Thieves target ‘vital resource’ for St John’s Ambulance Service unit

The unit, based at their depot in Portadown, was broken into and items stolen, leaving it unusable.

St John Ambulance Portadown Division wrote on Facebook that they are a charitable group and do not receive any government funding but have set up an online appeal for donations to replace the unit.

St John’s Ambulance regularly help out the NI Ambulance Service but since the pandemic and in recent weeks, they have been helping even more due to the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Just days after they thanked their volunteers for completing yet another busy shift with the NIAS, in between their own full time jobs, they discovered the mobile unit had been vandalised.

The PSNI issued an appeal for information after the theft was reported yesterday afternoon, Sunday 17 January.

The trailer, owned by St John’s Ambulance, was in a business complex in the Carn Drive area of the town.

Inspector Alwyn Peters said: “The theft was reported on Sunday, just before 3.25pm. Various items – including a sink, cooker and heater – are missing, with damage caused to the unit’s lock.

“This is a mobile first aid unit belonging to St John’s Ambulance, a charitable organisation. Volunteers give up their time and expertise to provide an invaluable service to the community – and that makes this theft all the more despicable.

“I am appealing to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 898 of 17/01/21.”

“A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org”

St John’s Ambulance in Portadown said: “Sadly, on Sunday the 17th January 2021 after an incredibly busy, tiring and frightening previous year our volunteers were cleaning the ambulances after another busy week and noticed that our Treatment Unit had been forcibly broken into and a number of pieces of equipment stolen.

“This Treatment Unit is not only a lifeline and vital resource to our division and volunteers but also the many communities which we serve. This Treatment Unit allows us to provide first aid and medical cover at events such as Newcastle Festival of Flight, Summer Madness, North West 200 and many, many more.

“Without this vital resource the we simply cannot provide the exceptional package of care which we always aim to provide in addition to the level of personnel which we can provide.

“We are aiming to fundraise £5000 so that this unit can be replaced and our volunteers are able to receive the pick me up they most desperately need.

“Contrary to popular belief St John Ambulance is not funded through the government, instead we rely solely on donations and good will of the people we serve and therefore replacing such an expensive, yet vital asset isn’t an easy task.

“The unit is normally used to extend the first aid and medical resources at events. It can provide an isolation room, to provide a clinical environment for our health care professionals to use, general treatment rooms and also for a place for personnel to retreat during break times. As you can see the unit had multiple uses benefitting the public, spectators at events, participants of events and our personnel (depending in the duty, requirements of the duties and to provide a much needed quiet space for personnel)

“We used the unit at events right across the country, and is commonly seen/used at events such as the Tandragee 100, NW 200 and World Motorcross championships

“If anyone has any information, seen anything suspicious please can you contact your local PSNI on telephone 101 quoting CC898-17/01/2021.”

The group has set up a GoFundMe page. If you would like to help, click here

https://www.gofundme.com/f/replace-st-john-ambulance-portadown-treatment-unit?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR2qdgS2fUDPOGG_4QHy5LCMcG884M04SaIavCr1QW_JZjFDUSwgqgaNY54

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart described the break in as ‘disgusting’ and condemned those responsbile.

Mrs Lockhart said: “This is a despicable attack on a much valued and very important community health resource and it to be totally condemned. Those who carry out such mindless criminal activity need found and brought to justice.

“In 2020 alone the local team has committed 21,740 voluntary hours and transported 980 patients between home and hospital. 17 A & E transfers from public events priori to restrictions have also been made. That is local people helping local people in real need. It is an invaluable service and one that we should cherish and support. It is terrible that their premises have been damaged and items stolen.

“We need to get behind the team here at St John’s Ambulance. Much needed funds are now required to replace stolen items and repair the facility, with £5000 set as a target. I encourage everyone to get behind this fundraising drive. Let’s smash this target and go beyond it. None of us know when we might need this service, so let’s all do our bit to get it back up and running to full capacity as soon as possible.

“In the meantime, anyone with any information on the break in should contact the PSNI so we can remove these mindless idiots behind this attack from our streets.”

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