** UK medic says police stood down from helping when he was menaced by aggressive mob
** Scottish Ambulance Service to create “fall teams” of medics to deal with the elderly?
UNITED KINGDOM NEWS
** Cambridgeshire police are investigating after a paramedic seeking law enforcement aid during a medical call-out apparently was left to fend for himself. That is the word from the Cambridge News (Raymond Brown/August 15) which said the August 14th incident played out with lone practitioner Michael Taylor being menaced by an aggressive mob after being dispatched to help a drunk woman. Taylor said he immediately hailed aid, but none came until he threatened to make a complaint. When an officer finally showed, she was a female who was then promptly spat on and punched. A spokesman for the police service said a threat/risk assessment is made on every call whereby medics request assistance. The unidentified talking head said his organization continues to meet with EMS brass to resolve outstanding issues.
** Elderly people falling and drunks were apparently responsible for an up-tick in ambulance call-outs in Scotland last year. The Scotsman (Lyndsay Buckland/August 16) quoted Scottish Ambulance Service chief executive Pauline Howie as saying the increasingly aged population could lead to the creation of so-called fall teams of medics. The designated practitioners would attend calls for elderly fall victims where injuries probably haven’t occurred and transport is less likely. Howie said the approach would get fall patients more rapid assessment than currently occurs and would save on unnecessary trips to hospital. For alcohol related calls, Howie said her organization is working closely with police, particularly during weekends and holidays. On previous occasions, several UK ambulance services have resorted to staffing drunk tents in city centres to deal more directly with patients who have been drinking.
