The mayors of the Villages of Great Neck, Saddle Rock and Kings Point are considering the termination of their contract with our locally-based Vigilant Fire Department for the provision of emergency ambulance services, in favor of a contract with the out-of-area Northwell Hospital Group.
Other villages are likely to follow.
The objective, I believe, is to shift the cost to health insurers (Medicare, etc.)
The switch would in my opinion cause a major degradation of our emergency ambulance services.
For many reasons, a break from Vigilant is a bad and even dangerous idea.
Residents who need immediate hospital care are likely to suffer. I have requested Mayor Bral of the Village of Great Neck to place this matter on the Agenda for the Village Board meeting next Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Mayor Bral has agreed to hear the public comment section at the beginning, 7:30 p.m.
I urge residents to come to the meeting at 61 Baker Hill Road to express opposition to the proposed shift of emergency ambulance services from the Vigilants.
Leon Korobow
Great Neck
