A volunteer doctor who has used his blue lights to respond to emergencies for 32 years says banning him from doing so could put lives at risk.

Gavin Palin claims he was bullied by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) after challenging the decision regarding interventions in Nantwich, Cheshire.

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has denied any intimidation and said none of its volunteers should have blue lights due to “risks of high-speed responses”.

Mr Palin faced an earlier ban in 2008 which prompted 1,000 people to march through Nantwich in protest and a petition was delivered to Downing Street by former MP Edward Timpson and Nantwich Town Council.

Two years later, NWAS reinstated his authorization to use blue lights as an honorary staff member.

Mr. Palin said he then completed his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Level 1 course, which the department said at the time would increase the range of incidents it could respond to.

But NWAS now says he had only become an “enhanced community first responder” not an EMT1despite his badge identifying him as “Gavin Palin, EMT1, Emergency Paramedic”.

Mr Palin said the service needed to “see some sense”.

“It gets very frustrating when you get a serious call and you know they don’t have time,” he said.

The ban was put in place last November, but Mr Palin said he decided to make it public after facing “a lot of intimidation from the ambulance services since I challenged them “.

Speaking about the impact of the ban, he said some patients who later died “would undoubtedly have had a better chance of survival” if he had been able to use his lamps, because “time is of the essence”.

Mr Palin highlighted how he used blue lights three years ago to reach a shop in Nantwich and resuscitate three-year-old Matthew Anderson after a cardiac arrest.

Matthew’s mother, Rebecca Anderson, said her son “definitely wouldn’t be here” without Mr Palin, who arrived “minutes before the ambulance”.

“On a Saturday morning traffic is blocked, so it’s very important that he’s able to get cars out of the way,” Ms Anderson said.

Matthew’s father James said the decision to prevent Mr Palin from using his emergency lights was “ridiculous”, adding: “They are taking a necessary service, which Gavin is offering in Nantwich, for no reason.” »

A letter from an NWAS official sent to Mr. Palin describing the decision stated that he had not taken the relevant driving courses, which Mr. Palin said was “not true.”

The official also claimed that his vehicle was not suitable for the new legislation because it was not large enough to transport sick, injured or disabled patients.

But a letter from former Roads Minister Guy Opperman, sent while he was in office, said vehicles used “for the purpose of providing a response to an emergency” could, in fact, be used under the legislation.

Mr Palin said staffed ambulances sometimes arrived 30 minutes after him, adding: “It depends on the demands of the service at the time.” »

“I think they need to use common sense and they should focus on the patients and not the person they are trying to intimidate,” he said.

An NWAS spokesperson said: “While we understand Mr. Palin’s frustrations, we believe there is no reason to justify a different stance on any individual.

“We greatly appreciate his passion and commitment to the ambulance service over the past 20 years and recognize the valuable contributions he makes.”