LAHORE, Nov 8: As the first most modern ambulance service in city is almost half way through its two-month test run, it is facing problems due to obnoxious calls.

This was stated by Punjab Emergency and Ambulance Services (PEAS) project director Dr Rizwan Naseer at a news conference here on Monday.

He said the project staff had received over 15,000 calls on its emergency number in less than a month, while it found only 212 genuine. He advised people to contact the number 1122 in extreme emergency.

Dr Naseer said the 212 rescue operations carried out by the PEAS include 126 accidents, 11 fire incidents, one bomb blast, one building collapse and 52 other emergencies like heart attacks and unconsciousness. The staff also provided first aid to 141 injured people, while 159 were taken to hospitals.

He welcomed suggestions for improving the service. The PEAS staff was also getting itself familiarized with the equipment, while the directorate was strengthening its wireless system, he added.

He said the wireless system had not yet been set up in hospitals as a result of which the staff was facing problems while transporting emergency cases. However, the directorate staff informed hospitals on landline.

Replying to a question, he said the rescue service would respond to emergencies at home, if it was not engaged in any other rescue operation.

An ambulance staff member Ali Mohsin Nadeem said they had responded to a fire call on the Wahdat Road and managed to extinguish the fire on the upper portion of a house before the fire brigade could reach the spot.

He said the staff provide conduct cardio pulmonary resuscitation and other treatment facilities.

He said the programme had tremendous success as some NGOs with untrained staff providing patient transport vehicle services had been motivated to improve their service.

He said the accident victims, whom people were reluctant to transport due to medico-legal procedures, were now being rescued by the service.

Dr Naseer said the service had started its test run on Oct 14 and planning formal launching by the middle of next month.