Ambulance ban on ice

Members of a small ambulance officers' union have put on hold their plan to ban single crewing of ambulances pending more talks with St John.

The ban was to take effect from December 1 in Wanganui and Horowhenua, but after talks with St John representatives last week the New Zealand Ambulance Association has deferred any decision to go ahead until after further talks scheduled for Friday.

The union, one of a number which represent ambulance officers, said single-crewed call-outs were a risk for ambulance officers and patients and could no longer be tolerated.