An ambulance technician who chose not to respond to what proved to be a fatal heart attack when he was on a tea break has been told he can keep his job.
The technician was 800 yards away when 33-year-old Mandy Mathieson had a cardiac arrest in Tomintoul, Moray.
However, the call was instead answered by paramedics based 15 miles away in Grantown-on-Spey.
Source: BBC
9 comments:
Do we know his name - sounds like a prime candidate for the "...isacunt" website to me!
Apparently his name is Owen McLauchlan and Old Nick has just posted him on 'Unforgiven'
See : http://damned-to-hell.blogspot.com/2011/01/owen-mclauchlan.html
He's given you a hat tip and link back to this site and a cross reference to a newspaper article.
I dunno, I'm not running with the pack on this one. A break is a break, and you should be entitled to it - if there's a fault, it lies with the understaffing that meant adequate cover for his break wasn't forthcoming.
I mean, do we seriously want tired and hungry people on the sort of duty that requires concentration and sharp reflexes?
Oh, come on Julia. This is all down to a culture of easy money and failure to take ownership. These tossers can elect to have their breaks er broken into if they accept a little bit of cash, so this is not about proper rest breaks, this is about people who don't care what they do because they get paid anyway.
It is public sector fecklessness.
If there is any blame it should be apportioned to overpaid managers who should have ensured adequate cover.
Yes, but we don't know if that was the case here (i.e. if he'd have done it for the money) - frankly, it's not 'public sector fecklessness' to expect to get the breaks you are due, and not be 'guilt-tripped' into doing without them just because you are working in a caring profession.
Well perhaps I was a little hasty. however, I am more aware of what goes on in these places than most and I know that it can be a pretty nasty atmosphere to work in.
However, there must be and will be Standard Operating Procedures that describe how cover is provided. Either they were not applied or they were applied.
My point about the pay for breaks is that you cannot have it both ways; either you need them or not. If these breaks have a £5 forfeiture bounty on them and people take this option it kind of explodes your assertion that they believe they need them.
I suspect the pay for breaks angle is probably the result of some arcane pay agreement.
I guess more detail is required such as what info the call handler gleaned initially; pretty sure most folks could tell a heart attack is serious. Bad shit though.
OT @ Dioclese - it seems that 'isacunt' may have shut down, will toddle off and check but...
Ooops, fortunately quite incorrect. Cuntitude still has its medium.
I know this area very well. Very very very rural. I used to know a paramedic up there as well. They spend a lot of time sitting around in the ambulance waiting for a call. They do of course have breaks as well. But break my arse.
Tomintoul is a tiny village with one street = and an ambulance. Grantown is the next nearest place about 15 miles away with 2 ambulances, then theres an ambulance station in Aviemore approx 25 miles away.
I work in the NHS as well. I often give up my breaks if my skills are required. I often stay back after work for no pay as well. Thats the life you choose in the public sector. And if you're the only one who can do a job, and a patient NEEDS you then its shit or bust - you're on mate. This guy took the absolute piss and should have exercised a bit of common.
Managers should get a grip of themselves as well. for being dicks. Not that I'm bitter or anything.
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