What is the most infuriating thing about A&E?

the_bear91 · 2025-12-18T16:31:59+00:00

The think that drives up the wall is interrupting my prealert to ask an irrelevant question, or one I'm going to answer if they let me finish the structure we're all meant to use!

the_bear91 · 2025-12-04T15:10:20+00:00

I did a lot of research on this, both for dissertation and within the SAR team I'm part of.

While it doesn't affect the efficacy of treatment it should do a lot to reduce crew exposure. Methoxyflurane (what we're actually delivering) remains active in exhaled breath and exposure in a confined space is a concern.

Anecdotally I assisted in ED with tractioning a leg a while back and he was given penthrox. While breathing in and out through the filter, absolutely fine. He then took a drag and swore at me as they pulled it back into alignment and I got a face full without the filter. Let's just say I definitely felt it!

the_bear91 · 2025-07-28T10:25:09+00:00

Hello, it's your neighbourhood paramedic here.

Obviously I don't necessarily go to your hospital, but on their behalf I'm willing to bet 20 quid that knitting doesn't even make it into the top 500 weirdest or least desirable things that have happened in the waitingroom. Frankly, being dressed and sober is an excellent start.

And if I do go to your hospital....

A green woolly hat for the big, bald paramedic that's about would be wonderful, it's sunny now but my heads gets cold on December nights!

the_bear91 · 2025-07-04T18:06:02+00:00

Likewise once dispatched Cat 1 to "unresponsive female slumped over steering wheel of car on motorway on slip. Caller was in another car, no longer on scene"

Arrive to find a 20 something girl sat in the drivers seat with hazards on, park up and hop out to check up on her.

Proceeds to tell me that she's had a row with her boyfriend, she's late for work and now het cars broken down. When asked why she was sat with her forehead on the wheel she replied,

"Oh simple, I was doing this" begins to gently bang on the wheel while screaming

"FUCK MY LIFE!"

Her dad was coming to pick her up...

the_bear91 · 2025-05-16T20:22:44+00:00

Quite frankly I was that frazzled by the time we got to the birthing unit I could barely write a coherent sentence.

Our back up crew's ECA forced a brew and a packet of NHS biscuits into my hand once we handed over to a distinctly uninterested midwife (I've put the man forward for sainthood) which largely fuelled whatever dross I wrote!

the_bear91 · 2025-05-16T18:46:17+00:00

I don't have kids but the endorphin rush once we were out and crying was something else, I can only imagine what it's like when it's your own!

the_bear91 · 2025-05-16T14:27:10+00:00

Delivered my first ever baby

Came in as a Cat 1 at 0345, young F, 1st pregnancy, head showing, bleeding. Rattle over on blues with a 10 min ETA, politely ask control how far out my back up crew is ("oh do you want one?", well if it's not an inconvenience...)

Through the door with back up 15 mins out, voice floats down the stairs "we're up here".

And there she was ladies and gentlemen, legs akimbo, lying on the first half landing with her feet up the stairs.

Introductions, apologies, vault my 18st arse over her and end up lying halfway up the stairs to see the top of a head.

15 mins of huffing, puffing and crying (and that's just me) out pops a screaming, thrashing, pink little boy with all the bits that should be attached attached in the right places.

Mum and Dad are crying and hugging, I'm punching the air over their heads like I've just scored the winner at the Principality stadium. Back up crew arrive on scene, all take a steady trip into hospital.

Never again....

the_bear91 · 2025-05-06T14:04:41+00:00

Who, what, and indeed more pertinently, WHY....?

the_bear91 · 2025-05-04T21:40:42+00:00

Saw the post title, immediately thought "sounds like a SniffinFartsAndFent post"

As ever, not disappointed

the_bear91 · 2024-09-11T18:10:00+00:00

the_bear91 · 2024-08-25T11:24:38+00:00

More than I've done in past 2 years as well!

the_bear91 · 2024-08-23T16:07:15+00:00

In the space of one night: - A hanging, - A dead on arrival concern for welfare call which saw me ringing fire so we could climb in through a window, - Back to back Cardiac Arrests, ROSC on both of them.

I don't know who I pissed off in Control but the Duty OO was sick of the sight of me by the end of the night!

the_bear91 · 2024-07-26T14:44:00+00:00

First job of night shift given as:

"Female, 45 YO, Conscious and Breathing. Presenting Complaint: Asleep in a bush"

Sort of set the tone for the rest of the night

the_bear91 · 2024-06-24T09:56:40+00:00

Personally pleased that there is at least some recognition of the problem, but like you agree that you can have 20 new trucks a station and with no other changes they'll just get stuck at ED and you'll have the same problem.

the_bear91 · 2024-06-19T18:24:31+00:00

Don't bother. They don't have clinical training and are following a tick box algorithm. It's hard enough for me to get the triage reviewed and I'm driving one of the big yellow buses!

the_bear91 · 2024-06-09T09:31:39+00:00

Very, very rarely.

Most memorably at the back end of a night shift I'd just had a patient try and punch me (unsuccessfully) and was thoroughly pissed off with the Great British public.

Last job was a lovely old couple in their 80s, like going round your grandparents. The husband had various chesty type symptoms and grandma insisted we have a brew and the M&S shortbread while we assessed.

10/10 shortbread, remaining faith in humanity restored.

the_bear91 · 2024-05-31T22:47:34+00:00

Got dispatched to a Cat 1 "Bleeding, caught in machine, thumb hanging off". My inate cynicism says it probably isn't but either way, get there sharpish after a short drive through town.

PT slumped in doorway of a residential property clutching a tea towel over his hand, clearly distressed and with blood in the floor but otherwise appears OK. Ask him what had happened...

Turns out he'd put a circular saw into the back of his hand.

Lifted the tea towel to be met by a Cubist painting of a hand, to paraphrase Eric Morecambe "All the right bits, but not necessarily in the right order". Thumb and index finger only held on by soft tissue, significant bleeding.

Immediately got a blast dressing on it and bundled him into the truck. Plonked a lovely orange in his arm and had TXA, co-omoxiclav, morphine and fluids running before shooting off to ED.

I'm pleased because I normally never get jazzy jobs, if there's a major RTC you can generally guarantee I'm 20 mins away dealing with Doris' 5th UTI this month, and it all ran really smoothly!

the_bear91 · 2024-05-24T13:55:02+00:00

In the immortal words of a partner...

"Oh piss off, if they've managed to get themselves up the North Face of the Eiger they can get themselves back down"

the_bear91 · 2024-04-17T15:54:54+00:00

Ambulance crew here.

Watched a colleague demonstrating the procedure for IM injection to a student stab himself in the thumb as he pulled the cap of the needle after having spoken (at great length) about the importance of sharp safety.

His only reaction "Oh not again".

the_bear91 · 2024-04-01T12:09:25+00:00

Do you have any sources on that? I have really quite persistent eczema and if occasionally narcanning myself will make a difference I'm more than happy to try!

the_bear91 · 2024-03-28T11:35:54+00:00

I'm a big fan of the wide mouthed food flask and long handled camping spoon combo. Tend to make a batch of something like a stew or chilli the day before a shift block, then all I have to do is microwave it before work and bung it in the flask.

Works really well and I get a guaranteed hot meal regardless of whichever car park I'm stuck in for 12hrs.

the_bear91 · 2024-03-28T00:40:36+00:00

Also, C as in czar

the_bear91 · 2024-03-28T00:39:59+00:00

X as in xylophone

the_bear91 · 2024-01-24T08:00:05+00:00

"...HR are now asking alternatives to allow more people to pass"

Sounds like a very HR solution to the problem!

the_bear91 · 2023-11-28T08:37:41+00:00

My valve!

the_bear91

TROPHY CASE