Inappropriate emergency calls put strain on paramedics
INAPPROPRIATE 999 calls are diverting Skegness’s ambulance service away from genuine medical emergencies, paramedics have warned.
More than a thousand calls made to East Midlands Ambulance Service are categorised as inappropriate, wasting vital paramedic time that could be spent attending potentially life-threatening call-outs.
Paramedic Mark Hall has noticed a significant increase in the number of inappropriate calls he and his colleagues are asked to attend in Skegness and throughout Lincolnshire.
He said: “Inappropriate calls are very demanding for us.
“I think it all stems from a cultural change - people expect to be sent an ambulance, even for minor problems.”
EMAS’s call centre staff now ask more detailed questions to gain a greater understanding of the caller’s medical condition and its severity so that non-emergency calls can be treated without paramedics attending.
However Mr Hall and his colleagues believe many callers tailor their answers to ensure an emergency response.
“The population is changing the way hey answer the questions asked - they know the right answers to make sure they get an ambulance and a quicker response,” he said.
Fellow paramedic stationed at Skegness Ambulance Station Val Cross believes part of the problem stems from a degradation of family support networks.
“A lot of it comes family breakdown - there used to be elderly relatives on hand who support young mothers but now hey are often on their own,” she said.
Despite the strains on the service caused by inappropriate calls, paramadics are keen to stress that every call is treated professionally.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Should alcohol be sold on Ingoldmells beach?
- Victim tracked thief with iPhone app after handbag and contents worth £500 stolen from Skegness nightspot
- UKIP investigate Burgh and Wainfleet councillor’s ‘race rant’ allegations
- UKIP councillor for Burgh and Wainfleet defends name against ‘racist rant’ allegations
- Doubts expressed over UKIP councillor’s ‘racist rant’ hacking defence
- UKIP investigate Burgh and Wainfleet councillor’s ‘race rant’ allegations
- Should alcohol be sold on Ingoldmells beach?
- UKIP councillor for Burgh and Wainfleet defends name against ‘racist rant’ allegations
- Skegness councillor’s concern over rightward lurch
- Skegness Grammar School responds to union accusations of financial mismanagement
- Police appeal over Skegness egging incidents
- Coastal parking enforcement warning
- Gale force easterly winds wreak terrible cost on Lincolnshire birds, porpoises and more
- Police appeal after gas bottles stolen from field on A52 near Wainfleet
- Man killed in road crash on A16 Spilsby to Boston road is named
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Skegness
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 3 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
