We care....really

"Our plans will deliver a faster response and therefore increase the chances of lives being saved. I would not support a plan that would reduce the quality of patient care".

So says our chief. Here's an example of a recent job which I'm sure is echoed throughout the country.

A 40 year old patient with shortness of breath, no history. A passer by calls 999 so the nearest vehicle gets sent...a fast response car. The Paramedic radios control requesting a hot back up, to which gets told there are no vehicles available. 20 minutes later the patient takes a turn for the worst and goes unconscious. Again told there are no vehicles. All well and good when you're stood outside in freezing temperatures and joe public is huffing and puffing saying how disgusting it is. Not long after the patient goes into cardiac arrest and dies.

The paramedic emails the chief a few days after because rightly so he's a little pissed. The chief replies saying that they hit the target because they got to the patient in less than 8 minutes.

This, joe public, is what we're up against. There is no patient care, all that matters is hitting targets.