Indeed, that was me.

I was the one who arrived late, after being sent to the wrong location!

Yeah so were we. First address was in Olton :confused:

What's this then, SN group meets at any specified rta's?

One of our Local A&E Dr/Consultant has an sti. Sometimes see it about with Green light bar on the roof.

Definately not illegal and not surprising either.
Vast majority of cases brought to A&E by ambulance are not even remotely true emergencies and use of the blue lights is up to the crew concerned.
On way to work last night in A&E I was rather saddened by the fire service bereavement van which passed 4 vehicles at innapropriate points using blue lights and then drove at a very low speed holding traffic up.
The use of emergency lights is supposed to be for true emergencies only however the definition can vary - cold pizza / time to go home!!!

That may be the case but while a badly broken leg might not be life threatening you wont want to spend an hour in an ambulance trying to get to hospital. It may be appropriate for the ambulance crew to jump traffic using blue lights then turn them off once they get by and keep in traffic.
It's very hard for the crew to diagnose internal bleeding or the effects of shock for instance. The quicker the patient gets to A&E the better.

Lee

Have to disagree with the above comment remember its safety that counts not speed in vast majority of cases. Paramedic staff are very capable of giving the same analgesia that will be given in hospital.
If not a true emergency then blue lights should not be used as you are at risk of causing a further accident.

The crews are trained medically as well as advanced drivers. They will weigh up the situation and risk assess the patient and danger to road users which is why they may use blues on and off.
The chap with the broken leg may get his pain relief but he may be suffering from shock or other internal injuries and the break itself maybe cuting off blood to his leg increasing the risk of amputation. These are the type of complications the crew will be aware off even if they can't 100% diagnose them.
If the ambulance driver can save minutes sat at a junction by putting on the blues and safely creeping by then that would be the correct decision IMO.

Lee

Also remember that there is not a infinite supply of ambulances.
The less time they are "occupied" the better, allowing them to be ready for the next emergency....

You may need them one day....best to let them get on with their job without interference.....seems to be an awful lot of part-time paramedics on here who seem to think they know the job better than the professionals :D

Can't understand why so many are quoting excuses for overtaking an emergency vehicle on a call out.

There is no way that you would know how serious an emergency is being dealt with. Surely it is only fair to give the vehicle the maximum space to go on his way and do all you can to avoid holding him up in any way.

One day it might be you in the ambulance in a bad way and needing full hospital treatment as soon as possible. I bet you would think differently in that case!

Les :(

I'm sure that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the Paramedics and A&E staff. One guy who goes to Cardiac re-hab with me "Died" three times in the Ambulance on his way to hospital.

If an Amblance is doing 40 in a 60 with blue lights on just maybe the paramedic in the back is trying to restart someones heart or get someone breathing. A highly stressfull moment for the driver, just be aware that his concentration may not be on overtaking cars.

Cheers
Lee

I would have thought that another car in front to pass when the traffic slows is the last thing some one on an emergency call needs, just another obstacle in the way. Just good luck that he turned off in this instance.
Unless you need to be in the way or have a pressing need (?) to pass them why bother? This guy is doing an important job, hopefully saving some ones life (even if he is a crap driver). Just get out of the way and stay like the good book says....

Unfortunately you are not getting the point I am trying to make.
In todays society an ambulance is a commodity which the general public demands for whatever they see fit and the ambulance service have to provide transport to A&E except for London which has recently introduced rationing.
I am hardly an amateur as the paramedics deliver cases for me to supervise the patients treatment - I am simply pointing out that in my opinion blue lights are overused given the severity or lack of illness in the vast majority of cases transported to hospital as an emergency.
A 105 year old who has suffered a cardiac arrest with no hope of resuscitaion is still transported to local A&E as an emergency case often at high speed as these are the regulations the paramedic community are shackled with.
Most older paramedics agree with my sentiments expressed here safety is paramont and speed is secondary.

You are an amateur - you are NOT a paramedic :D

Yeah what was I thinking I only teach paramedics on all the life support courses and major incident management courses they have to do as well as treat the patients once they have arrived.
It's tough being so underqualified but I will bow to your superior experience in emergency medicine.

What is your professional job title just out of interest?

I have a piece of humble pie here with the name Imlach on it. :D:D

Its nice to be able to know the severity of a patient in an ambulance with the blues going ...... second sight or something. Me I just get out of the way as I think "blue lights" = emergency.

Fire engines are pretty slow even at full chat but dont go passing one of those with its blues on......

A&E specialist registrar - thankfully finished training in a few months.

As I understand it a Paramedic cannot decide when a patient is just a donor or might be in with a chance given definative medical care. Only a qualified doctor can play god like that.

havent read any of the above but they have them on to move heavy traffic & off it not. your abit of a nonce if you overtook it again, esp if he was doing 60 in a 60...

Kend

What a job :D

Almost as good as this one

http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00338028f00000044.jpg

As long as you were following the rules of the road you have nothing to worry about. Fortunately they don't hide Gatsos, Truvelos, Specs or "ooohhh he's going a bit quick" camreras in Ambulances. As long as you were out the way when he wanted you out the way you'll be fine.

I was well out of his way, may I point out that the road we were on was a straight 60mph road, and beleive me nobody knows how important these guys are they saved my life after I was nearly killed by a drunk driver.
Cheers
Colin

Every situation needs to be weighed up on its own merits.

However, if the ambulance is doing 50mph with its blues and two's on a 60mph road, how do you know it's not just taking it steady as its about to approach the scene of an accident. If you overtake it in those circumstances, your going to look pretty silly when you have to slam the anchors on and would deserve a mouthful from the driver!!!

Personally if it had been doing anything more than 40 on the piece of road you describe I wouldn't have overtaken it either on bike or car - less than 40 I would be assuming they have a critically ill patient on board that can't be transported too fast due to making their condition worse. I have had similar situations on the M25 when I could quite easily have blasted past but whats the point? At some point you could come to a junction/catch some traffic and then you are just another obstacle in the way that they have to pass. Just sit patiently behind them and wait for them to go their way and you can they go on at the pace you want.

Emergency services come first, your inpatience comes second in my opinion, no matter how good a driver you think you are.

scoob99 , i just think that it is a vastly stupid thing to do , ie no common sense , what did overtaking the ambulance achieve ?? please tell us !!