Retired Paramedic Condemns Walsall Council for Removing Life-Saving Equipment
A retired ambulance worker has launched a scathing criticism of Walsall Council after it removed a crucial bleed kit from a major Bloxwich park. The kit, which had been stationed on the pavilion building at King George V Playing Fields for several years, was taken away as regeneration works commenced at the site.
Community Safety Concerns Raised
Steve Podmore, a Bloxwich resident who founded Mossley Heart Start after retiring from the NHS last year, raised the issue with the council last month. He expected the life-saving equipment to be relocated and remain accessible to the public, but instead, the council removed it entirely. Podmore offers free basic life support and bleed kit training to adults and children across Walsall through his organization.
He expressed grave concerns that the bleed kit might still be listed on a national emergency services database despite being inaccessible. This would mean that anyone calling 999 for a trauma-related incident could be directed to a kit that no longer exists, potentially costing precious minutes in a life-threatening situation.
Council Response and Interim Review
Walsall Council has confirmed that the King George V bleed kit has been deregistered from the national database to prevent such confusion. A council spokesperson stated that the removal is temporary due to significant regeneration works at the park, which require safety measures.
The spokesperson added, "Once the regeneration works are complete, the bleed kit will be reinstated and re-registered with its updated location details. The council recognises the importance of bleed kits and is reviewing coverage of kits across the borough, including whether there is a suitable interim location while works are ongoing at King George V."
Urgent Need for Accessibility
Steve Podmore emphasized the park's heavy usage, with activities like kids' Park Run on Sundays, weekend football clubs, and various other events. He highlighted that bleed kits are not just for stabbing or gun wounds but for incidents like nasty dog bites or falls onto broken glass.
"Just because there's building work going on it doesn't mean they should take the life-saving equipment away," Podmore said. "If somebody has a major arterial bleed in that park they can be dead in minutes. The whole idea is that you don't have to wait for paramedics. We've got this equipment that the community can use and it should be available."
Morale and Responsibility Issues
Podmore also commented on the council's morale, suggesting that staff and councillors have become "despondent" with upcoming local elections. He said, "Everybody within the council has given up. I was talking to someone not so long back, he was that despondent. Morale is very low."
He added, "If I worked for the healthy spaces team I'd have done anything to make sure that bleed kit was put back. I couldn't sleep knowing that it was locked away, yet for the people responsible, it doesn't seem to affect them that way. It's very irresponsible."
The council's review of an interim location is ongoing, but Podmore continues to advocate for the kit's immediate return to ensure public safety in the bustling park.
