Living Alone with Careline..

There have been so many posts in the news lately about how the elderly are mistreated. I thoroughly believe that England is doing the correct thing in trying to keep people living in their own homes for as many years of their lives as is possible, although work yesterday got me thinking.

I was working 0630- 1830. At 1815, we received, what is to the ambulance service, a very regular job.

Call to 82year old female, call via Careline, unknown information. No other information known. Key Safe 1958X.

Now please, don't get me wrong, I think Careline is a great idea. For £13.50 a month, any client subscribed can receive either a pendant for their neck, or a wristband. Not only is this to provide a service but I think is completely and utterly worth its money entirely in the sense of security and peace of mind it provides, knowing someone will be round to help should anything untoward ever happen.

Back to yesterday, we arrived on scene at the patients house, as a relative, who had also been contacted, was also getting out the car. The relative let us into the house, and we found Mrs Wilkinson, led on the lounge floor. She was unhurt and with a bit of help, we got her back on her feet and made a round of tea for all.

Owned by Sri and Gopi Hinduja, joint 4th, on the Sunday Times, UK's Richest People 2012 list, my guess is there was some serious profit made last year.

If the patients relatives had been contacted, why was 999 dialled before it was known if the patient had any injuries?
The government has made numerous campaigns urging the public to make the right selection regarding medical choices, so then why are careline calling us left right and centre.
With the huge profit being made, could Careline not employ a 'pts style bus' with staff, providing more jobs into the economy, in order to attend the houses of the patients in the way the ambulance service would. Careline could purchase manual handling equipment, such a mangar elk's, banana boards, and moving and handling belts, and if the employee's were also first aid trained then an initial assessment could be done and should an ambulance or further assessment be required, 999 then could be dialled.

As it was, my ambulance ended up going  to meet Dolly, she was a lovely lady, as grateful of our attendance, although with two band 5 paramedics being paid time and a half for overtime because we ended up finishing an hour past the end of our shift... Surely there is a better solution?

Ultimately, should we be charging the elderly for a service, which then just calls and expolits a free NHS ambulance service? or should the ambulance service be charging Careline?

Anyway off for a night shift now.

I'll be writing in the dark again tonight!!

Are you there Father Christmas?

When you were little did you ever get a letter from Father Christmas?

I did and it was A-mazing.  He’s a very busy man you know and he only writes to the children who have been very very good!!

I come from a big family. I have 5 sister's and a brother, and the 3 eldest all have children, meaning iv got 5 beautiful nieces and 3 'I better say very handsome so they don't get jealous' nephews.

Yesterday I received the most amazing email from PNP. That's the portable North Pole. Santa's obviously getting technical on us.

(anyone with children that hasn't seen it, or with a relative, it only takes 5minutes to do and my youngest niece Isla, she's 3, absolutely loved it.)

If you click on PNP above, you can begin creating your own santa message, it only takes 5minutes and then the message gets sent to an email address of your choice.
It can be done for adults and children, talks about what you have wished for, for Christmas and checks if you are on the naughty or nice list.

Added so much Christmas sparkle to my day.

Love xx

Interview time...

As you all probably guessed from the name, I'm a student paramedic.
I went to a girls school and always used to get very excited about being 'grown up' and having loads of nice suits to wear to work and hopefully an amazing pair of louboutin's for those special work occasions.

These would be perfect....  The 'Balda' patent leather and fabric boots, yummy!!!

I do love my job, but as a girly girl you can imagine my upset when I realised I'd have to wear the extremely unflattering green uniform for the next however many years.

Anyway this week at University, we had mock interviews for potential jobs....

(You can already hear my brain going 'shopping, shopping.... because of course I needed an interview outfit')

Surprisingly I found a dress in matalan (linked here), really reasonable at £18, and the high neckline and pencil skirt were really flattering and looked 'uber' smart, and then teamed with a simple black boyfriend blazer, black tights and my trademark 'skyscraper' heels, from riverisland and did my hair up with the magic bun maker. I had never been interested until my friend let me try hers. Amazing!! perfect bun, everytime.