retired_tharani

From the BBC

So, an ambulance crew, who from another source is claimed to have been no more than a few hundred yards from the instance, delay attending an emergency so they can finish their lunch resulting in the death of a patient.

Like most people here I am sure, I hold the emergency services in great regard but is this acceptable?

retired_gumildo

shocking

but i must say after having to ride in an ambulance with a friend yesterday (he's ok now), that particular crew were fb in terms of their skills, commitment and attitude :thup:

retired_dbaguado

How long are paramedics shifts btw? are they as long as doctors who do upto 12 hrs.

retired_gumildo

the crew yesterday were on a 12 hour 7am to 7pm shift on a four on four off pattern

retired_bball3378

sounds like the crew wouldn't have even known about the incident? Someone in control decided that to use them until their mandatory break was over...am sure that if they'd known about they'd have put their butties down and got on with the job.

It sounds dreadful, and make very little sense...you'd think people would be willing to bend the rules in cases like this.

Norfolk_boy

Not really the crew's fault as you imply. They just weren't contacted during their break about the emergency. You make it sound like they knew about it, knew how close it was and chose to eat over saving the man's life.

Crazy initiative to not radio them I agree but not really their fault.

retired_fineat42

"Ambulance crews in Glasgow are amongst the busiest in the UK."

Must be all that haggis and scotch. And deep fried mars bars.

hanouda

Yeah it's not like they radioed back to control and said, 'listen we're finishing our lunch we'll be there in a bit'.

If you called up crews on breaks every time there was an emergency they were nearest to that nobody else could cover, ambulance crews wouldn't get any breaks and would work a solid 12 hour shift.

retired_snsflip

When's Platini vs. Scottish Ambulance Service scheduled?

Ansthenia

tbf, I'd have been more than happy to go off and deal with the emergency and make up my break later.