A call has gone out for volunteer ambulance drivers in order to maintain efficient local patient transport.

Hay Shire Council General Manager, David Webb and Mayor Carol Oataway met with the office of the Minister for Health, Ryan Park as well as NSW Ambulance in Sydney on Friday to address gaps in patient transport.

“Council has been advocating for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for some time,” Mr Webb said.

“NSW Ambulance will provide information and support the establishment of a CERT in Hay to fill the gap in ambulance coverage.

“We need eight members of the community to volunteer for the CERT to make it viable.

“We also discussed patient transport, and they have given an undertaking to review the patient transport in Hay, so ambulances are not taken away leaving the gap in coverage.”

The ambulance issues, including patient transport, has also been raised by Council with Member for Murray, Helen Dalton.

The first volunteer, Pamela Francis has registered for the CERT.

“It was an incident in the main street when an elderly person tripped over which highlighted the need for volunteers in the field,” Ms Francis said.

“That “While I, and other bystanders, comforted the lady, an ambulance flew past on its way to an emergency.

“There were no other officers rostered for the day, and an off-duty paramedic took the call, got dressed and attended. was when I enquired about volunteering. I saw the need.”

Anyone else who would like to take on the role of what the former, much revered, Hay Honorary Ambulance Bearers provided over many decades, is asked to contact Council.