Bristol, Bath and the West

Bus superstar helps injured lady get to hospital

A BUS supervisor from Bath Bus Station has had his quick thinking praised by the Great Western Ambulance Service.

Paul Bromley (52) from Fairfield, Bath, who works for First Somerset and Avon as a duty inspector in the bus station, has been nominated as a First Bus Superstar by the Great Western Ambulance Service after he volunteered to take an injured lady, and a fast response paramedic, to hospital, by bus!

On Sunday 27 September at around 12.30pm, an elderly lady sustained a nasty cut to her leg after she accidentally slipped on the pavement while preparing to board a bus. The driver called for support and Paul Bromley arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. Having brought a spare vehicle with him " to ensure that other passengers were able to continue their journey with minimum disruption " Paul then offered to take the lady and the paramedic Andy Richardson, directly to the Royal United Hospital. This saved them both waiting for a back up ambulance and meant that she was able to receive hospital treatment much sooner.

Talking about the incident, paramedic Andy Richardson said: "The patient, in her 90s, had fallen and received a very nasty cut to her leg. Rather than wait for a back up ambulance to arrive, the bus supervisor, who had arrived shortly afterwards, volunteered to take us all up to the Royal United Hospital. The driver of the original bus was transferred onto the replacement vehicle and Paul jumped into the drivers seat.

"It was an excellent response and it meant that the patient could get to hospital that little bit sooner. The patient was wonderful too " she had a great sense of humour and kept us all entertained. Our thanks to First, and to Paul, for there help.'

Paul Bromley added: "Its great to have my efforts recognised but I was just doing my job. Wed taken a spare bus to the scene to enable the other passengers to continue their onward journey, and rather than take the original bus straight back to the depot to be cleaned, it seemed easy enough to make a small diversion to the hospital. It meant that the patient could get treated sooner, and it freed up the ambulance resources for other emergencies. I am pleased that we were able to help.'

Justin Davies, Managing Director for First in Somerset and Avon, congratulated Pauls efforts, saying: "Paul is a credit to our team in Bath; his quick thinking really helped this passenger, ensuring that she was able to get the correct treatment as quickly as possible. He has been nominated as a superstar, and if he wins this months competition, then he will receive a prize and the chance to be put forward for the national superstar final.'

The First Bus Superstar Scheme recognises the efforts of those First employees who go the extra mile to perform their jobs and help customers. Each month a First employee is named Superstar of the Month, winning £100 in shopping vouchers for themselves, and a months free travel for the person who nominated them*. At the end of each year, a Superstar of the Year is chosen from the monthly winners, and they then go on to compete against all the other bus company winners to be named National Superstar of the Year. The overall winner receives a 5-star holiday to the value of £5,000 " recognising their 5-star performance.

For more information about the First UK Bus Superstar scheme, or to nominate individuals who have gone the extra mile, log onto: www.firstgroup.com/superstars or pick up a form from any First Travel Shop.