I'm a paramedic AMA

[Blobbyweeble]

I've been a paramedic for 10 years working for an NHS trust in England. Happy to answer anything whilst observing patient confidentiality.

Ooh I once spent an hour in the back of an ambulance on a hospital transfer with a paramedic and had a private AMA! I asked what were the most call outs for - lots of transfers, elderly falls, and sadly road traffic accidents/deaths, not good : ( The paramedic was lovely.

What do you do to relax and what are your career aspirations?

Thanks for your amazing work.

Whatistheworldcominto I don’t think you need to be ashamed, you needed our help. Equally I do have sympathy for GP’s, people present in so many ways and are so different that diagnosis can be very difficult.

Medicaltextbook It would be very difficult to say, there are so variables, your age, is the ankle just sore or does it look out of place? Do you have transport? How far are you from the car and the hospital? If the service is very busy then it will take a lot of time to get to you so getting alternative transport may be the quickest way of getting treatment.

wigglesniggles I am happy just being a paramedic and probably won’t go for any other jobs, I’m in my 50s so not under pressure to progress. I relax by spending time with family, reading, walking my dogs ( strangely most paras I know are very doggy people) and going on as many holidays as I can. 😀Really should exercise more but time and tiredness interfere.

Thanks. About my ankle I would certainly have expected to wait a long time for an ambulance.

Do you think the people that you see that are not true emergencies expect that an ambulance/paramedic will come quickly? I just cant see the point of calling for a long standing condition that could be self treated and still wanting it when told that the wait would be many hours.

I've nothing go add other than to thank you for your service and to wish you were paid more

Hi blobby! I start a paramedic science degree next year and was just wondering if you have any tips/advice for me starting out?

duckthisshit. Remember, simply by virtue of wearing that green uniform people trust you and welcome you into their homes on sometimes the worst day of their lives, never do anything to destroy that trust. Treat everyone as you would like one of your nearest and dearest to be treated and never think you know everything, always stay humble.
Remember even on the most ridiculous job you go to, every human being has their story and their journey that bought them where they are today, always listen. I won’t say, don’t judge, we are human and all humans judge but always be prepared to examine your judgement for prejudice.
Above all welcome to the green family, it’s the best job in the world. You will save some lives and loose some lives you have fought hard for but you’ll also have a lot of fun and have job satisfaction, imo like no other.

Thank you blobby I really appreciate you replying. I can't wait to get started!

Bit of a random question, but do you know about the effect of entonox on patients with b12 deficiency? I'd never heard of it before, and had entonox in labour but later found out I was b12 deficient. Obviously at the time I wasn't diagnosed, but I don't remember it ever coming up as a question before having the entonox. I just wondered whether it's widely known that patients with b12 deficiency shouldn't use it?

Hello I see this is an old post so it’s a long shot messaging now, but how do you find the shifts with children? Do you have young ones? It’s always been a dream for me to become one but at the moment I have 4 young children three are now in school and I’m wondering weather today start uni for it now by the time I’m done my last will be in school but unsure if the shifts still work with everything else in family life?

Also you’re amazing for all you do and thank you, I hope you managed through covid as awful as it must of been for you all

Do you get frustrated with call outs to self harm?
I had a paramedic attend to me and assist on transport to a 136 unit.. he shouted at me and grabbed my hand to the point he shed blood. I reported it to the police but it all seemed like they closed ranks and it never went anywhere.

I've had a few ambulances be called out for me (all legitimately, I should say!) and every Paramedic that I've encountered has been amazing.

Once, after supping on a lot of gas and air, I got a bit garrulous and had a good chuckle with the Paramedic looking after me.
In retrospect, i probably wasn't being quite as scintillating company as i thought!

So, I also wanted to extend my gratitude for your professionalism and bedside manner.
You always made a stressful experience feel a little bit better.
💐