The Azorean Government announced today an amendment to Regulation on Ambulance Transport Services with the purpose of reinforcing the human and financial resources of regional Associations of Volunteer Firefighters.

While presenting the press release of the last meeting of the Council of the Government, the Regional Secretary of the Presidency informed that the Immediate Life Support service (SIV) will enter into operation in the five Azorean cities during the current year in order to provide a better assistance to citizens. This service will be operated by specialised nurses.

In this context, the Azorean Government has decided to establish a monthly sum to subsidise the salary costs of the nurses working on ambulances, which will be paid by the Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Angra do Heroísmo, Praia da Vitória and Horta (4 nurses per Association).

In addition to reinforcing the financial support to subsidise the salary costs of ambulance crews from all Associations of Volunteer Firefighters, André Bradford also announced that the Government has decided to increase the number of ambulance attendants of the Associations of Volunteer Firefighters of Povoação (+2), Madalena do Pico (+2 ), Nordeste (+2), Santa Maria (+1), Santa Cruz das Flores (+1) and Corvo (+1).

Furthermore, the proposal for Regional Legislative Decree establishing the Legal Scheme on Land Management Tools has been approved at this meeting.

With this legislation, which will be now presented to the Legislative Assembly, the Government of the Azores will proceed with the development of the regional Spatial Planning and Urbanism Act, defining the scope of the land management system, soil use as well as the drafting, monitoring, approval, implementation and assessment of land management tools.

Furthermore, the Government will also adjust the spatial planning system to the specific features of the Azorean archipelago, mainly with regard to its settlement structures and the heterogeneity of the territory.