Paramedic intubation: defining a future for the skill

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to ‘The future of paramedic intubation: is past?’ (Sherlock, 2010), which reflected on my article published in JPP in November (Hodkinson, 2010).

Sherlock (2010) raises a number of points within the aforementioned article and the current ongoing debate surrounding prehospital endotracheal intubation (ETI), and in particular, rapid sequence induction (RSI).

The author supports Sherlock's (2010) statement in that days gone by, the ambulance service was seen to implement a new skill ‘because we can’ as opposed to whether or not the skill was appropriate, necessary and safe (Spaite and Criss, 2003).

In today's ambulance service, new interventions are based upon current research, best practice and are subject to trials to ensure the interventions are safe in such an environment. Thus said, if paramedic performed RSI was to be considered, it would require rigorous audit and governance procedures, along with robust training for the practitioners.