8 replies to this topic

[Griffin]

Hi all, its easy for us to take for granted our Emergency services. Our family had to call out the ambulance service last night for our daughter, who had a cracking 39.7c temp and trouble breathing (yes the dreaded Croup). The car got here in no time at all, then the ambulance wasn't far after. The professionalism of the guys and girls is top notch; even though they had done a 16 hour shift the previous day.

They took us to KGH, into resus and got her onto the path to recovery. With the super care of Dolphin ward, we were discharged at about noon today.

I know this isn't a police specials thread really, but I thought it showed to me how members of the public rely on the emergency services, and as police officers what an impact we make on people.
Have a good evening everyone!

[Sceptre]

Not specific to Northants but it's easy to overlook how hard the other emergency services work (apart from trumpton that is ). Paramedics and EMTs round here work very long shifts for four or five days in a row and are constantly busy due to the pressure on ambulances. I always feel slightly guilty for wasting their time with drunks, drug users or attention seekers.

[samt]

I think paramedics deserve better pay; they're on peanuts for what they do.

[Ontopofahill!]

I think paramedics deserve better pay; they're on peanuts for what they do.

Couldn't agree more Samt. +1

[Griffin]

I think paramedics deserve better pay; they're on peanuts for what they do.

No idea what they get paid

[Yankee NP]

Good to hear they responded quickly Griffin.

They should be getting paid more, but at present they are always overstretched and having difficulties attending their Cat A (Our Grade 1) jobs, so they are looking at using more Voluntary Ambulance services to assist with the workload, like St John Ambulance etc, what do you guys think?

YNP

[WindSwept]

As above really, the paramedics are top notch but like all public sector they are struggling. The times ive seen officers having to transport people to hospital for cat a's because there's no ambulances able to attend is quite shocking.

On the flip side, I'm sure some of you have already experienced the quality of some of the dispatches over at EMS. The call where your sent grade 1 to assist dealing with a patient who is violent or difficult. Only to find ambulance aren't just around the corner standing back, they are not even dispatched and the request for assistance is based on historic data from 5 years ago no doubt. Doesn't change how good the paramedics are though.

[Griffin]

good idea about volunteer help, but this would need more staff at the hospital as shown the other night. There were 4 ambulances stacked outside a and e in addition to ours waiting for their patients to be seen.

[Griffin]

well what a busy week at Griffin Towers. My son has a rare form of epilepsy, and fits every day. These don't normally require intervention. Today I got a call at work from my wife saying that he was having his worst ever fit, so she had given him his emergency medication but he was still fitting. She called an ambulance (as per protocol), he did stop fitting by the time the ambulance arrived thankfully. So it's another night in hospital tonight for me with him. Should have brought my definitions with me to revise for this weekend's training! Take care all :-)