From epidemic to pandemic

Distinguishing the novel coronavirus from influenza

The epidemic of 2019 novel coronavirus (now officially called SARS-CoV-2) has expanded from its place of origin, Wuhan, in China, and is now being exported to a number of countries around the world....

The paramedic profession: disruptive innovation and barriers to further progress

In the UK, paramedics emerged from ambulance staff in the mid-1970s (Baskett et al, 1976; Briggs et al, 1976). They were trained to provide advanced resuscitation using invasive techniques that were...

Nearly qualified but learning is for life

Effect of blood pressure on stroke severity and outcomes in acute cases

To produce the evidence required for discussion of the research question, a literature search was carried out. CINAHL Complete and MEDLINE Complete were searched, using the terms in Table 1. The...

Quality in practice: raising the bar

Point-of-care testing by paramedics using a portable laboratory: an evaluation

The specific aim of the current project was to safely reduce the number of patients conveyed by SECAmb to the ED and thereby improve the patient experience. Having reliable pathology diagnostics...

Effective clinical feedback provision to ambulance clinicians: a literature review

Ivers et al (2012) concluded their systematic review of the effects of feedback on health professional practice by stating that it could lead to small but important improvements and recommended...

A rare condition with excellent outcome—if treated correctly: examining cardiac arrest from accidental hypothermia

I have been actively involved with accidental hypothermia since 2011, have co-authored several publications, lectured and recently updated the hypothermia section in the JRCALC Clinical Guidelines. I...

Retinal detachment (2020)