Healthcare watchdog issues warning over health services provided by Andreas Pantziaros
The director of a healthcare company advertised as offering first aid and emergency services for public events is under investigation for allegedly creating a false impression he is a qualified NSW Ambulance paramedic.
Inner West
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The director of a healthcare company advertised as offering first aid and emergency services to public events activities is under investigation for allegedly creating a false impression he is a qualified NSW Ambulance paramedic.
The Healthcare Complaints Commission has issued a public warning about Andreas Pantziaros for allegedly providing paramedic and ambulance services through his company Medic Corp Ambulance in the Sydney area.
Mr Pantziaros has denied the claims but declined to comment further about the investigation when contacted by NewsLocal.
Mr Pantziaros is the director of Medic Corp Ambulance, which was founded in 2007, and has not, and has never been, a registered paramedic.
Medic Corp Ambulance is advertised as providing “excellence in pre-hospital care and delivering outstanding patient care through our experienced event medical team”.
Its website states it offers first aid training and services to events including music festivals, sporting events, school activities and private gatherings.
The commission said it had received information that Mr Pantziaros was allegedly misleading the public by creating the impression he is a NSW Ambulance paramedic and that Medic Corp Ambulance is affiliated with NSW Ambulance.
The investigation is partly focusing on a vehicle Mr Pantziaros has allegedly modified to resemble an official NSW Ambulance.
Mr Pantziaros is further alleged to have been seen dressing in a uniform that resembles that of an official NSW Ambulance paramedic.
The commission said Mr Pantziaros had allegedly promoted the business by encouraging members of the public to contact Medic Corp Ambulance after contacting triple-0 to provide first aid in emergency situations while waiting for trained paramedics to arrive.
“The appearance of Mr Pantziaros vehicle is such that a member of the general public would believe that the vehicle is an official NSW Ambulance being operated by a registered paramedic with the relevant skills and qualifications to provide safe care during an emergency,” the commission said in a statement.
The commission has imposed an interim prohibition order on Mr Pantziaros – banning him from providing health services of any kind while the investigation into him continues.
“If any person sees Mr Pantziaros or a Medic Corp vehicle in attendance at an emergency situation, please advise official persons at the scene that he is not a registered paramedic and that Medic Corp is in no way affiliated with NSW Ambulance,” the commission said.
The investigation by the HCCC is continuing.
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