Developing alternative ambulance response schemes: analysis of attitudes, barriers, and change.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Alternative response schemes for emergency calls are being set up by many UK ambulance services. The barriers to such developments from the perspective of ambulance service staff have not been formally investigated. The aims of this study are to identify attitudes and barriers to the development of alternative response schemes and ways of easing the transition as they are implemented.

Methods

South Yorkshire Ambulance Service crews and control room staff were interviewed, using South Yorkshire's paramedic practitioner (PP) scheme as a model of an alternative response scheme.

Results

55 ambulance crew and 17 control staff were interviewed. Most (97%, n = 70) thought that the PP scheme was a good way of dealing with patients who call 999 but may not need urge

SUBMITTER: Squires JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1726511 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature