WORKLOAD - JAKIES, GP's AND NHS REDIRECT

The work load of ambulance services is growing and growing. It's got to saturation point in most regions. There are a number of reasons for this.

First there is yet another generation of people who think that we're here to attend their every whim. People who have probably never worked, had homes, tv's, washing machines and taxis provided for them at our expense. People who don't think that they should be responsible for themselves and are brought up to expect everything on a plate. People who think ear ache, bleeding warts, boils etc. warrant an emergency response because, well, that's our job. Why bother to drive your husband/son to hospital with a broken finger when there are special buses that come to your door. It's also fun to call an ambulance when your drunk and/or lonely, we have loads of time to sit around.

Secondly, GP's. Now there are loads of good GP's but I guess that we hear more often from the not so good ones. There is a thing called "continuity of care" that is banded around as a reason for doctors calling an ambulance for otherwise capable people. I will never understand why a GP will let a patient sit at home for a couple of hours waiting on us to turn up when the have someone that could drive them to hospital in 20 minutes. If mobility is not an issue and transport is available they will be seen by a doctor before we even get round to picking them up. Common sense will never prevail. Where is the care in being left with a letter? If this is appropriate an ambulance usually is not.

NHS Direct. The best way to explain this is probably to give a couple of examples of jobs that they send emergency response to.

Turn up at Mr D's home to find him amazed that were there. Totally unexpected and the flashing lights and sirens didn't make him to happy. Talk of the street I'm sure. He had phoned these idiots an hour before because the dressing on his bedsore needed changing. This had been explained to NHS Direct and a district nurse was requested, as normal. 999 to us?? What could we do? He did not need nor want to go to A&E.

Mrs P has chronic back pain which has been playing up for two weeks. She runs out of painkillers and, unable to bare the pain at 0400 hrs calls NHS 24. She explains that it's a pain management issue and that she is a single mum with 2 kids to look after. NHS 24 say that they will have a doctor attend within a couple of hours. She lies in bed trying to avoid crying with the pain. 0630hrs 999 call from NHS 24 to ambulance control, emergency response requested for 36 YOF with lower back pain. We turn up to a women who once again did not want nor expect an ambulance. As she said "what can we do for her"? Nothing; except call back NHS 24 on her behalf and start the thing all over again. This woman was in severe pain but knew what was required to manage it. We responded on lights and sirens for a sore back!!

I can only guess that NHS Direct/24 have about 2 hours to complete a "case", from a call being made to them receiving the appropriate care/outcome. Where they can't do this an emergency response from the Ambos is requested, clearing this from their books and no doubt meeting some government target. While driving fast is fun it is a dangerous thing for all road users, including us. I resent us being used to meet another organisations targets when we struggle to meet our own ORCON times.