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This article annoyed me. It is titled: Lunch break medic 'ignored call' and the opening paragraph is:
"A paramedic has been criticised for not cutting short a break to help a woman who had suffered a heart attack."

When you read the article, however, what you discover is that "An ambulance technician was on the scene within four minutes, but a paramedic did not attend with him because he was on a lunch break... Under the rules of the UK Government's Agenda for Change NHS pay modernisation programme, ambulance crews are entitled to a break during their shift and cannot be disturbed during that period... All ambulance services in the UK must comply with these rules, unless staff choose individually to be interrupted during their break."

What annoys me is that it makes it sound like this paramedic wilfully left someone to die, when they were actually taking a break that is a legally enforceable right - and should be, because people who work in emergency medicine SHOULD have regular rest periods! Ok, so the paramedic wasn't far from where the woman had her heart attack - but we have no idea how long said paramedic had been working, how many other people he'd tended to that day - and isn't this a sign that there should have been more paramedics on duty, and maybe the ambulance service is overstretched?

I'm also annoyed that apparently the legislation can be overruled by someone "choosing" to work during their break. I can imagine that busy ambulance crews could easily get "encouraged" to "choose" to work through their breaks, but that's not going to be good for patient safety.

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Since this is a public post, this may as well serve as my public notice that tomorrow I'm going on holiday, whee! And I will return 1 October.

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I'm SO SLEEPY today, because I could not get to sleep last night AT ALL. I finally fell asleep after 7am. Woo. Ugh. And I have LOTS of work to do still... Sigh. On the bright side, the Possets autumn update is live, and I have a $20 voucher. I just need to work out what to buy.

I find clocks - and timepieces in general - pretty ace, so this story rocks!

A tempting offer, but...

Would YOU trust this certifying body? Now you can BUY university accredited Dip1oma/Bacheloor/Degree/Maaster at reasonable price Think I might get myself one of those diponeomas... After all, I'm already a bacheloor and a maaster.

A note for UK friends

Bravissimo is running a promotion where if a current customer recommends a friend, both of them will be entered into a prize draw - either to win £200 of vouchers, or lots of Hotel Chocolat chocolates. If you're happy for Bravissimo to have your mailing address (as far as I can see they've only used mine to send me their catalogue), then leave your snail mail below. Comments are screened!

It's cooooold in my house. Apparently it's 14.7C outside. Autumn is definitely coming! I'd forgotten how chilly my hands can get at the computer when the temperatures start to fall. Minimum temp tonight is 7C!

Meanwhile in Crete it's about 26C where we're going. Let's hope the weather stays nice and sunny! I know they're expected to have a bit of rain this weekend, so let's keep our fingers crossed that it's all cleared up for next week!

This comm cracks me up. Also, is it just me or has something changed about the livejournal browser? Horizon somehow looks different, but I can't put my finger on exactly how... Or maybe I'm just going nuts. My name is DEFINITELY bigger at the top of the page, though.

Baked potato & Ben&Jerry's & Amelie & boyfriend almost-napping on my shoulder = happiness.

You know, I dislike the proposed new look for Facebook as much as anyone, but is it really a front page BBC News story?

Does anyone think it's a bit lame for the Poet Laureate to be complaining that his job is "thankless"? Apparently the Queen never gives him her opinion and it's caused writer's block. *eyeroll* Dude, it's pretty clear what the job entails - writing to order for the monarchy! What did you expect, a hot bed of excitement?! I can understand that maybe he's disappointed he didn't get more out of it, but it seems a bit graceless of him to be complaining before his term is up. But I don't like his poetry anyway - Ted Hughes was much better. ;)