We received the following short blog from a reader who has asked to remain anonymous. It was written by the person who sent it into us in order to try and help dispell some of the ‘myths’ surrounding the public perception of the ambulance service.
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‘Was just wondering I have seen a lot about how awful the ambulances are and the mis giving people have about us.
So I wrote this.
Be nice if you could post but if not no worries. Just a thought
I think sometimes there are some mis understandings regarding the ambulance service. Here’s a few .
1. People don’t get seen in Emergency Department more quickly by going in with ambulance. You are assessed and clinical priority comes first.
2. The call handlers can only go by what the caller tells them, if you tell a few over exaggerated lies then when the paramedics get there they will not just take you in.
They too can advise you to contact your doctor.
3. Paramedics hold no drugs apart from immediate pain relief like liquid paracetamol .they cannot prescribe anything .
4. If an ambulance is dispatched to you it’s because they genuinely think you need help. The questions that are asked are for your safety and benefit. To help determine what kind of help you do need.
5. Abuse will not be tolerated. The call handlers understand if you are in pain and naughty words come out blimey most of us would. We re all human.
But when you abuse us as you don’t like the outcome then understand we will always continue to help you.
We will not lower ourselves to that level.
6. If an ambulance isn’t there straight away it’s not because your not important, they are attending to other patients already. Some necessary some not.
If someone is having a stroke and calls after you if you have for eg. A non life threatening injury, they will attend to them first as this is time critical. All is done safely. Again clinical priority .
7. I once saw a quote : ‘ If you fell in a puddle would you call a life guard.’
When ambulances go to calls that really don’t need them then it takes away from
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