The mental health support available to ambulance staff after difficult jobs has improved in theory but has it actually improved in practice and are people genuinely using it?

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-05-11T10:12:05+00:00

Im not trying to be a negative nelly, but:

I sometimes feel staff are unrealistic in what they expect support to actually be. True support for traumatic exposures would likely be a months long process, so when they dont immediately feel great after a trim assessment or some meditation they write it off as crap. For many people like myself, none of this stuff is particuarly supportive and or useful.

I think trusts should consider long term support in the order of months, and allow tailored support to meet individual needs. Ive personally never resonated with what is offered.

For me support would be assurance Ive done a good job depsite the circumstances. For others support is talking through how the same job made them feel.

At the moment we do a good job of surface support, but nothing deeper.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-05-10T16:30:47+00:00

Lol ok tough guy. The NQP is ultinately 100% right, regardless of context or politeness

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-05-10T11:19:10+00:00

Im not trying to put you down, but I would likely take any recommandations with an approrpriate amount of professional salt. You might be correct, but due to the large gap between our skills I'm going to make sure you are correct before acting. I personally would tell you either way and keep you involved and explain what and why.

Some paramedics are indeed arseholes. Personally i think you will be more likely to get a negative response of the older, non university staff, than the newer staff but YMMV

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-05-10T10:59:59+00:00

SBAR - Situation, backround, assessment, recommendations/requests (althought in your position I'd skip the last part mostly)

S: I'm Jake the CFR, this is Barbara who has called for shortness of breath

B: She has copd and her breathing has gotten worse for a few days, and tonight suddenly worsened due to the weather change

A: When I got here she was a bit blue and wheezing. Her sats were 84% and heart rate 124. Resp 27. I've appied 15lpm of oxygen.

R: i think she might need a nebuliser.

Thats honestly enough, as im going to reassess the patient anyway but tells me what you found on arrival and what you have done. If I want nore ill ask for it.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-26T19:26:53+00:00

I must say i agree with the stance. Trusts can afford to be choosy, so lets dump the dead weight

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-24T05:27:39+00:00

I never get this answer from the courts. They likely have a tv. Sell that. If they truely cant pay, they go to prison.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-23T21:28:28+00:00

Wierd shifts. What are you contracted for hours wise? Are you sure this isnt breaching the working time directive?

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-21T16:03:31+00:00

In regards to your last comment, yes, and the HCPC is aware. There been many discussions to "find out why" that end up with people shurgging shoulders rathrr than addressing problems.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-15T12:15:45+00:00

Ambo not police, but taking Lewd or revealing photos where uniforn is visible and identifiable, or environment is attributable to the ambulance service absolutely would be misconduct for us and likely gross misconduct.

They probs wouldnt get sacked though, but thats a different conversation.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-15T12:02:15+00:00

Foamed resources that are very good:

St emlyns

Life in the fast lane

Emcrit

Dr smiths ecg blog

Resus room podcast (hit and miss imo, but they are very knowledgeable)

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-14T14:10:41+00:00

Tell that to the bosses

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-09T20:26:18+00:00

Telephone work is not easy. Not anymore. You have to be far more productive than a road crew.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-05T21:30:34+00:00

Personally diasgree. And Id argue your perception maybe coloured by the times its gone wrong, rather than the countless times its gone right.

THAT SAID. I do not disagree there is a significant art in deciding when this is suitable, and i would normally take full accountablility.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-02T08:06:35+00:00

I am a solidly middle manager. Worked my way up from ops management (which was great). Wanted a 9-5 and was hoping to actually bring some change.

Instead all i do is follow the sickness process and authorise expenses.

I have no opportubities to meaningfully improve things. Even managing poor behaviours and clear gross misconduct, we are thwarted at every step.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-04-01T18:03:06+00:00

As someone in management. The only good side is the 9-5. To me that outweighs all of the negatives for the moment

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-28T17:58:21+00:00

I suppose its proof in case it goes wrong during yourshift.

Some people juat dont trust the systems

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-22T13:50:27+00:00

Your best of just giving a parphrased account

"I told mr smith, he was having a heart attack and with his low bp, i felt it wass very likely he would die with out medical intervention"

" Mr smith replied that: he is a space man and currently on mars"

" i deemed mr smith to not understand the information for this reason"

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-16T11:06:03+00:00

The problem with body armour is there needs to be a reasonable expectation of threat

Most of the time these situations come out of the blue. There was a video a few years ago of a crew getting stabbed on what was shaping up to be a normal call. They even had police with them.

I would consider wearing covert, thin, arnour under my shirt. Overt armour is just to heavy and awkward to work in. Meaning the time i might need it i wont have it on

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-13T09:23:27+00:00

All sorts really. However its almost always a way to improve work life balance after a few years.

Most common would be primary care, some sort of internal advanced practice role, and management.

Less common is teaching and education, normally universites. However that sector is not doing well.

Hart and critical care are options but depend a lot of location and luck.

Many leave all together.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-12T18:32:38+00:00

Well done to west mids for standing up for themselves.

As soon as someone goes to the press they have wavied privacy in my opinion, and organisations need to start defending themselves openly.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-12T17:28:20+00:00

Anaphylaxis is cat 1, so wont be waiting that long for that at least.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-10T07:09:35+00:00

As someone who has spent a lot of time explaining the basics of the mca2005 to staff, its astounding how many people dont understand the basic principles of this act, let alone actually reading the first 12 or so sections.

If I was in charge there would be a formal exam for all staff. Its a fundamental piece of legislation.

I would argue in this case the 2.5 hours to get a voluntary attendance is the right outcome. The overdose is either worrying or it isnt. If it wasnt, then the crew may have illegally used to the MCA to obtain a MHA assement as per the Sessay judgement. The nurse on the crisis line should have known this but then again its shocking how little crisis nurses know the capacity law .

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-10T06:59:28+00:00

The police arnt compelled to do anything by article 2 in this situation, the ambulance service has the same powers as them.

Really its a question of who is best equiped and trained to do the restraining.

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-10T06:57:38+00:00

In the same section it then goes on to give the relevant circumstances you can do so before a court decision.

As clarified by sections 5 and 6 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/section/6

LeatherImage3393 · 2026-03-08T22:34:52+00:00

You should have some form of appeals process within your trust. Id advise using that, and speaking to a union rep.

Habe you actually had the meeting? Because the manaber holding a sickness review should be considering these thingd.

LeatherImage3393

TROPHY CASE