"Magic" Ambulances.
Discussion
When there is a major incident, or Terrorist incident like Streatham yesterday, the NHS seem to be able to magic multiple Ambulances out of nowhere, yet there is obviously a shortage, with people waiting hours for an Ambulance at times.
I know they obviously have vehicles in reserve, when you pass an Ambulance station, there will be lots parked up outside, but where do they find the staff to crew them?
Not a criticism of the NHS in any way, shape of form, they do an amazing job, a genuine question.
I know they obviously have vehicles in reserve, when you pass an Ambulance station, there will be lots parked up outside, but where do they find the staff to crew them?
Not a criticism of the NHS in any way, shape of form, they do an amazing job, a genuine question.
events like this will mean that even more people could be left waiting hours, as they will have priority to this, and not whatever else comes in next, surely? So if there's then a big crash nearby, they'll have to pull a response ambulance from further away which will mean less coverage in that area.
Pistonheader101 said:
Higher priority dispatch
p4cks said:
They probably prioritise all of the ambulances in the area to a terror attack or the like as opposed to going to Bob's broken arm or someone feeling down
I realised that this would be treated as a high priority, but you often see on these "fly on the wall" shows about the Ambulance services saying they have for example 2 ambulance for x square miles, some of them must have to travel some distance?They'll call them in from other areas...
For example in Farnborough we have an Ambulance station at the north end of the town close to the M3, then there's another Ambulance station at Tongham near the Hogs Back/A3. I'd imagine each has 2-3 crews.
If s
t kicks off, they'll call in both, plus then others from Guildford, Fleet, Camberley etc, and before you know it you have 20 ambulances attending.
You just don't want to have a heart attack when some terrorist is out on the rampage consuming all the resources.
For example in Farnborough we have an Ambulance station at the north end of the town close to the M3, then there's another Ambulance station at Tongham near the Hogs Back/A3. I'd imagine each has 2-3 crews.
If s
t kicks off, they'll call in both, plus then others from Guildford, Fleet, Camberley etc, and before you know it you have 20 ambulances attending.You just don't want to have a heart attack when some terrorist is out on the rampage consuming all the resources.
I have previously done some work with the Ambulance Service and still do up to a point, I know they have specialist teams held in reserve for major incidents which can be anything from a Multicar pile up on a motorway through to a terrorism incident.
In Yorkshire where I am based they are called HART (Hazardous Area Response Teams), though different areas may have different names, I'm unsure, these are fully trained paramedics with additional specialist training but they still have access to standard ambulances so it is likely they are deployed as a conventional resource following an incident such as just happened in London.
In Yorkshire where I am based they are called HART (Hazardous Area Response Teams), though different areas may have different names, I'm unsure, these are fully trained paramedics with additional specialist training but they still have access to standard ambulances so it is likely they are deployed as a conventional resource following an incident such as just happened in London.
Jamescrs said:
I have previously done some work with the Ambulance Service and still do up to a point, I know they have specialist teams held in reserve for major incidents which can be anything from a Multicar pile up on a motorway through to a terrorism incident.
In Yorkshire where I am based they are called HART (Hazardous Area Response Teams), though different areas may have different names, I'm unsure, these are fully trained paramedics with additional specialist training but they still have access to standard ambulances so it is likely they are deployed as a conventional resource following an incident such as just happened in London.
This is the correct answer, HART teams, although paramedics, have a very different day from traditional crews, specialist training in terror attacks, water rescue, working at heights, confined spaces etc.In Yorkshire where I am based they are called HART (Hazardous Area Response Teams), though different areas may have different names, I'm unsure, these are fully trained paramedics with additional specialist training but they still have access to standard ambulances so it is likely they are deployed as a conventional resource following an incident such as just happened in London.
To keep their paramedic skills up, i know in Scotland they go out weekly in a rapid response car, but any major incident they will be able to conjure up a team specifically for that event.
As soon as the “T word” is involved, the frenzy ensues. Clearly this was a serious event yesterday, however in London people are being stabbed (and killed) almost weekly. Yes these are reported but they do not get the level of media and political attention that something like yesterday does (despite often having more, or kore serious casualties and fatalities).
I do wonder if by sensationalising these attacks we are really giving the “terrorists” exactly what they want.
To be honest I even take issue with calling some of these “terrorist attacks”. These lone wolfs I mean, who have no specific demands and often don’t belong to any specific groups. Bigger groups like ISIS will “claim” these, without having had anything to do with them. Meanwhile, resources are thrown in and it will be the top of the political agenda.
Some poor kid gets stabbed and killed in a gangland feud, and that’s just the daily news. I would like to hope these events get the same priority ambulances as the “terrorist attacks” (where a person or handful of people are hurt), but I don’t get the impression they do.
I do wonder if by sensationalising these attacks we are really giving the “terrorists” exactly what they want.
To be honest I even take issue with calling some of these “terrorist attacks”. These lone wolfs I mean, who have no specific demands and often don’t belong to any specific groups. Bigger groups like ISIS will “claim” these, without having had anything to do with them. Meanwhile, resources are thrown in and it will be the top of the political agenda.
Some poor kid gets stabbed and killed in a gangland feud, and that’s just the daily news. I would like to hope these events get the same priority ambulances as the “terrorist attacks” (where a person or handful of people are hurt), but I don’t get the impression they do.
SamR380 said:
There was a witness on Today this morning who said it took half an hour for an ambulance to turn up. If that's a super-high priority response time then things are pretty bad.
one video I saw, there was a queue of paramedics and ambulances trying to get through but appeared to have been stopped by the police.Alucidnation said:
SamR380 said:
There was a witness on Today this morning who said it took half an hour for an ambulance to turn up. If that's a super-high priority response time then things are pretty bad.
one video I saw, there was a queue of paramedics and ambulances trying to get through but appeared to have been stopped by the police.SturdyHSV said:
Priorities.
If you call an ambulance because someone's unconscious, you get a very different response time if they also happen to not be breathing.
This. Had to call one for my 4 year old a few months ago. Turned out to be a severe case of croup. Woke in the early hours making an awful noise and gasping for breath. Scared the sIf you call an ambulance because someone's unconscious, you get a very different response time if they also happen to not be breathing.
t out us. Ambulance turned up on blues less than 2 mins after hanging up the phone and took her off to hospital for some steroids. Outstanding. markyb_lcy said:
As soon as the “T word” is involved, the frenzy ensues. Clearly this was a serious event yesterday, however in London people are being stabbed (and killed) almost weekly. Yes these are reported but they do not get the level of media and political attention that something like yesterday does (despite often having more, or kore serious casualties and fatalities).
I do wonder if by sensationalising these attacks we are really giving the “terrorists” exactly what they want.
To be honest I even take issue with calling some of these “terrorist attacks”. These lone wolfs I mean, who have no specific demands and often don’t belong to any specific groups. Bigger groups like ISIS will “claim” these, without having had anything to do with them. Meanwhile, resources are thrown in and it will be the top of the political agenda.
Some poor kid gets stabbed and killed in a gangland feud, and that’s just the daily news. I would like to hope these events get the same priority ambulances as the “terrorist attacks” (where a person or handful of people are hurt), but I don’t get the impression they do.
But you are looking at this with hindsight., When the call comes in that it is a possible terrorist attack, they don't know if it is just a single person (even in this case he could have been meeting other people) They don't know if he is armed with just a knife. They don't know if he has a explosive vest or has planted an IED. I could go on. It is far easier to get everybody moving and then stand them down as they are needed than the other way round.I do wonder if by sensationalising these attacks we are really giving the “terrorists” exactly what they want.
To be honest I even take issue with calling some of these “terrorist attacks”. These lone wolfs I mean, who have no specific demands and often don’t belong to any specific groups. Bigger groups like ISIS will “claim” these, without having had anything to do with them. Meanwhile, resources are thrown in and it will be the top of the political agenda.
Some poor kid gets stabbed and killed in a gangland feud, and that’s just the daily news. I would like to hope these events get the same priority ambulances as the “terrorist attacks” (where a person or handful of people are hurt), but I don’t get the impression they do.
832ark said:
If you call an ambulance because someone's unconscious, you get a very different response time if they also happen to not be breathing.
This. When my Mrs was having an Asthma attack and couldn't breathe we had paramedics with is in under 5 minutes. I can't commend them enough. I even gave one of them a freshly cooked pizza.Alucidnation said:
one video I saw, there was a queue of paramedics and ambulances trying to get through but appeared to have been stopped by the police.
The police won't let anybody in tell they feel they have control of a situation, (Manchester Arena bombing is an example of this)Thankfully hasn't happened here so far, but it is common for some terrorist groups to create an incident and then when the emergency services turn up explode a large bomb with the main intention of getting the first responders.
SamR380 said:
There was a witness on Today this morning who said it took half an hour for an ambulance to turn up. If that's a super-high priority response time then things are pretty bad.
Which is why witnesses views need to be kept in context.it was 4 minutes to the scene of the incident according to the ambulance service. 30 mins held back by the police.
In an ideal world there would be ambulances waiting and dispatched to emergencies as they happen. The reality is most are tied up on dealing with absolute ste. Seeing people that should be seeing a GP, self medicating or simply not ringing at all. The genuine emergencies are the ones that suffer unfortunately.
te. Seeing people that should be seeing a GP, self medicating or simply not ringing at all. The genuine emergencies are the ones that suffer unfortunately.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff