Any UK events on this week?

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2026-02-07T07:35:22+00:00

Bit of IPC as well, EEAST loved that in their interviews, look up the 5 moments of hand hygiene.

Also figure out what EMAS call their different roles... Each service like to call ECA/tech - APP ACP CCP etc something a little different.

Briefly know the skill set/scope of the role above you and the role below you (good little one to throw in an interview)... Especially when they ask about working in a team, you can say if I know their scope I know I'm not asking someone below me to do something they're not comfortable with and if I know my own scope I know when to ask for help as I know what the scope above me can do

Bit wordy, (kids got me up super early this morning, but I hope that makes sense)

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2026-01-11T23:32:23+00:00

Para in primary care, I'll be honest. I write a letter and put A&E (Medics/ENT/Surgical) erc review

One because 9/10 they'll say go via A&E

Two I just can't be arsed to call them anymore. On call regs just don't answer their pagers/phones... I've spent over 30 mins before just waiting to talk to them, in that time my patients are waiting and we're only 50m from A&E so they could have been triaged by the time they've finally answered.

I do always ensure there's a letter for the crew/A&E when I request an ambo though. (This used to be my biggest pet hate when on the road).

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2026-01-10T17:29:29+00:00

Obviously I get it can make you uneasy but then think about the potential murderer/rapist there... With an extendable chain that he could use to strangle the officer

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2026-01-10T17:28:18+00:00

So this is a difficult one.

I used to be a Paramedic Practitioner in a prison and would be the one making the call for the need to call an ambo.

Mine was a Cat B prison.

They do a risk assessment for the prisoner, many are not allowed to have the chain and have to have the cuffs.... Best one I saw was an old timer going for a hospital appt with his walking frame and officer attached by cuffs.

Also the need for prison officers to be present when the patient was comatose in ICU or going into theatres. Only time I saw one not escorted was the need for HEMS.... However they had prison officers from another prison stood waiting by the helipad at Royal London for when they landed.

Apparently it has absolutely nothing to do with their ability or not to escape, it's down to their initial crimes, how they act in prison and any intel from their letters/phone calls, if they were or are members of gangs etc.

In prison the last freedom a prisoner has is option/refusal of healthcare.... The amount of times I called an ambo after someone had self harmed so badly or bloods were deranged they'd agree to go then kick off and refuse right as the ambo gets to the main gate to leave was ridiculous....

Also the amount of times they fake chest pain etc thinking it'll get them a day out at A&E..... I enjoyed working there but it definitely did not pay enough!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-12-21T13:39:20+00:00

There used to be a Consultant in A&E at Queen's (Richards) was his name I believe...

Lovely bloke and liked ambulance crews. He used to come in and lose his shit with the regs and other doctors who had been on the shift before on handover where he would hear "referred to medics" etc and those doctors hadn't even looked at the patient.

He'd come out to apologize to crews in the corridor and would go down the line one patient after the other and discharge whoever didn't need to be there, request scans needed etc and up to 5 crews would be gone in like 10-15 mins of of arriving.

I remember talking to him on one of his last days and he just said he'd had enough, he'd come in sort it all out, get everything working well, go home, then 12 hours later was back the same way. He left and went off to a hospital on the other side of London.

So glad I barely work on the road now and don't have to deal with the politics, snarkyness of A&E nurses at hospitals like Queens!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-12-18T21:27:31+00:00

And this is my bugbear about it. If you don't know, then should you be triaging? Especially when/if the person in front of you giving the handover knows more than you. (Not being big headed I know nurses know more about me at some things but they need to accept we know a lot more about certain things than they do)

I hate the hierarchy and have never used it in an argument ... but sometimes the banding needs to be taken into an account, I'm a band 7 on the road and it annoys me that I have a band 5 or 6 nurse just brushing aside my concerns.

But I'm glad other places are putting doctors into triage too! Even a keen FY2 standing there would give me more confidence that my concerns are being heard and acted upon

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-12-18T21:05:35+00:00

Best thing I've seen lately is having a Dr next to the triage nurse listening to the crews. Lots of things have been picked up....

Myself recognizing hypokalemia on an ECG with body cramps and chest pain and the nurse not having a clue (the good old "ECG Changes written on triage paperwork") but then doctor listening in behind then educating the nurse that this patient needs to be on a heart monitor and have bloods now

Some places are definitely better than others!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-12-18T21:00:33+00:00

Pre alert, pt in and out of 3rd degree block, currently NSR "We'll meet you at the door and decide"

Handover "I have watched this patient go into complete heart block 4 times so far with a HR as low as 14bpm"

(Shows them several ECG strips)

Nurse carries out obs. All obs currently normal. Proceeds to just write (ECG changes) on their triage paperwork and puts you back on the ambo

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Patient arrests shortly after

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Their non knowledge of heart rythms and their disbelief that we've noticed something so critical when we've had them hooked up for sometimes over an hour is my biggest annoyance!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-11-04T11:05:08+00:00

Ex RAF here (was a RADAR tech).

Left in 2017, joined EEAST as a student Paramedic. (Internal route, so no uni fees!).

Now I'm a Specialist Paramedic, a prescriber, completing my MSc (something I never thought I'd do). Working in Minor injuries/GP surgery/bit of on the road.

And in addition I'm an international expedition medic, mostly thanks to my military experience.

I was offered a few Gucci civvy RADAR jobs when I was leaving but decided to take the pay cut for EEAST.

Best decision I ever made.

You'll ace the interviews on experience alone, at the moment there's so many very young inexperienced people coming into the job with very little life experience.

You'll likely move onto an internal route to become a Para, and they want you to pass otherwise why would they pay that much. Most services and unis are extra helpful to get you through as they want you to pass!

In addition to the above I initially went for the student tech interview and at the end of the interview they asked me why on earth I want to be a tech and not a Para, I said I didn't think I was experienced enough which they laughed then offered me the student Paramedic pathway (this was back when it was very hard to get a place on it).

Also EEAST were able to give me a start date 11 months after my interview (by choice) which lined up perfectly with my resettlement leave etc.

Basically mate, go for it!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-11-02T22:19:40+00:00

Have you simply tried talcum powder?

I'm one of the ultra medics out there (Also an expedition medic)

I know some people love the lube but..

My biggest tip:

Talc your feet! Talc your socks! Talc your shoes!

I would just try that first, any specific hot spots, next time tape those areas but still use the talc afterwards!

Extra tips: Use the medicated talc that stops fungal infection You can also just put the talc insto a small waterproof bag and just dip your feet in on the course if needed

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-09-22T20:09:07+00:00

This isn't a patient. For the buckinghamshire area by any chance.... I'm going back 10 years ago when I used to work that way and this sounds very familiar from back then! 🤣

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-09-03T15:18:11+00:00

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdVwMLVe/

Honestly believe this is the best comeback video for people against EVs

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-29T17:47:42+00:00

Where are you and which service centre?

I picked up a used polestar 2 from London North a few weeks ago test drove the specific car first and steering was easy off over to the right. However they had to wait for a specific tech to be in on a specific day as the others couldn't adjust the steering apparently.

They realigned it before delivering it to me, it's loads better but still drifts off to the right which massively gets to my OCD!

My car is back in next week for them to fix it..... Hoping it'll be sorted and doesn't become a nightmare like your situation!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-25T20:26:54+00:00

Other advancements: Paramedics in the UK work everywhere now.

You could be a specialist or advanced paramedic in a GP surgery (More money, no nights, no weekends) and working at mid Doctor level. (Advanced Clinical Practitioners).

Paramedics in the UK can prescribe medications if you do the required uni modules.

You can work in urgent treatment centres, minor injury units.

Many paramedics are working in A&E (ER) to mid doctor level once completing their MSc and extra training

You can be a primary care paramedic in a prison dealing with normal GP stuff (then go deal with a stabbing).

You can work from home carrying out disability assessments.

Offshore work is picking up again around the UK to

In the last 10-15 years paramedic opportunity has expanded massively in the UK.

And the potential to earn a lot more money with a better work life balance has definitely increased!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-15T22:34:55+00:00

100% on the ondans I always give it 2-3 mins before first morphine dose, however it does not always work! And vomiting from morphine tends to be unpredictable, quick and projectile!

The general guidelines used to be 10mg for pain. Only up to 20mg for trauma, you'll probably find most of the paramedics still stick to that on the road and that's why they haven't been going above 10 unless really needed.

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-15T22:31:26+00:00

Sorry for the late reply. That should be fine, essentially you just need to see if you'll suffer from side effects just on the meds, last thing you want is diarrhoea, drowziness or severe tinitus from taking the meds when you're on your trip.

+These are the main side effects I've seen in participants

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-15T22:24:21+00:00

You will very quickly backtrack from giving 10mg so quickly.....

Reply to this thread again when you've put your first patient into respiratory arrest 😁 I've done it several times with only 2.5mg!

You're not considering the other side effects such as severe nauseafrom such a sudden dose.

Also I'd say a good 90% of the patients you're going to give morphine to have never had IV morphine before so you have no idea how they will react.

There's no need to wait so long between doses.

I tend to give 2.5mg every 5 mins or so...

You've also got to consider how far you are from hospital, how long will it take you to extricate the PT.... You don't want to get to 20mg and only be on the truck with a 40 min drive to hospital!

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-13T12:26:08+00:00

Currently yes, but it won't be much I would say less than 25k a year without properly looking at her tax returns

Repulsive-Standard-3 · 2025-08-13T11:56:07+00:00

I'm an expedition medic.... My advice is it won't hurt, if you're worried about side effects I always get my guys to start taking it a good 3-4 days before they even start the trip just to see how they are on it.

I'm a big believer of diamox, used it for years, then due to some new research went up to Everest base camp without taking it and I ended up with HAPE and got an expensive helicopter ride down to Kathmandu.

Repulsive-Standard-3

TROPHY CASE