18 February 2006

A4C

Ok for those not aware agenda for change is coming to the publication stage
and we are not happy
Covering Wages conditions contracts of employment
not that we thought we would get a fair deal but we were ever hopeful

So we now have bandings
are they the same as was expected --- yes
are they the same across the country -- no

Paramedics get to move into band 5 at the very top so you can't really move anywhere and there are no incriments, no additional for long service, for training qualifications, instructor qualifications, APEL pretty much anything so where is the value for the staff where is the incentive to better ones self.
how do you motivate staff when you treat them so badly
YOU can't


so lets all move to west yorkshire or surrey and be in band 5 for techs and 6 for paras

grump over
Forward with the appeal

17 February 2006

funny thing happened on the way to the forum

Different days at work.

This week I could not think of two more diverse days at work. 1st a nice quiet start to the day a collapse - Vasovagal due to an infection, assesed and into hospital. then other side of the nook to collect someone with an obstruction who wandered down the hall to us carrying their bags in one hand and their sticks in the other. as my partner said 'Taxi for one?' the pt then walked out to the ambulance and got in. so we toodled off to hospital. Then we had just called clear when someone came up to ask directions.
I must look approachable in the drivers seat.
So as i give slightly confusing directions to this member of the public I am aware of the vehicle mobile ringing. my partner answers it and i over hear only
'.....cardiac arrest.....building site....'
so with that I tell the lost person sorry bye and drive away. I'm then told slightly more. there has been one at a near by sight and they are also despatching the rru. at the round about we use a bus to cut off the traffic and the rru oops and we get to the job arrive on site and ask some one who says 'don't know anything about it have you got the right place?'
someone on a platform moving very slowly down says yeah guys he's on the roof.
so we look up at the 4 storey building and think oh! we move towards the lift platform and the guys on it says you can put your stuff on it but you will be better going up the ladders. hmmmmmmm not so sure but ok
SO rushing round the corner and a ladder goes up through the scafolding tied in at the top with bailing twine, and it moved as we went up, got to the top then on to the next ladder. Ariving at the top I was met by someone saying 'don't worry about the roof you can step pretty much anywhere.'
'What do you mean pretty much anywhere?'
with that encouraging info I carefull made my way across the roof to the patient. as the equipment made it's way up the side and across the roof to us.
sliding and fall as we made our way across the roof we begain the acls intubated

15 February 2006

ups and downs during work

There are some shifts where you can do no wrong and everyone is better for it. To quote line.
'there are time when my hands move with a skill and speed which is not my own'
then there are shifts where you should really call in sick as the general public would be better of that way, well almost you can do everything and still have a negative result.
These are both days you can Identify and live with.
Then there are days when leak proof seals will, universal fit joints won't and the unbreakable does.
then again your fluid skill and practice can be thrown off by the inclusion of another professional. They arrive first they work in a way that for you and your partner is like working with someone to complete a delicate maneuver in a foreign language.
But then it gets better you learn this new language and things need done and we get them done. The job starts to get better. Things start to go wrong with the pt again. We worked at it they improve slightly, then go down again. We finally managed to get into the ambulance. Down turn again but we were working as a team. But downward spiral of the patient continued. The three of us left in the ambulance we warned the hospital we were coming, 10 mins later we arrived. Everyone worked as a team the hospital the crew and additional crew helped. Not a good day

The final job of the shift lets break into a house to find a body then break the news to the relative.

Anyone who has not read 'Bringing out the dead' by Joe Connelly and seen the film, do not even contemplate becoming a Paramedic without doing so. It is an essential survival manual