I have heard nothing but good stuff about that hospital.

I imagine that they would only take you to the Royal, though, whilst Phoenix used to take you wherever. Tricky.

[PaphosAL]

Can we quantify this idea a bit please? If signing up for a €100 per annum registration, Pay per call out service, then it would be YOUR responsibilty to provide them with your accurate Google Maps GPS co-ordinates?

Though I suspect that such info held on the ambulance would still delay it from finding you in a village with no street names nor house numbers, while they try to zero in...

Cheers- AL

[WHL]

Can we quantify this idea a bit please? If signing up for a €100 per annum registration, Pay per call out service, then it would be YOUR responsibilty to provide them with your accurate Google Maps GPS co-ordinates?

Though I suspect that such info held on the ambulance would still delay it from finding you in a village with no street names nor house numbers, while they try to zero in...

Cheers- AL

Surely Al when you register every year they would update your GPS address..and keep it on file, regards no street name, can't the GPS find the exact location on a map

[trevnhil]

If they have to coordinates of the property then they should be able to see the route to it on the GPS maps in the ambulance.
Phoenix ambulance service could always find our house.

[markwoods39]

Maybe a better commercial idea, bringing in more customers, would be, say a yearly signing on fee, of maybe 100euros, and then only pay if you call them out?.

A very good point. I made exactly the same observation back in CL days. I'm not a member because of the high cost of joining while I feel so fit and well, but if the financial arrangement was similar to what you suggest, I think I would join.

Hi my wife was fit and well only 46 never smoked only had a drink on special occasions but on Monday morning she had a fit and her heart stopped and now in a coma. If it was not for the ambulance crew she would not have a fighting chance right now. This is in the UK by the way. They still don't know what cause this as yet. Just saying

[PaphosAL]

OMG, Mark! A similar thing recently happened to my good friend Richard's wife, Wendy, of similar age, up in Teeside. Induced coma, now out of it, but still not fighting fit yet. And they don't know the real cause... Hers sounded like the symptoms of pleurisy and double pneumonia, like what hit my wife back in 1982, when she was 35 years old. Thank God, she pulled through it.

We pray for a speedy return to full health with your dear wife, Mark...

@WHL and Trev: my concern was GPS sending the ambulance up dead ends etc whilst looking for you, hence delaying them. Maybe a bright blue flashing emergency beacon above your house would also help them find you faster? Seconds count in emergencies, remember!

Cheers- AL

[Poppy]

So sorry to hear about your wife Mark and best wishes to her for a full recovery.

[trevnhil]

OMG, Mark! A similar thing recently happened to my good friend Richard's wife, Wendy, of similar age, up in Teeside. Induced coma, now out of it, but still not fighting fit yet. And they don't know the real cause... Hers sounded like the symptoms of pleurisy and double pneumonia, like what hit my wife back in 1982, when she was 35 years old. Thank God, she pulled through it.

We pray for a speedy return to full health with your dear wife, Mark...

@WHL and Trev: my concern was GPS sending the ambulance up dead ends etc whilst looking for you, hence delaying them. Maybe a bright blue flashing emergency beacon above your house would also help them find you faster? Seconds count in emergencies, remember!

Cheers- AL

Hopefully the driver would be able to READ the roads shown on the map on the GPS machine. Regarding driving up 'dead ends' that is exactly where we are..
When I used to work for an ambulance service on permanent nights, we used to ask the caller / patient to put on the outside lights and pull back the curtains. So at least then we knew to head for some lit up house..

[Dominic]

Really hope your wife makes a speedy recovery Mark, you must be pulling your hair out with worry.

[Lofos-Jan]

It's so true that nothing can be taken for granted. Wishing your wife a speedy recovery Mark.

Jeanne

[PaphosAL]

Is there any news about your dear Wife yet, Mark?

Thinking about you both- AL

[markwoods39]

Is there any news about your dear Wife yet, Mark?

Thinking about you both- AL

Hi AL, Great news, Sharon woke today she tried to speak, she can do simple task like squeezes my hand she can answers questions by nodding yes and no questions, i even got a smile out of her, she even cried, all great news as we was worried she might have brain damage due to lack of oxygen to her brain . She can see us when her eyes are open I even asked her if she wants me to bring in a CD player to listen to some music she nodding yes It's going to be a long road to full recovery but she a strong person and will do it Thank you AL for asking and all the PMs i got I will keep you all updated this week. They do know Sharon had an infection but don't know where ! they done so many tests but all come back negative ? it may be the case they will never know where the infection was to cause her to have a fit then a heart attack . Thank you all for your support x

[markwoods39]

Wonderful news, Mark, thanks for the update. May Sharon's recovery be a full one. Though it's early days, you and the family must be so relieved.

Yes mate so happy and so relieved. Thank you HIC

[trevnhil]

Dominic.. Can this thread be split into two separate subjects please.

[LouiseCastricum]

Great news Mark. Very happy for you and your wife.

[PhotoLady]

Good news Mark. Glad to hear she's making progress. Each day is a new baby step forward....