Rapid Response Team

Well first day on the road today as a fully qualified trainee Technician ??? Don't ask.

I was 3rd manning, which means they do not let me loose without adult supervision. I go out with an experienced crew to watch and learn.

This crew I was with today, were brilliant. I got to attend a job (which means be the clinical lead for the patient). Nothing too exciting or taxing, which was fine by me as had to deal with the patient report form, which was hard enough, without actually trying to deal with patient.

I also got a good drive under blue lights to a head injury case, always a highlight to a day. (That is the drive, not the poor soul with the cracked noggin')

The job that made me proud to be in the service today, was to an elderly gent who had fallen and could not get back up. Nothing major you say.

The thing that made this one stand out was the way he was living, paralysed by polio in the 50's this gent lived in a small bungalow, on his own. The place was a bit of a tip to say the least and he seemed to be a toothpaste hoarder?? Not sure why, enough tubes to restock Boots nationally.

His home was warm, but had no lighting and he was convinced that this was due to the power shortages talk about and they were rationing him. Asked how long he had been without lights, he said 3 months!! Right through the winter, god knows what we would have found if his heater had not worked.

After getting him back in his chair and checking him over, he refused hospital treatment and did not need it, had a scout around the place. My crew mate found the fuse box and we discovered that the circuit breakers had been tripped, all except the heater.

With our medical electrician hats on we pushed buttons, pulled light cords and after 15mins worked out the water heater, which we could not find anyway, was causing everything else to trip out, hence no lights. Not forgetting this has been this way for 3 months!!

So we left him in his chair, with lights and properly dressed. The Paramedic I was with then called the Rapid Response Team (who are a team of district nurses)linked to Social Services.

Now I have been told Social Services can be bloody useless with a response time measured in weeks, these guys agreed to come out that day and put a care plan in place for this patient.

I was reassured by the Paramedic, that they are red hot and will pester the death out of social services to get things done quickly.

Whoever, you are guys, great work. Sorry I could not hang around to meet you all.