EMS Garage

1. 
   medicblog999 said:
   June 3rd, 2009 on 4:56 pm

   Hi Chaps,
   Just thought I would add a couple of things following on from Toms statements during this podcast.

   We have the radio system already in place, in the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), which Tom mentioned. We too were a little concerned regarding the passive listening function on the handset, however, this only comes in in certain “exceptional” circumstances. I obviously cannot comment on how London ambulance service will run this facility, but in our service, for it to be activated, the crew member has to press the emergency button, which automatically opens passive listening, so the control room can hear what is happening without the member of staff having to call in an emergency in a dangerous situation. The only other time that it can be activated is when the senior control manager has a legitimate concern for a crew that they cannot contact via any other means. This has to be recorded and logged with the specific reasons for the activation, which is then reviewed at a senior level at the earliest opportunity. Overall, we have not seen this as an intrusion into our privacy, but as a welcome safety measure.

   The other comment is on the discussion regarding solo responders going to “dangerous” or volatile situations.
   Again, this is handled differently in NEAS. we have a standing arrangement that rapid response (solo) paramedics will NOT be sent to any “known” incidents where alcohol, drugs, violence or a “volatile” environment is heard by the call taker. This is obviously not 100% fool proof as the control can only dispatch on the information that is given to them, but over all, we do not get sent to a fraction of the “dangerous” scenarios that Tom mentioned. Maybe we are just fortunate in this respect.
   The whole place of solo responders in the EMS system is another argument entirely!!
   Great Podcast chaps, Thanks.

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