From trade to profession-the professionalisation of the paramedic workforce

The status of professions dates back to the Medieval age, leading to the establishment of ‘the three great professions of “law”, “divinity” and “medicine”‘ (i.e. lawyers, the clergy and doctors)...

Does understanding words used by the breathless COPD patient enhance therapeutic care?

‘Respiratory disease is the most common illness responsible for an emergency admission to hospital’ The British Lung Foundation (BLF), (BLF, 2007).

Patient comfort in prehospital emergency care: a challenge to clinicians

A total of 128 patients were included in the study, evenly distributed into the experimental (rescue covering) and control groups (traditional blanket) (Table 1). Patients were aged between 20and 99...

Management of an isolated neck-of-femur fracture in an elderly patient

The femoral head and neck lie within the joint capsule of the hip joint, and the head of the femur moves within the acetabulum. The most common site of fracture is within the intracapsular region,...

Reflex anoxic seizure: an important diagnosis to remember

A previously healthy five year-old girl was referred from primary care following an episode of a sudden collapse at home. She was transferred to the hospital in an emergency ambulance. The girl had a...

Paramedics' ‘end-of-life’ decision making in palliative emergencies

We contacted 900 paramedics personally (face-to-face contact) during April to September 2008 from Emergency Medical Services at Goettingen and Hamburg in Germany. A written survey was given to all...

Chest compressions: they really are important.

Empathy: have we got it and do we need it?

Marfan syndrome

It is early afternoon and you have just arrived at a private residence for a 19 year-old male complaining of back pain. Your partner begins taking vital signs as you commence your assessment of the...

The ambulance service: the past, present and future

The move from training to education for paramedics is one example of the failure to reform ambulance services to meet the changing nature of demand. Education of the workforce is a prerequisite for...

Life Connections 2012

Andy Collen, Paramedic Prescribing Lead of the College of Paramedics, spoke with general optimism about the attainment of future powers for paramedics to prescribe drugs to patients in the...

Occupational stress, paramedic informal coping strategies: a review of the literature

The present study is a review of the published research exploring the informal (personal) coping strategies employed by frontline ambulance workers in relation to perceived stressful experiences. The...