Should Ambulance Crews be reduced to 1 operative only?

Question

I've been hearing on the news that the barmy beurocrats who are in charge of the Ambulance Service, have now come up with another brainwave that they claim will 'improve' the service to the public.

Apparently they have now decided that it would be better for all of us, to have lots more individual Paramedics working alone and driving round in small cars with basic emergency equipment. They would be dispatched to emergency calls to provide emergency treatment and to assess the possible need for more complex equipment and/or transport of the patient to an appropriate A & E Unit.

This is supposed to be about maintaining or improving response times, and nothing to do with cost savings, and we the public are supposed to believe that!

What total claptrap!

The beurocrats claim that it will allow for more efficient use of staff and resources, but it is simply going to delay hospital treatment for those needing it, and will make staff working conditions even worse than they are!

These 1 man crews will be expected to just sit around on street corners waiting for calls to attend. They would then be expected to turn up on their own at the scene of the emergency which could be an accident, a fight, a domestic argument resulting in injury, or just a trap!

They would have no easy access to toilets etc., and presumably will be expected to eat their lunch sitting in their vehicle. It brings a whole new meaning to the expression "you look like an accident waiting to happen".

No doubt some of the money saved through buying ordinary small cars that will have no greater adaptions than some sticky signs on the outside, in place of the very expensive fully equipped emergency ambulances that exist at present, will be spent on providing some new jobs for more managers, and probably some ginormous bonuses for the existing senior staff who have dreampt up this madness. They could then use their bonuses to make millions buying the company when the service is privatised

In so far as I'm aware, the ambulance service already have some fast response units, both in cars and on motorcycles. To some degree this made sense, particularly the motrcycles, as they were very useful for getting through heavy static traffic or reaching some innaccessable locations, and I'm sure they have proved to be very successful in saving lives, but they should be an addition to the service, not in place of it!!

I must admit that I haven't seen the paramedics on motorcycles for quite some time, so perhaps they have been withdrawn or ceased.

Answer 1

barmy bureaucrats is about right! Haven't they HEARD that two heads are always better than one? The thing is, we in the family have been unfortunate enough to have needed an emergency ambulance more than once in the past year, and found that even as it is they are very unwilling to pick anyone up, even if they're nearly dead.

Yes. It happened to us. They had to WALK to the ambulance. and when they finally got to hospital staff said if it'd taken half an hour longer they'd be dead.

In that case the male attendant was reluctant and the female partner was more astute. If it'd just been him goodness only knows how it would have ended. That's why we need TWO.

Answer 2

Picture the scene. (actually happened) A person of some weight is taken seriously ill at home. Ambulance arrives Paramedic confers with Dr (GP) The patient is then carried down two flights of stairs into the ambulance.
One of the crew drives the other stays in the back with the patient and gives sedation and gas and air etc. Total distance to hospital 22 miles. Time taken about 40 minutes.
Patient survives. What would happen with only one crew driving? more delay whilst aid is rendered after the ambulance has to stop. This will not save money. Also no matter how good the call centre staff in this area they are so far away that they do not know where the patient is or in this case in which county. Enough... that patient was ME.

Answer 3

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But they've already done it, their known as something along the lines of First Responders. They can be found in estate cars, on motorbikes and even in Birmingham UK, on a bicycle.

It is actually a good idea. They have everything on the cars that a normal ambulance apart from a stretcher. Plus they can be sent to those that the ambulance control, think are time wasters. IE the people who phone, cause they have a scratch on their finger. So a 2 man ambulance an go to someone in need.

Its not what there putting these guys and girls in that's the problem with the ambulance service. Its how long they are working. Some of these crews are doing 12hour shifts. Not good. The bureaucrats, that run the ambulance service are now using bully boy tactics to these professional and admired ppl. There is a lot of disheartened moral.

Answer 4

NO! That sucks! I am an EMT and work Closely with a Paramedic. It would be nothing less than tragic if we respond to a serious call and he/she (The Paramedic) is across town eating a Donut! Meanwhile, the BLS Crew is there with "Thumbs up their rear" while the ALS Person in sitting 6 miles away in traffic and the patient is dying. Unacceptable. If it were their Parents or Children, you can bet your behind that they (The Beurocrats) Would want ALS there STAT! 1 driver (Who is also an EMT), 1 EMT and one Paramedic. That is the only Acceptable way an Ambulance should run. It provides immediate advanced life support upon arrival.

Answer 5

I agree with you totally. Yes, folks will get a faster response time, but not necessarily a better medical care. I myself, have had a few times where an ambulance came for me, and one or more of the paramedics didn't understand what was happening to me, and even on occasion, said my claim was false, being I knew I was dehydrated and needed an IV immediately. I get seizures, and don't always know, and some paramedics have said I was faking. It took one or another paramedic to analyze me, and decide I really needed to go to the hospital. Everytime it was proven that I did indeed have a seizure, and was in fact dehydrated. I could have died several times due to the dehydration, if not for the one or two paramedics advice to get me to the hospital right away! So, it seems, folks like me need more than one paramedic, and their correct diagnosis of my condition. One opinion isn't enough!

Answer 6

The 999 call staff are going to have to be extremely through in assessing the call- a heart attack patient is going to need one paramedic to treat and the other to speed to hospital! Even if it's a broken bone the patient could go into shock, and a single paramedic wouldn't be able to concentrate fully on the patient and driving at the same time (applies to alot of situations).

Answer 7

More efficient my foot. Cheaper they mean.
How can one person carry out some emergency procedures - as resuscitation?
How can one person lift an unconcious patient, or tuck someone with a suspected fracture int a small car? OK, they can call for help, but with the elderly and when people suffer from shock or have a cardiac arrest, speed is of the essence.

Answer 8

I think it is totally ludicrous. Some ambulance crews are threatened in some areas..I dread to think what would happen to a man/woman working alone, does it come under health & safety I wonder. These are questions I have been asking myself, just don't want to think how all this will affect patients. I think the whole idea is scary.

Answer 9

that is asking for trouble .fast responce paramedics assess the patient before ambulance arrives you must have a driver and attendant to give treatment on route.i can see a lot of safety problems coming.

Answer 10

If it is additional and not in place of then I think it would be good to have additional solo paramedics in smaller vehicles freeing up the paramedics with transport vehicles to deal with real emergency.