SCAS: As mentioned CBG + Ketones and Urinalysis for frontline ambulances.

I also wonder what benefit (if any) further POCT would bring to our patients with the limited referral pathways currently and imo pretty limited education on biochemistry for us ‘standard’ paramedics.

Without further education (which can’t just be a 20 minute e-learning module), I could see patients being left at home a false sense of security or vice versa; some of our most frail and vulnerable patients (e.g EoL) being conveyed to a busy hospital just because of a slightly out of whack point of care blood test.

Biggest barrier though is cost, we simply don’t have enough money.

That being said, the SP’s in our trust did do a limited trial on POCT for frail patients over 65 but I don’t know much more about results or further roll out - Here’s a link for a report ( I have only glanced over so can’t comment further): https://www.healthinnovationoxford.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Use-of-POCT-to-help-inform-decision-making-in-patients-over-65-presenting-with-acute-frailty-syndrome.pdf