Book Review

It appears that I have become somewhat of a magnet for reviewing pocket drug guides, as yet another one has made its way onto my reading list. It is, however, unlikely to make its way onto my book shelf.

Taking the positives first; this is certainly a contemporary drug guide (issued in 2013) and all the contributors are well-established in the medical field. There is a useful section on common street drugs as well as a classification of prescribed medications, and it weighs in considerably lighter than your average JRCALC pocket book. But therein lies the problem.

The aforementioned JRCALC guidelines encompass a wider remit than simply drug administration, and are designed specifically for use in the UK—especially for those paramedics working for an NHS ambulance service. A direct comparison is perhaps a little unfair as this EMS guide was only largely intended to cover pharmacological issues.

Another pertinent distinction is that this drug guide covers a wide spectrum of drugs, which far exceeds the scope of practice for the majority of paramedics registered and working in the UK.