Can a PC drive an Ambulance?
Can a PC drive an Ambulance?
Author
Discussion

Cognoscenti

Original Poster:

102 posts

122 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
I’ve never heard of it nor any of my colleagues.

Could a Police Officer drive an Ambulance back to a hospital on blues and twos if the tech and the Paramedic were too busy stabilising a patient?

Assuming the PC has a Cat C licence and is response trained of course.

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Yes - Our insurance insures us to drive ANY vehicle for a policing purpose.

Edited by HantsRat on Thursday 21st June 09:08

ghe13rte

1,860 posts

146 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
With blood and guts flying around the back of the ambulance the last thing you need is a member of the emergency services checking his driving licence and insurance before taking reasonable action and driving the fekkin ambulance.

If it is later found that he was unlicensed and uninsured he should be given a medal for driving the ambulance and not being a slope-shouldered tt and getting on with the job.

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
ghe13rte said:
With blood and guts flying around the back of the ambulance the last thing you need is a member of the emergency services checking his driving licence and insurance before taking reasonable action and driving the fekkin ambulance.

If it is later found that he was unlicensed and uninsured he should be given a medal for driving the ambulance and not being a slope-shouldered tt and getting on with the job.
Or in other words, 'I would hope so'.

Cognoscenti

Original Poster:

102 posts

122 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Nanook said:
What does an ambulance weigh? I can't see you needing a Cat C licence for one!
Let me correct myself sorry, Cat C1 is required. Some of the Box styled Sprinters etc are a touch over 3.5 tones so a C1 licence is required for them.

Cognoscenti

Original Poster:

102 posts

122 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
HantsRat said:
Yes - Our insurance insures us to drive ANY vehicle for a policing purpose.

Edited by HantsRat on Thursday 21st June 09:08
It’s not nessecarily Policing though is it? I’m not saying your wrong I’m just interested.

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Cognoscenti said:
It’s not nessecarily Policing though is it? I’m not saying your wrong I’m just interested.
Yes it is. Saving life is the no 1 priority.

Cognoscenti

Original Poster:

102 posts

122 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
HantsRat said:
Yes it is. Saving life is the no 1 priority.
Right right. So your collar wouldn’t be felt by the Sgt if he witnessed you shoot past the helm of an Ambulance?

Dibble

13,276 posts

270 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
I’ve done this myself and now of a few colleagues who have as well. I passed my test in the late 80s, so I’ve got the “grandparent rights” to drive anything up to and including a 7.5 tonner. I say “anything”, I mean the stuff that you were allowed to drive back then on a “normal” car licence, including the Merc Sprinter/LDV type “riot vans”, which most younger colleagues now don’t automatically have on their licences. The only additional training/test I’ve done since then was when I did the Direct Access Scheme to get my full motorbike licence just over ten years ago (not through work).

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Cognoscenti said:
Right right. So your collar wouldn’t be felt by the Sgt if he witnessed you shoot past the helm of an Ambulance?
No not at all.

esxste

4,292 posts

136 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Cognoscenti said:
Right right. So your collar wouldn’t be felt by the Sgt if he witnessed you shoot past the helm of an Ambulance?
What a stupid question.




anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Cognoscenti said:
Right right. So your collar wouldn’t be felt by the Sgt if he witnessed you shoot past the helm of an Ambulance?
I’ve had to drive an ambulance on blues after an RTC while all available medics at the scene worked in the back on the patient.

Didn’t ask the Sgt, just cracked on and did it and informed radio. Common sense.

PC’s where I’m from at least are not micro managed and trusted to do the right thing and use common sense. My Sgt would be wondering why I was asking.




Sheepshanks

41,079 posts

149 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Saw it done on one of those programmes where they follow the Police around. Ambulance guys got a police officer to drive so they could both work on a lad who had been pulled from a dock - Bristol, IIRC. The bobby didn't seem entirely thrilled at the idea, but he did it.

I recall another one where they were asked to escort an Ambulance - they did that too, but did say they'd been told they shouldn't.

Greendubber

15,312 posts

233 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Done it a few times, the big ambulances and the HEMs doctors cars.

No issues from Sgts when we do it.

wjb

5,100 posts

161 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
As long as you don't crash it I can't see any problem.

Like with anything really hehe

Greendubber

15,312 posts

233 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
wjb said:
As long as you don't crash it I can't see any problem.

Like with anything really hehe
At least you wouldn't have to wait long for the paramedics to arrive, just crawl through the hatch into the back biggrin

Dyffed

114 posts

127 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
When I did my Advance Course at Hendon many many years ago I remember driving a bus on the road and a artic. within the grounds of the driving school. You would be expected to drive anything if required to do so.

W124Bob

1,863 posts

205 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
I was surprised by what a turn of speed the big box type have, approaching Carlisle from the south and passed by a Sprinter doing around 90. Nothing unusual for whitevan man but a fully kitted out ambulance!

Greendubber

15,312 posts

233 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
W124Bob said:
I was surprised by what a turn of speed the big box type have, approaching Carlisle from the south and passed by a Sprinter doing around 90. Nothing unusual for whitevan man but a fully kitted out ambulance!
We have LWB Merc Sprinters loaded up with 8 blokes, shields, method of entry kit, search kit, CBRN kit as well as other bits and bobs and once they're wound up they can get quite a pace on.

Great bits of kit.

HantsRat

2,409 posts

138 months

Thursday 21st June 2018
quotequote all
Nanook said:
You'd be expected to drive an articulated lorry without a licence?
Not expected but if I had to move an artic to prevent death or anything else that required urgent moving, I would.