Originally Posted by
Winchingout
For simplicity the AP and UK Paramedic are closely matched. They are Advanced life support providers (ALS) and can give lifesaving and pain meds intravenously as well as intubate to protect someones airway if appropriate. Irish Paramedics cannot do either of these things and are a Basic Life Support grade (BLS). For comparison in terms of skillset and medications Irish Paramedic is above UK Technician but below UK Paramedic, and UK Paramedic is above Irish Paramedic but below Irish Advanced Paramedic. Bristow getting accreditation for Paramedic level of care is a contract requirement and has been for about 15 years. CHC evidenced a need in approx 50% of cases for a higher level of care and provided such care with the existing qualified Advanced Paramedics with the blessing of the Irish Coastguard. Seems a retrograde step having the resource but not using it imo.
In such circumstance you would expect Bristow to start with what is required by the contract and once they're set up, if they have suitable numbers of AP qualified staff, an identified need and the blessing of the Coastguard they may be in a position to increase the level of service in much he same way CHC did?
You can't expect an incoming contractor to provide a higher than required service from the outset when they don't know how many staff will transfer across and what qualifications they will hold.
This sounds like people trying to score points on technicalities.