In Tyumen, emergency medical teams are piloting a new approach that blends the duties of ambulance drivers with frontline patient care. The information about this initiative comes from Rise via its Telegram channel, which reported that the idea is being tested in a limited scope.
The regional health department has confirmed the details, describing the move as a pilot project and noting that only a small number of staff, typically three to four, have participated so far. Officials also stressed that ambulance drivers are not being dismissed as part of this trial, emphasizing that the change is experimental and limited in scope.
A Ministry of Health source clarified that participation is not intended to apply to all emergency services. Only a handful of personnel volunteered to take part in this project, and the decision was made on a voluntary basis rather than by mandate across the system.
According to the department, the pilot teams consist of two paramedics per crew: one dedicated to monitoring the patient and ensuring timely care, and the other responsible for transporting the patient to the hospital. The team also includes a driver who receives additional compensation for the driving role, though the ministry did not specify the exact amount or structure of this pay. Details on the trial’s duration were not disclosed by the ministry’s press service, leaving the timeline unclear.
In another note, a separate incident involved a person who had been drinking assaulting an ambulance crew and damaging a vehicle. This event underscores ongoing safety concerns that emergency services continue to address even as they test new staffing models.