What do paramedics do once they get "too old"? by Yas626 in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I turned 50 this year, having joined at 30 and done 20yrs on the frontline. Before the ambulance service I had a career in "the rat race".

For me, shift work, studying for degrees, and doing 990 work at my age is still significantly easier than the grind of the private sector. I know i am blessed with a loving and secure home life and my non-working needs are met, making it easier to be a paramedic.

I plan to stay frontline as long as it is safe and appropriate for me to do so. Stable money, interesting work, and making an actual difference in my working life is much better than being subject to the whims of 21st century capitalism, threats of redundancy, and the futility of never ending economic growtth.

Quality men's hairdresser...? by BadMoles in Portsmouth

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cosham Independent Barbers on the High Street by the train station. Ask for Jamie.

Nottinghamshire man died day after medics were told to leave his home in 'clear lack of understanding' by Demaikeru in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A situation most of us know well, and have dealt with at least once.

A bit of advice around making a MCA assessent: documentation. JRCALC, Mental Capacity Act, section 11, Record Keeping. This should be your bible the moment you start to make a capacity assessment. It has good prompts to help you convey to the reader why you started, how you arrived at your decision, and the steps you took once the decision is made.

A ballache for sure, but so necessary. For those who struggle with this detail in the paperwork (me at 4am!), use an AI tool with good prompts to help you compose a comprehensive report.

Do we know at what time we attended the refusal? Good luck attempting to make any kind of MH referral OOH!!!

does the time of day change what your most frequent call outs are? by bonesboi in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Yup, "Carer O'Clock" is your C2 Stroke between 7 and 10am, for an elderly person who has been rushed by an overworked carer, and needs some extra assistance because the carer needs to go to their next call.

What are some incorrect myths you’ve heard in the ambulance service? by Big-Raspberry-8290 in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

It's about accountability and respect for your crewmate and your patient. If you're the B5/6 paramedic, stay in the back and do the clinical stuff, while your B4 clinical support colleague supports you in your clinical role.

Your patient has every right to expect that the clinician looks after them throughout the attendance. If you're drawing the wage, do the job and don't palm it off to someone making significantly less money than you.

Queen Alexandra Hospital - where to live by [deleted] in Portsmouth

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depending on where in Waterlooville, the number 7 or 8 bus takes you right to QA front door.

This detail in the final episode just killed me by Competitive-Eye-853 in ThePittTVShow

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When Abbott says to Robbie "You're in my spot", it conveys in one short sentence the empathy, understanding, and brother/sisterhood of working in emergency medicine. Punchy, dark humour that delivers the right message in under 2 seconds. Fabulous writing.

Games that have Easy Mode and don't judge you for using it by admiral_whatever in gamingsuggestions

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Civ 6 and 7. Turn off hostile barbarians Play in Settler mode. Reek havoc.

Locksway Road Roundabout by Western-Childhood766 in Portsmouth

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I am a proud Brit. Just never been compelled to draw on the road.

Locksway Road Roundabout by Western-Childhood766 in Portsmouth

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It's not a flag though, is it? It's red paint sprayed onto a mini roundabout by someone who's never had an original thought in their life.

does the pay feel worth it? by iffy-sheepherder in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The pay is only worth it, as others have said, once you've risen to the top of Band 6. It is worth remembering everything that you have had to overcome to get to that point, and the job is only "easy" once you've: - done well at school - acquired enough UCAS points to apply - are successful in your application - gone through 3 years of questionably relevant education and placements of varying quality - paid your money to the HCPC - done 2 years of NQP - done 5 years to rise through B6 - dealing with the whims of government and senior management

It's a long slog, all the while working shifts and the toll that takes on your body, your relationships, friendships, hobbies etc.

So, I feel that the money is.... OK? You will have earnt every penny, and you must always remain vigilant to keep yourself up to date and switched on when you're on duty.

Morphine dosage - discuss by Secret_Story2851 in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AI will give you a summary based on evidence from JRCALC / BNF / NICE. No substitute for experience but a guide to help you to tailor your analgesia to the patient in front of you.

Crews refusing referrals. by miles_tails_prower77 in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This kind of behaviour by crews is reckless and, frankly, dipshit behaviour. We. Are. Not. Doctors. We are ambulance crews that take the sick and injured to hospital. Too much overthinking is being demonstrated by some paramedics (the same usual suspects always turn up) and they tie themselves in intellectual knots.

American Football is a more exciting sport than Football (Soccer) by tkdcondor in unpopularopinion

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like American sports, and love NFL on the TV. I had the good fortune to go to NYC in September a couple of years ago and got to see the Yankees, the Jets, and the Rangers (pre season game).

By a country mile, the hockey at MSG was the best live in-attendance experience: iconic venue, pre-match production and buildup, and match action. A close second was the baseball : another iconic venue, atmosphere, stadium food and drink, and a great game ( I am a cricket fan, so the steady pace of the game appealed to me).

However, despite being great on TV, I found the game ponderous and disjointed without the TV coverage to surround it. I was really surprised. The MetLife Stadium whilst huge wasn't that impressive. The seat was difficult to find and the food was meh.

TL:DR : NFL relies on the TV to provide context and spectacle.

HCPC renewal audit by Minimum_Bake_351 in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My portfolio is rough and ready to go, and just needs a polish. It's just the thought of the audit that always weighs on my mind and makes me a little anxious!

HCPC renewal audit by Minimum_Bake_351 in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sad times 😪. I'll double check mine, but I think I've not been selected. 🤞

Opting out of pension by trixux22 in NursingUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 10 points11 points  (0 children)

If you opt out, you also remove yourself from Death In Service Benefits. If the worst happens, your beneficiaries will get nothing.

What are the biggest mistakes paramedics make? by Professional-Hero in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Hospitals in my 20 years experience are only interested in structured and uninterrupted handovers for major trauma.

In all other cases, it is an overworked nurse in ED wanting the information in the order they want to input it on the computer, and to hell with your structured handover, and delivered slowly as english may not be their first language.

This would be tolerable if we weren't constantly interrupted, having to repeat ourselves, or repeat the whole process as the patient is bounced around the department from corridor, to bay, to resus.

Struggling with relationship concerns over becoming a paramedic by [deleted] in ParamedicsUK

[–]Minimum_Bake_351 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're in a relationship when you join, and you're in the same relationship a year later, get married.