The Regional Secretary for Health stated in Angra do Heroísmo that it is now time to regulate the operation model of Immediate Life Support (SIV) vehicles.
 
"We are talking about a pilot project that has worked in the past four years with excellent results. Our intention is to establish rules that will allow us to stabilise and adjust the operation of the islands where the service operates," stressed Rui Luís, who spoke at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Social Affairs of the Legislative Assembly.
 
Questioned on the frequency of operation and the need of crew members in the SIV services on Faial Island, Rui Luís stated that "the Regional Government has already adopted emergency measures in this particular situation."
 
The Regional Secretary stated the service is operated from 8 AM to 12 AM by crew members who travel from Pico to Faial on a daily basis. As he added, the President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service has already met with the boards of the fire associations of both islands.
 
Rui Luís also stressed that there will be an investment in training with the aim of providing fire brigades with more crew members qualified for this service.
 
Currently, SIV vehicles are operating on the islands of Pico, Faial, Terceira and São Miguel, covering 90% of the resident population.
 
A total of 73 nurses and 53 crew members are assigned to the five SIV vehicles.