BBC1 Ambulance

[Misty9]

Has anyone else watched this and just been awestruck at the amazing paramedics, but also despairing about the state of the NHS and social care?

A moving and important programme to watch.

Yes! It’s filmed in my area, and having just been in hospital I’ve been amazed at watching the number of helicopters and ambulances.

I am so thankful for the NHS, especially for the staff managing with all the cutbacks

Love this, compulsive viewing. Heartbreaking in places.
Those idiots that do hoax calls should get a fine. Just why?!

Yep. It’s pretty awesome!

I hope it is an award winning series.

I love the music of Nick Drake and it was lovely to hear his song Time Has Told Me at the very end of the episode. It has been a real insight into the ambulance service.

It's inspiring and sad to see a service struggle under the volume of calls.

Where I live the fire service have started being first responders to heart attack calls as they have better availability and can respond quickly. All fire engines are equipped with defibulators and their trained to provide the care.

I watch it every week and am amazed by the dedication of the ambulance crews and the call handlers. A fantastic series and compulsive viewing.

My son joined the Ambulance Service 15 years ago at age 22. He was so idealistic when he started. Although he is still dedicated he also despairs of the general public. His is now based at Waterloo and his jobs have included, dealing with very abusive callers, including death threats against staff. Explains to people why they cannot have an ambulance for a bad cold, arm pain etc and Councelling staff who have been physically and verbally attacked by patients relatives and even patience themselves when attending 999 calls.

Like thousand of his colleagues and other NHS staff he carries on with humour and empathy.

Oops patients themselves.

Watching from Shropshire - where 25 minutes to ambulance arrival would indeed be amazing.

All of them are fantastic people, and their composure under provocation is admirable. I hope that the kids that made hoax calls got a thoroughly non-pc good slap.

It all makes you realise that even in a city centre, dont assume that there will be an ambulance. Learn first aid and get less drunk!

DH and I watch it too

We are so thankful of the dedication and kindness of ambulance and call room staff

They are amazing

Hopefully the hoax children are visited by police special officers and would be better if fined too

I am going to look for a first aid qualification to do. And actually pay attention.

It'd be nice if they mentioned Community First Responders though, the people who deal with the same shit but don't get paid a penny. The ambulance service would totally fall apart without them but not even a mention

What are community first responders? And why don't they get paid?!

@secretfreebirther one of them mentioned community first responders in last nights episode but it then wasn’t explained!

@misty9 first responders are volunteers who go to emergencies in their local area. Specifically time critical things such as heart attack/choking. I was one while I lived at home as my parents started a group in our village. The local hospital is 30 minutes away and volunteers could get to patients quicker when the ambulance service is busy.

Some info on one group here (they require 20 hours a month from volunteers but our group you’d be on call as much or as little as you could) www.scas.nhs.uk/our-services/community-and-co-responders/

Also watching from Shropshire! I still have no idea how ambulances got to my house so quickly when my son was ill. Terrific series.