Book Review

So the dawn of another year is upon us. As I inexcusably missed last month's review I am tempted to cite an unfashionably out-of-season quip about much maligned mother-in-laws but my editorial instincts got the better of me.

Instead, I turn my attention to this new offering, endorsed by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives no less. Confusion abound then, as I peruse the front cover and note a testimony which refers to this as: ‘essential reading for anyone training to become a support worker.’ Adopting the principle you should never judge a book by its cover, in actual fact this is exactly the target readership—those working to support clinical grades in the ambulance service.

Learning objectives are clearly stated at the start of each chapter, which are appropriately illustrated and coherently written. As is to be expected, the content is very much of a practical focus rather than clinical reasoning, examination or diagnosis. Even in accepting the raison d'etre of the text, the temptation as a paramedic is to consider the limited underpinning theory included and attempt to reconcile this with current practice and levels of education. But that would defy the purpose of this book. So frustrations aside, acknowledgement must be made of the effectiveness with which the authors have addressed a paucity of published literature in this associated area of paramedicine.