tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post2126811818632081072..comments2023-10-30T08:23:36.678+00:00Comments on Trying My Patients: In SyncElla Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-51979572527921358942014-03-15T16:07:14.508+00:002014-03-15T16:07:14.508+00:00I agree there are a number of Private services who...I agree there are a number of Private services who operated below parr! I work for several private services and have seen the good and bad in most! I am Ex East of England Ambulance Service! I have had many a discussion with the HCPC with regards to either registering IHCD Technicians or better still we currently have 3 levels of Paramedic Critical Care Paramedics, ECP's and Paramedics now if they adopted the banding system that LAS apply to their techs i.e. 1-4 then you could for arguments sake make Critical Care Paras a level 4, ECP's Level 3, Paramedics as they are now a level 2 and IHCD Technicians a level 1 Paramedic! Then anyone saying they are a qualified Tech will will know they are a 5 day Tech FPosI level! It would also mean that all IHCD Techs would be fully accountable for their actions whereas at the moment if they mess up they just change employer! Just a thought!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02564171557781834073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-38446826001033621182014-03-15T09:24:09.832+00:002014-03-15T09:24:09.832+00:00Here above lies part of the problem with training ...Here above lies part of the problem with training that even the NHS are responsible for. Why are "double ECA" crews being used when the purpose of an ECA is to Assist a Para / IHCD Tech and were never intended to work alone<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-70032038379923369482014-03-14T20:40:18.370+00:002014-03-14T20:40:18.370+00:00Im sorry but some of this I disagree with. I work...Im sorry but some of this I disagree with. I work for a private ambulance service and myself and my other colleagues have had proper training with IHCD qualifications. So In sense we have done the training to help the trust out with the amount of work load they have been receiving lately. And 50% of our staff are either ex trust or are currently still in the trust. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-67944886771633219542013-05-16T16:35:41.287+01:002013-05-16T16:35:41.287+01:00And if I could just fix my predictive text problem...And if I could just fix my predictive text problems... apologies ELLA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-33389851573416607092013-05-16T09:30:23.843+01:002013-05-16T09:30:23.843+01:00I am a NHS employed ECA with 3.5 years on the road...I am a NHS employed ECA with 3.5 years on the road experience. The majority of road staff in my area know me and know my level of competence (evidenced by the number of times I've heard them say "oh, thank f*** it's you" as we arrive to back up the FRV). And yet...last night, working as a double ECA crew on the way to a job, we were asked by the person on scene, via Control, whether we were qualified to administer entonox. (For the record, yes, since day1 of training school). Unfortunately these questions need to be asked as even within the job role I have it seems that every course has been taught differently and while all ECAs are equal, some are more equal than others. It is only natural, therefore, that there is suspicion amongst Trust staff when they are backed up by private crews with Technician epaulettes that may signify anything between 3days and 30years if experience. In stressful Life/Death situations I completely understand why any para would want to be absolutely certain of the capabilities of the people around them.<br />Having said that, blanking private crews when on station is pathetically childish behaviour (and there are still some stations in our trust area where the old school staff blank us too).<br />In short, love you blog Ellie... now if you could just fix those grammar problems... ;0) xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-46794700715547426852013-05-15T08:27:11.083+01:002013-05-15T08:27:11.083+01:00Hiya Ella
I am a student and Plymouth University ...Hiya Ella<br /><br />I am a student and Plymouth University where i am just about to finish my foundation degree in rescue and emergency management and am then off to either Greenwich or Canterbury Christchurch to study Paramedic Science. <br /><br />My email address is matt.rodwell@live.co.uk (all lowercase) i would really love to speak to you via email privately about some of the things i have encountered on my course such as the HART team, the Fire Service, effect of the cutbacks and the some of the things you talk about above regarding EMT and ECAs, and hear your thoughts especially about the HART teams.<br /><br />I understand completely that you must get requests like this alot and that you are incredibly busy so if it is not appropriate please do not worry and thank you for your time!<br /><br />Matt<br /><br />Ps i have read your blog a lot over the last two years and it is a very good read with what i believe to be very topical points even if i am only a student!!! Ll Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-81619154211534920622013-05-13T17:26:11.245+01:002013-05-13T17:26:11.245+01:00Does this not mean that the problem lies with comm...Does this not mean that the problem lies with commissioning - that when the Trust commissions a private service, they should be specifying exactly what level of service they require, including training, grades of staffing etc? Glitterfluffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00745594619309464125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-33373236276407465342013-05-13T15:05:53.365+01:002013-05-13T15:05:53.365+01:00Just a question, maybe it's stupid...but would...Just a question, maybe it's stupid...but would you consider SJA to be more okay to work with if they are necessary to relieve pressure on the service, though they might not be as trained, but the organisation aren't motivated to take over the LAS considering they are volunteers? Jordan Mooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03862659218371368957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-62712707705516115902013-05-13T14:49:00.845+01:002013-05-13T14:49:00.845+01:00Dont even get me started on that!Dont even get me started on that!Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-80688758917015011872013-05-13T14:48:45.423+01:002013-05-13T14:48:45.423+01:00Made perfect sense. Really good points made! Thank...Made perfect sense. Really good points made! Thank you!Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-18896355092063058322013-05-13T14:48:22.970+01:002013-05-13T14:48:22.970+01:00Thank you! Really appreciate that. xThank you! Really appreciate that. xElla Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-45385570973951164672013-05-13T14:48:05.921+01:002013-05-13T14:48:05.921+01:00Money money money! Money money money! Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-29621928340927070682013-05-13T14:47:20.840+01:002013-05-13T14:47:20.840+01:00I think it was joke, but....
Totally agree with y...I think it was joke, but....<br /><br />Totally agree with your point. Paramedic is banded around to everyone on a yellow vehicle. 'Ooh, gotta go, the paramedics have just arrived' said to a double ECA crew!Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-24408215744897171532013-05-13T14:46:19.297+01:002013-05-13T14:46:19.297+01:00It is addressable! Whether the incentive is there ...It is addressable! Whether the incentive is there for them to action it I dont know! Lots of pockets to be lined!<br /><br />I totally agree about variable job titles. ECA, EMT, A & E support, ECSW. They need 3 title. Para, student para and ECA / EMT! All with the same training. Anything else should be only a first aider.Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-61879623689916116242013-05-13T14:43:36.809+01:002013-05-13T14:43:36.809+01:00I consider SJA a private company in relation to 99...I consider SJA a private company in relation to 999 work.Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-5717987827220342702013-05-13T14:43:08.242+01:002013-05-13T14:43:08.242+01:00Haha! I think the para bit was a joke! ;-)Haha! I think the para bit was a joke! ;-)Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-79174102555683374502013-05-13T14:40:52.816+01:002013-05-13T14:40:52.816+01:00Thanks for the comment. You make some really good ...Thanks for the comment. You make some really good points and I agree with you. I really do. Met a really good private crew last night and chatted about their work patter, or lack off! I know there are crap Paras and great ECAs. My point is, that as ECA and EMT are not protected titles, anyone can use them on minimal training. Because of this, with the best will in the world, a private tech or private ECA won't be trusted to that of a trust one. In any particular trust, you know what training your EMTs and ECAs have had, with a private you just don't know. <br /><br />I wil always give credit where it is due and similarly, criticise when needed. There is absolutely no excuse for you being blanked in the crew room. Or on a job. What im saying is that the trust and unspoken understanding isnt there because of a lack of parity in training. We are all on the same team and I will always treat all crews with respect and courtesy. Its a real shame the idiots sitting opposite you are not showing you that respect.Ella Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379522083602755280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-4999017191015516202013-05-13T13:06:59.896+01:002013-05-13T13:06:59.896+01:00Hi
I work for a few private companies as a tech, a...Hi<br />I work for a few private companies as a tech, after working for a trust. Here are a few points, first of all, there are some "undertrained" ECAs I've worked with that are great and I've worked with some trust paras that are totally incompetent, so in my opinion the issues with training is not limited to duration, but competency. <br />Secondly, to the trust staff who have problems with privates- you are guaranteed work and a salary, you are guaranteed a pension, you are guaranteed sick pay, you have the possibility of the trust paying for extra courses, you have general respect from other trust colleagues. <br />As a private, I am not guaranteed work on a weekly basis, I have no pension I have no sick pay, I have to pay for any extra training and cpd, and I give respect to ALL trust and privat staff, usually get it back from other privates, and rarely have respect returned from trust staff. As I write this I'm sitting in a crew room with a trust crew that are blanking us, because we're private. I'm doing what I love as a private because there are no jobs with the trust. Try to understand the struggles we as privates face, and look at yourself, and maybe change your attitude, it looks like privates will be here for a while do get used to it! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-4117826499730724252013-05-13T00:31:38.795+01:002013-05-13T00:31:38.795+01:00Not to mention that the mp's probably all have...Not to mention that the mp's probably all have shares in these privately run companies so its not in their interest to fix the broken bits of the nhs, police, army and fire service. . . Sorry am i being cynical? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-85297229796574863902013-05-12T22:04:52.486+01:002013-05-12T22:04:52.486+01:00Private ambulance companies have their place, Is t...Private ambulance companies have their place, Is that place in a front line 999 role? Maybe.<br />One point you brought up was about the terms of ECA and EMT. I fully agree 100% that these 'titles' are thrown around too much. I myself am currently studying as an ECA outside of an Ambulance trust, but with my local college. It is a full years course and at the end holds the Edexcel BTEC L2 in Emergency Care. But would I call myself an ECA at the end of the year? Yes, but I wouldn't feel confident enough to use those skills on the road in a 999 job without time on an ambulance as a student.<br /><br />'EMT'is a term that I've seen used far too much, people training for 3-5 days and then calling themselves an EMT. I personally believe unless you complete the IHCD course and rock up 750 clinical hours you shouldn't call yourself an EMT. But that will never happen!<br /><br />PAS have their uses i think, as a back up for current trusts in times where they may need extra crews, they're short staffed or something major happens and they need extra vehicles. But they should not be used as a replacement, they should be used primarily in non-emergency roles that then allows Trust crews to deal with the incidents that they need specialist help at. Some PAS may have HCPC registered paramedics and IHCD qualified EMTs, but not all of them will do. Maybe there should be some sort of control of PAS to ensure that they only employ people with such qualifications onto 999 duties?<br /><br />If this makes sense to anyone else, Then I've succeeded. Jeremy Andrewshttps://twitter.com/jerryandrews95noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-25333178818738167152013-05-12T18:00:00.165+01:002013-05-12T18:00:00.165+01:00Hi Ella,
I'm a paramedic student at uni, I ha...Hi Ella,<br /><br />I'm a paramedic student at uni, I have my first year OSCEs next week and instead of practicing/revising I'm sat here reading your blog. I can't stop!....If I fail it's definitely your fault :)<br /><br />Really enjoy reading your posts, it's obvious that you're a very competent, caring paramedic. I hope I'll be able to practice to a similar standard in a year's time x<br /><br />- BCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-56343638736409036122013-05-12T15:31:04.807+01:002013-05-12T15:31:04.807+01:00Are St John's not considered private also?Are St John's not considered private also? Jordan Mooneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03862659218371368957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-82485190399734378672013-05-12T12:01:58.856+01:002013-05-12T12:01:58.856+01:00The Saddest Part is the best private crews are nev...The Saddest Part is the best private crews are never on 999 work as they are put where the profit is highest. SATS Ambulance's carry one experienced ICU nurse and one tech per vehicle, but as aero repatriation and NICU pays the highest they stick to them instead of 999 work. <br /><br />To many jobs these days are going to private and they simply don't have the equipment levels or the skill to deal with the job. that being said LAS are having a hell of a time as well. I recently got called to a job with LAS and as we were preparing to move a gentleman I had initiated TCP (trans cutaneous pacing) on, we found that the frontliner had no scoop aboard as it had been left at A&E on the previous job and they weren't given enough time to go back and get another.<br /><br /> The government should really just allow the NHS ambulance services to expand rather than letting privates drive the cost down and ruin what is probably the best service in the world. KChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06918247308508905872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-77893272749931404412013-05-12T11:50:48.039+01:002013-05-12T11:50:48.039+01:00@ anonymous. Just noticed the jk tag.......app...@ anonymous. Just noticed the jk tag.......appologies for the rant. max d'frostnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4489565303994499222.post-43292751089514886632013-05-12T11:47:11.765+01:002013-05-12T11:47:11.765+01:00not wanting to hijack this thread and In reply to ...not wanting to hijack this thread and In reply to 'anonymous', please, serious? A 4 day first aid course absolutely does not mean you can call yourself a paramedic. I'm not having a go but it really irritates me when the media (and therefore the public) use 'paramedic' as a generic term for ambulance staff. For the record, since around 2005, qualified paramedics have had to complete a degree course at university which includes many exams, high pressure scenarios and hospital placements. To gain the protected title of paramedic, we also have to register with the health and care professions council where our every action is scrutinised and we have to account for everything we do at work ( and out of work). I would say this makes us highly qualified. Unfortunately, many don't know this and think the job is just putting on a bandage and behaving like those baffoons in carry on nurse.<br />I know this is somewhat off tangent but I wanted to just make this point.<br />max d'frostnoreply@blogger.com