We’ve had some gorgeous spring weather lately and one particularly sunny late afternoon I was called to someone reported as being ‘unconscious’ by passers-by. When I arrived there was a small crowd gathered around a man who was lying flat out on the pavement of a very busy road. Well as you know I’m not…

Bearing in mind that the emergency services were stretched to capacity during the snowy period due to the high call rate coupled with the fact that many staff were unable to get in to work, you would imagine that people would exercise a degree of caution and put some thought into calling 999. However, we…

From BBC News: Bipolar disorder ‘not to blame for violent behaviour’ People with a severe mental illness are no more likely to be violent than anyone else – unless they abuse drugs or alcohol, a study has suggested. [source] I read this article with interest because it reminded me of when, some years ago as…

Early in my shift I was sent to a young man who was complaining of feeling faint. When I arrived at the grotty estate I took a glance at the seedy block of flats with its boarded-up windows and was rather wary about going in. I called up our control room and asked if they…

It seemed to come around very quickly – that time of year when London hosts the Marathon.  A few quick stats: 36,000+ Runners 6685 Casualties treated (6515 runners; 170 spectators) – 47 requiring hospitalisation 1400 Medical, Nursing, Ambulance and St John Ambulance staff and volunteers 50 dedicated ambulances 30 cycle response teams [source] It was…