(SIREN WAILS)
WOMAN: It's been the most challenging year.
If we get anything out of COVID,
it's that it's given staff and myself a deeper appreciation
for what our job is.
Just how essential we are within the greater NHS.
It's a lovely feeling to feel that we are vital.
Ambulance service, is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
Is he awake?
Right.
Tell me exactly what happened.
Right, we've organised that help for you.
We will be there as soon as we can, OK?
X-ray 762.
762, morning, Naomi. This is a 20-foot fall onto pipes.
Our Abby's feeling this is major trauma.
Received, Robbie. I'll head that way. Thank you.
NARRATOR: Advanced paramedic Naomi
is immediately dispatched to the call in progress.
She'll be joined by an ambulance crew, a solo paramedic,
and, as the patient has been injured on an industrial estate,
HART - the Hazardous Area Response Team - are also en route.
Naomi is 15 miles away.
As an advanced paramedic, she is the most senior on the road today
and will lead the patient care on scene.
NAOMI: When you go into a really critical incident,
it's about giving clear direction to the crew,
and it's that swan effect of remaining incredibly calm
and being able to channel that energy into quick decision-making.
Hiya, love.
Darren.
He's fallen on his face. Remembers being up there.
Then remembers waking up on this chap's knee.
NAOMI: The blood in your mouth,
has that come from your head or have you bit your lip?
How's your vision?
Can you see me OK? Yeah.
I'm not surprised.
In terms of egress, is there anything
that can be moved out the way?
That's not a problem. We'll just move his feet.
So, this is Darren.
Hi, Darren. I'm Dave.
Darren has fallen off a ladder and landed headfirst into this post.
We're just not able to fully assess his C-spine yet as he is.
But he hasn't complained of any pain or palpation.
What are your thoughts?
Rather than try and immobilise him on this, we'll immobilise him here.
OK. If we get a stretcher in, then. and get it as close as possible,
then I'm happy with that.
Everybody ready? On three.
One, two and three.
Stand nice and tall.
Just stay still for a second.
Turn your head to me.
Good man. And turn your head to the other side.
How does that feel?
OK.
(VOMITS)
Alright, sweetheart.
Good man. Alright, my love.
It's gonna be a little bit bumpy here, Darren, OK?
You just look a little bit pale at the moment.
Would you be able to do a pupillary response for me?
Just keep an eye on that blood pressure on the way in.
Thank you very much.
Darren, all the best, my love.
I hope you're feeling better soon, sweet.
X-ray 762 to trauma cell.
762, trauma cell. Go ahead, Naomi.
The gentleman has sustained just an isolated head injury
with loss of consciousness.
He's gonna go through to the local ED to assess further.
No other injuries found, over.
Yeah, that sounds like he's been lucky.
Thank you, Grant. We're clearing shortly.
NAOMI: We work as a team.
There is no individual that is more important than any other individual.
I think it's remarkable how well we've worked through
what has been the most challenging year.
But, my God, has it been difficult.
Ambulance service, is the patient breathing?
OK. Is the patient awake?
What's the address of the emergency?
And can you tell me exactly what's been happening?
PATIENT:
Can you just confirm your full name for me?
(MAN COUGHS AND WHEEZES)
NARRATOR: A week into the New Year lockdown
and a second wave of COVID is at its peak.
Currently, one in four calls to the North West Ambulance Service
are for suspected cases of the virus.
COVID, it's all of them, isn't it? 745, go ahead.
Which son is your favourite son?
Oh, God, none of them.
Ha-ha-ha!
I've had Chris for 30 years.
So, you like Chris better?
(LAUGHS)
NARRATOR: 85 crews are on duty in Merseyside today,
including Alpha 462, Emily and Jo,
and Alpha 171, Jazz and Jack.
What if sand is called sand because it's between the sea and the land?
Think about that, though. Makes sense, doesn't it?
Sea, land. Sand.
You know when you write the word 'bed' in little letters,
it looks like a bed. Yeah.
Oh, my God! It does as well. (LAUGHS)
OPERATOR: Alpha 171. 66-year-old male.
Difficulty in breathing. Could be COVID.
Just please err on the side of caution.
He's also a COPD patient, over.
Alright, roger. Thank you very much.
(SIREN WAILS)
Hello, sir. What's been happening today?
My breathing's not been that good.
Yeah, you're really short of breath there, though, aren't you?
Yeah.
Do you know what your oxygen levels are normally?
Normal for me is anything above 94.
Today I measured it, it didn't get above 80.
JACK: OK, I'll just ask you to pop your face mask off for a second,
and I'm just gonna put this oxygen mask on you, OK, my friend.
There you go. So, just a little bit of oxygen for now.
Might make you feel a bit dry. Uh-huh.
I think we would like to take you in.
I know you feel alright in yourself but we wouldn't want to take you in
unless we had to, OK? I see.
I know you're likely concerned with COVID and things like that.
You know, you will...
Plus it's taking up a bed which, to me,
I feel as though I'm cheating somebody else.
Absolutely not. Absolutely not.
I mean, I'd be quite safe, sitting with that button there.
Honestly, if we could leave that with you, come back in a few hours, we would.
Yes.
It's a waste of time taking my coat at the moment, I think.
We'll take it with us, yeah. Oh.
OK.
I know you're alright on your feet but we've got a wheelchair for you
because we don't want you getting more out of puff, OK?
OK. (SIGHS)
Right.
We'll be in touch.
JACK: Can I borrow your finger, Robert?
You can. Good man.
I'll try.
Follow football? No.
No? My pet hate. (LAUGHS)
Is it? Yeah.
Oh, there goes that line of conversation.
Are you into any sports?
I used to do a lot of tramping,
which is why me hips are knackered now.
Robert, I'll see you at the hospital.
Right you are. Thank you very much.
You're very welcome.
Do you like the Beatles?
Yeah, love the Beatles.
How are you doing? I'm fine, thank you.
I feel like even if you weren't fine,
you probably would say you are anyway.
I wish I was like that.
I'm either hungry or cold or thirsty or tired.
Or all of the above.
Oh, yeah. Or all of the above.
Alpha 171, go ahead.
Hello, yes, we're all finished with that gentleman now
and ready for another, over.
JACK: Jazz was a year ahead of me in university,
so we kind of knew each other from uni.
When you get on with your crewmates,
you just feel safe in each other's company.
The last year has been really tough,
but when someone just understands it and gets it
because we're seeing the same things every single day,
it just makes it easier.
Ultimately, for 12 hours, there's you two in an ambulance
and whatever happens in between, you have absolutely no control over,
so things you can control, like looking out for one another,
we definitely do.
How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?
(LAUGHS)
No idea.
Tentacles. (LAUGHS) Oh, my God.
PATIENT:
OK...
Can you see her breathing?
Right, OK, 'cause we need to help her now.
It's OK. It's OK.
I know it's a difficult situation for you.
Listen to me, we're gonna try CPR on her, OK?
Alright, are you OK?
If you can do.
When you...
I know you are.
I know, it's very, very difficult and I do appreciate that.
OK. I do appreciate your help, though, alright?
PATIENT: OK.
I am gonna stay on the line with you until I know there's somebody there.
OK?
They've got in to her.
Yeah.
It is for everybody at the moment, isn't it? Yeah.
Yeah, I'm gonna leave you with her.
Just explain to them, OK, and thank you very much.
You take care now.
Bye.
Oh, poor chap.
He's frightened. He is dead scared.
Bless him, yeah. And I don't blame him.
You want to help but they're scared to death of helping.
Hello.
Good news. We've got another vaccine.
What? Got a third one now.
A third one! Approved, yeah.
Ooh.
I think this world's going mad.
I do.
I think the aliens are coming, you know?
(LAUGHS)
I do.
Did you see about...on the news with the major incident in London?
Oh, yeah, I saw it before in the break room.
The ambulances were lined up outside A&E.
It's awful. Absolutely awful.
Not even been able to get...
No.
Look at London. I feel sorry for them.
It's just horrendous, isn't it?
It does make me feel it's coming our way.
Well, we're not far behind them, looking at this.
I know. It's not good, though, is it?
No.
Ambulance service, is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
OK, tell me exactly what happened.
OK, and what town are you in?
Romford.
NARRATOR: With the capital in crisis,
North West Ambulance Service will be
helping answer London's 999 calls
for the next 24 hours.
PATIENT:
OK, obviously, we are in this little bit of a pandemic
so we are extremely, extremely busy across the area.
What was the address, please, where the ambulance was called to?
Half the calls I'm getting are from London.
I know. The stack was full of them before.
They're all of them are just London, London, London, London, London.
I don't even know the areas of London either, so...
Just make me a bit, like, ohh!
PATIENT:
It's just because of the pandemic, we're...
No, we will be with you as soon as we can.
NARRATOR: Jen is a student paramedic
transferred into Control to help increase staffing
in response to the pandemic.
PATIENT:
It is being taken seriously.
She has been on a 999 call to a patient in labour for almost an hour.
I'm just gonna speak to our paramedic in the room, OK?
Um, their partner is concerned
and he feels like the call is not being taken seriously.
Hello, my name is John.
I'm one of the paramedics with North West Ambulance Service.
At this moment in time, there's a seven minute ETA
for an ambulance to come out and assess Stephanie, alright?
My colleague is gonna stay on the line with you, OK?
So, if anybody needs to speak to her,
then they will be able to talk to her at all times, OK?
PATIENT: Thank you. Alright?
Yep. Yeah?
Hello.
NARRATOR: It is vital to keep the caller on the line
until the ambulance arrives.
(PHONE RINGING TONE)
PATIENT: Hello? Hi, it's the ambulance service.
I think the line got disconnected.
Hello? Hello. Can you hear me?
Alright. Oh, she's kicked out.
Is anyone free?
NARRATOR: With Jen unable to reconnect,
another handler must take over.
(PHONE RINGING TONE)
PATIENT: Hello?
Hello, it's North West Ambulance Service here.
The line got disconnected.
How is Stephanie at the moment?
She's pushing.
Right, OK.
Are the crew there?
Yeah, they are. They are?
OK. I'll leave you with them, OK? Take care now.
Jen, crew are on scene now. OK.
No, not yet.
Have you done one on the phone?
Like, the crew. Delivered the baby after...
So, you've never actually... No.
Oh, my God. Devastating.
That is heartbreaking. I know.
Imagine if you'd delivered that.
I would not have spoke to her ever again. (LAUGHS)
"That's my baby."
"That's my baby." (LAUGHS)
I became an emergency call handler a month into the pandemic.
People were ringing up just scared for themselves,
scared for their loved ones.
The kids that are ringing for their mum and dad, they can't breathe.
You get an old couple who have been together for, like, 60 years
and he's frightened he's never gonna see his partner again.
That's the hardest part.
Not knowing what's gonna happen next.
Ambulance, is the patient breathing?
742, go ahead.
I'll just check with Franklin. Stand by.
Do you need them for that cat 1?
Next crew that anyone has that clears by Mossley Hill,
shout me and give it to Louise, please.
Yep, we're gonna throw you around. Thank you.
775, go ahead, over.
Oh, God, I've got 30 calls.
You should see my screen here.
I didn't like the look of this. Unconscious and snoring.
That's me at night, that. (LAUGHS)
That's you of a day. Hey?
(LAUGHTER)
How many jobs have we got waiting in our area, Warren?
We've got 135 waiting.
Wow.
To get through this work, we're looking at
every available ambulance that we have clearing twice,
and we'll still have work left over.
Just crazy.
It's a chest pain call that's been waiting since 11:45.
Is that job the one that's nearly three hours old?
Yeah.
What can we do, Kath?
We can't magic them out of thin air, can we?
This is where it stresses me out because there's nothing we can do.
What is for tea? I like inspiration.
Well, I don't have no tea because I just pick all day.
Do you have, when you go home...?
I have like 18 meals a day, and me tea.
Oh, do you? Yeah.
How are you so slim? I'm not.
Get out of it! Honestly.
Alpha 462.
Yeah, 462, I'm gonna pass you a job now.
It's a female.
She is 20 weeks pregnant and she has got COVID.
The child in the house is also COVID-positive.
NARRATOR: Eight hours into the shift,
Emily and Jo are on their third COVID job of the day.
Oh, this has been in for two hours. We must be busy again.
Yeah.
Are we upstairs? Yeah.
So, what's been happening?
Who's positive?
WOMAN: (HOARSELY)
Turn your head... (HACKING COUGH)
Do you mind if we just open this window, just to ventilate it a bit?
If there's a lot of COVID in here.
Have you got any pain anywhere?
How long have you not felt baby?
(DRY COUGH)
Have not felt baby move at all or has it just been reduced?
OK.
Just shuffle slowly.
That's it. Well done.
(COUGHS)
Take your time.
Two more steps and then you're done.
That's it. Well done.
Did you go full-term with all your children?
38.
Did you?
Oh, goodness.
(COUGHS)
You know what? They'll all help each other, won't they?
Oh, gosh, yeah.
My boy's 30 and I worry sick about him.
A guy we worked with once said,
"When they're little, they're a little worry.
"And when they're big, it's a big worry."
And it's so true, isn't it?
(WOMAN COUGHS)
OPERATOR: Is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
OK.
Yeah, I do apologise for that wait.
We can't give an exact time, I'm afraid, on any emergency vehicles,
that's all.
NARRATOR: Control have already taken 549 calls for suspected COVID.
And with one new emergency call every 15 seconds,
the pressure is building across the region.
462, go ahead.
At the moment, Warrington's fallen by the wayside.
We're having problems in Arrowe Park, on The Wirral.
The longer they can't release the crews,
the longer it takes for us to get to them.
Time to bring the army and all.
Or maybe just train loads of people to drive ambulances.
I'd drive one.
I would love to drive an ambulance. You would?
Swerve all the blood and the vomit and the poo, but I'll drive one.
Just gonna stay in the front? Yeah, I'd love it.
NARRATOR: 56 ambulances are currently waiting
to hand over patients at hospitals across the north-west,
including Alpha 462, Emily and Jo,
with their patient who is pregnant.
Is this your last, then, do you think? (LAUGHS)
Are you? (LAUGHS)
To contain the spread of the virus,
the patient must be examined by a midwife on the ambulance.
Hello, my name's Daphne.
I'm one of the midwives. Are you alright?
So, you felt no movements for two days.
Yes. OK, that's fine.
Can I have a little feel of your tum?
Oh... Tender there.
OK. Any bleeding?
No.
I'll have a listen in.
This can take a little minute sometimes anyway, so don't worry.
(POUNDING ON DEVICE) OK, there's baby's heartbeat.
See, it's awake.
(COUGHS)
Lovely. The baby's really nice and happy.
I'll go and have a little chat to our doctors and our manager
just to see whether we need to see you inside or not.
Is that alright?
Yes, that's fine. Fabulous.
I don't know if we'll be able to take her back.
How is she gonna go back? Don't know.
(COUGHS)
Taxi won't take her 'cause she's COVID.
I know.
Is there anyone that you know that drives?
No?
We're not gonna abandon you. Don't worry.
At least baby's OK.
It is.
So, I've spoken to one of our senior doctors.
He said, from what I've told him,
he is quite happy that he doesn't need to see you in the hospital.
Baby's heart rate was beautiful, absolutely perfect.
Exactly how it should be.
And it's most likely because you are feeling so poorly
and you haven't been able to eat and drink,
the baby may be just having a bit of a knock-on effect.
I think it is all just associated to the fact
you've got this horrible virus.
Yeah, alright. Thank you.
Thank you. Bye-bye.
(COUGHS)
Is that it?
They're quite happy that the baby's OK,
and I'm wondering whether or not we could take the patient back home.
They can't hold her in the hospital or anything
due to her being COVID-positive,
and we can't really leave her abandoned.
I'll just double-check with managers. Stand by one.
Ash? Yeah?
Can we take her home, they're asking?
Is she still on the ambulance? Yeah. Then, yeah.
She hasn't got off it. They come out.
Alright. Yeah, we can't leave her there, can we?
Yes, 646, that's fine to take her back home. Over.
Oh, lovely. Thank you very much. We're gonna head off now.
Roger, thanks. Over.
NARRATOR: As dispatch hands over to the night shift,
357 patients are still waiting for an ambulance.
So, it's been a terrible, terrible day.
All this cat 2 is now nearly four hours.
And I imagine most of them...
..well, some of them are still gonna be there when I come back in.
Come on, then. Let's get you in your...
..your own comfortable house, eh?
Get you out of these clothes.
Come on, my love.
Hold on.
We'll go in the living room now, have a nice cup of tea.
And I'm sure you'll start feeling a bit better.
(EXHALES)
So, have you ever got in the cab without going, "Oof!"
'Cause I don't.
No. I don't think I ever do.
Do you remember Robert, who we brought in earlier?
Um, the COPD guy? Yeah.
I've just been to see him, he's got COVID.
COVID-positive? Yeah, COVID-positive.
Ambulance service, is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
Ambulance, is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
NARRATOR: Overnight, call handlers have taken 1,759 emergency calls
from London and the north-west.
PATIENT:
OK.
PATIENT:
12 hours later, the crews are back for another day shift.
Morning.
How was it? Busy.
How are you today? Oh, I'm alright.
I did have a nice sleep. I had a nice sleep.
I was so tired when I got home last night.
I was knackered.
Alpha 171, good morning.
171, good morning to you too on this frosty day.
How are you getting on?
Not too bad. Let's hope it's not as bad as yesterday.
Positive vibes.
Hi, you're through to ambulance. Are you with the patient now?
PATIENT:
How old is he?
Does he have a measured body temperature of 38 degrees or above?
And he's confirmed COVID, is that correct?
Have you? OK.
I'm organising help for you now.
Just stay on the line, I'll tell you exactly what to do next.
NARRATOR: The nearest available crew is Jack and Jazz.
They are immediately dispatched to the suspected COVID case.
We have 37-year-old male, COVID-positive,
chest pain front and back with breathing problems,
lips and nails purple.
When you've got someone with discoloured nails and lips,
lips tend to be quite a giveaway of hypoxia.
So, if he's not shifting oxygen,
which he's not gonna be doing very well anyway if he's COVID-positive,
if that's...
..he's took a particularly nasty bout of COVID as such,
it's gonna be pretty bad, isn't it, really?
Expect the worst, hope for the best. I mean, 37 is young, isn't it?
37's young, yeah. For this gentleman, you know, if...
..the info we've been passed is correct,
he's clearly got it quite bad, like.
NARRATOR: While Jack and Jazz make the one-minute journey
to their COVID-positive patient,
a new 999 call is coming in every 20 seconds.
Ambulance service, is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
OPERATOR: Yeah.
NARRATOR: Crewmates Mark and Sarah have just started their day shift.
Alpha 641.
Good morning, Mark.
This call that you're going to is a 62-year-old male, COVID patient,
who also suffers with asthma.
Difficulty in breathing.
It's a cat 2 and no back-up at the moment.
Yeah, morning, Kath. All received, thank you.
Roger, thanks, over.
SARAH: (LAUGHS)
Just run 'em over.
Have a good day. And you!
See you, mate. Bye.
So asthma as well.
He's in a vulnerable category. Yeah, yeah.
Look at Ed on the scooter.
Go, Ed. Go, Ed.
Connor got me a scooter the other day. Yeah?
I went, "What would I want with a scooter?"
What, he bought you a scooter?
I went, "You bought that for yourself." (LAUGHS)
Really? A motorised one like that? Yeah.
They don't half shift, you know? I've been on one.
You know what? I'll do it for a laugh, just to give him...
It's something to do, isn't it? Mm.
Hello, mate. Hiya. Sorry, love.
Is it for yourself?
The ambulance?
So, when did your symptoms begin?
Are you OK just undoing your hoodie for us there, mate?
I'll have a little listen to your chest.
(COUGHS) Are you eating and drinking for yourself?
Sorry.
Do you mind just while I do this, just look at that wall.
Just take some nice deep breaths for me, please.
(COUGHS)
Sorry.
You OK?
Yeah. (COUGHS)
You're alright.
Don't try to take deep breaths if it makes you...
..if it takes your breath away, makes you cough.
Just breathe normal.
(COUGHS)
Do you mind if you just sit up for me,
I'll just go round the back, have a listen to the back of your chest.
(COUGHS)
Sorry, I'll give you a minute, Peter.
You alright?
Alright.
Your oxygen levels are fine, your heart rate...
We'll check your blood pressure and that.
Do a little test of your heart.
Have you got any pains anywhere, Peter?
Have you?
OK, so you're quite a vulnerable patient group, then, yeah?
What's your dog called?
I haven't seen a boxer for years. I love a boxer dog.
Is she old?
Seeing you like this. Yeah.
You've got this sudden onset of wheezing and breathing.
If we speak to a doctor, chances are he's gonna ask you to go with me.
Yeah. You've got a history of asthma.
We just wouldn't be comfortable leaving you alone
with your breathing.
I know. Is there anybody to watch the dogs?
Yeah, OK, cool.
Hiya.
Hello, gorgeous.
Here you are. Here's a bickie.
We're good to go.
Yeah, there's no rush.
If you think of something...
Watch you don't slip. It's quite...
NARRATOR: Mark and Sarah will take Peter
to the nearest hospital, four miles away.
Oh, God, this has come through via 111. He's not breathing.
Cat 1.
(SIREN WAILS)
Have to find someone to back them up.
I'll look for a car. You leave them on.
Alpha 462, you've been diverted for this cat 1 call.
The patient's unconscious, not breathing. 93-year-old male.
Yeah, it's a potential cardiac arrest.
Oh, God.
Go ahead, I'll jump out and go in before you.
RECORDING: Extreme caution. Cab door open.
Hello.
Hiya, lovely.
So, when did you last see your dad? WOMAN: Last night.
And has he got a DNAR in place, is it?
Yes. Have you got it there?
So, I can't feel a pulse on your dad, OK?
Yep.
He has still got some electrical activity in his heart,
which sometimes can happen,
but his heart isn't actually pumping at the moment,
so it looks like he has died.
Because he's been poorly anyway
and he's got the, you know, the do not resuscitate and things,
for his wishes, we don't do anything to him now,
so we'll leave him where he is, comfortable.
Yeah. We'll be here for support for you
and then we'll arrange what happens next.
Yeah. Is there anything you'd like us to do for him?
No. No, he's fine.
Oh, is there anything we can do for you?
Do you want us to make you a drink or anything?
No, no, love. I was expecting it.
Right.
Oh...
What's your dad's name?
Oh, really?
Oh, so he made you lovely meals.
Yeah.
You want them to live forever, don't you?
Was it? Awww.
(LAUGHS)
I always think they can still hear you for a little bit, though.
Yeah. So, I always say, just talk to him.
Is that your mum? Yeah.
Is it? How long ago did she pass away?
She's been dead 10 years, Mum. Has she?
He always said, "Put her in with me when I die."
Did he? Yeah.
He wants me to throw 'em at sea.
In the sea? In the sea.
And so my mother will go with him.
She'll be fuming.
As long as he's had a nice life.
Yeah. Had a loving family.
Seen some things, I'm sure. Yeah.
Oh, hey, Dad.
NARRATOR: Jack and Jazz have just handed over
their 37-year-old COVID-positive patient
to Royal Liverpool Hospital.
For a man with saturations of 58%, if you think about it,
oxygen is needed for, like, every vital organ in the body, really.
Like, it's probably the most essential thing to life.
He's got half of what he needs in his body.
Before COVID, I don't think I'd ever been to anyone with sats that low,
and if I have, they've been respiratory arrest.
Yeah. So, not...
They've not been breathing. No.
But that's why COVID is so nasty
because people don't realise how sick they are.
He said to me, "I knew something wasn't right today."
So, thankfully, he's picked up on that but other people don't do.
He was a young, healthy... Yeah.
..guy, wasn't he?
And you just don't know
if it's gonna affect you in that way, do you?
It's horrible, isn't it, when you tell someone the severity
and then they say, like, "You're scaring me,"
and then you think, "Have I done the wrong thing?"
But then, at the same time, you're constantly trying to toe that line,
aren't you, between, like, "Do we be honest with them?"
because I'd want someone to be honest with me.
I know. But we have to be honest.
Yeah, you have to be honest but you don't want to make them worse
by making them worry, so, it's... Yeah.
On the way out, his partner asked me if he was gonna be OK.
Yeah.
And I just had to say, "We'll get him in as quick as we can
"and we'll look after him."
Yeah, you can't make any promises, can you? Because at the same time...
I couldn't have stood there and said, "Don't worry, love. He'll be fine."
Yeah. Because...he...he might not be.
Yeah. That's the thing.
It's ad.
JACK: When I first started, I felt this sort of immortality,
where I thought, actually, I'm quite young.
But I think, then, when we started seeing
it's clearly spreading across, like, a massive spectrum of patients,
it sort of hit home that, I thought,
"Actually, we're in our 20s.
"Like, it can certainly impact people of all ages."
And sometimes, it is just luck of the draw.
The risk factors, as we know, are there for everyone to see,
and the fact that you could be going away to do your job
and coming home and putting your family at risk...
..it's scary.
762. Naomi, are you OK after that job?
Oh, I am. Thank you, Love. Yeah.
You just switch into work mode when you're there, don't you?
It's probably afterwards that you start to think,
"Bloomin' heck, that was a bit heavy."
Advanced paramedic Naomi has just cleared from her last job -
a sexual assault on a child.
I've got our SP just following the crews up to Alder Hey
to do a debrief with them.
I'm just doing the same at Whiston, love.
Acknowledged, Naomi. Thanks, Naomi.
Just give us a shout if you need anything more.
NAOMI: I feel a responsibility to ensure
that when we've been to stressful situations
that we're able to discuss it afterwards as a team.
I've seen it too many times in this job
that staff will just keep calm and carry on,
but burn out very quickly.
If I can alleviate some of that by offering that staff support,
then I've done my job well.
I just wanted us to talk through...
..the job.
If we feel there's anything we need to learn from it, brilliant.
If not, I think it's just us saying
it was a bit of an unusual and pretty rubbish job to deal with.
It was a very complex and emotional situation.
Very much so.
Yeah. Yeah.
When we're in those jobs, it's only afterwards
that you start to process the extent and the severity
of what you've just been told.
So, are you both OK?
A bit draining, aren't they, those jobs?
I'm having a draining time at the moment anyway.
Oh, are you, love?
I mean, I lost my dad to COVID, lost my father-in-law to COVID.
(TUTS) Aw. So, I'm having a tough time at the moment.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. So, we...
So, had two funerals with...
..one with 15 and one with 20 in.
God, you... So, it's been grim.
You can't see your family.
So, uh...
See, you can't even grieve properly, can you?
No. It's awful. 'Cause you can't grieve together.
Yeah, it's just one foot in front of the other at the minute.
Yeah.
So...
We've obviously got peer support with each other, which is amazing.
But if you do require support or you want to talk about it further,
please reach out.
I don't think I've ever had a year at work like we've just had.
(BIRDS CALL)
All we can do is one job at a time.
But suddenly, those one jobs at a time
are high-acuity, stressful, emotional jobs, every single time.
There's no break, there's no sigh of relief,
because there's too many jobs out there that are outstanding.
It's just apparent that staff are coming into work
feeling an obligation to be strong,
but actually, behind the scenes,
they're dealing with grief.
People's resilience is wearing thin,
and we've just got to be there to support them,
we've just got to be there to know
that they are doing the best they can under extreme circumstances.
This is so much longer than just a year's worth of COVID.
This is still gonna have a lasting...
..a lasting effect, without a doubt.
WOMAN: Ambulance Service. Is the patient breathing?
And what's the address of the emergency?
Is that...is that London area?
OK.
North West Ambulance Service are receiving a new 999 call
every 17 seconds.
In addition to local calls,
for the second day running,
they are taking emergency calls from London.
MAN: Ambulance Service. Is the patient breathing?
Is the blood spurting or pouring?
Cheryl, Milton Keynes...
Yeah? Is that London?
Milton Keynes? No.
Not unless they've moved it.
WOMAN: Ambulance. Is the patient breathing?
PATIENT:
Is the patient awake?
OK. Can you tell me exactly what's happened?
How old's the baby?
OK.
I'm organising help for you now, OK?
Listen carefully - lay the baby flat on the back.
OK. Is he flat on his back?
Put your ear next to the mouth.
Can you feel or hear any breathing?
I'm gonna...
Do you feel air going in and out?
No? OK.
I'm not doing mouth-to-mouth, am I?
MAN: I'd still do it. OK.
Completely cover their mouth and nose with your mouth...
..then blow two puffs of air into the lungs,
about one second each.
(MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON LINE)
Do you feel the air going in and out?
OK, listen carefully - I'll tell you how to do chest compressions.
Make sure baby's flat on the back on the floor
and place two fingers on the breastbone
in the centre of the chest, right between the nipples.
He's breathing? OK.
Alright, help's on its way.
We're coming as quick as we can. We're on blue lights and sirens, OK?
Is that the ambulance crew?
Alright. I'll leave you with them, OK?
Alright. No problem. Bye.
MAN: Oh!
Oh, my God. God!
Thank God for that.
Are you alright? Yeah.
You're alright?
You OK?
Here you are, love, let me get a...let me get a mask.
Hold on one sec.
Just wait there.
Oh...
I don't even know why I'm crying.
I just don't... I know, I know, I know.
But it's just... Yeah, there's a mask there. Do you want to go for a walk?
Oh. (SNIFFS)
I've been through quite a lot for such a young age,
being a carer basically all my life.
My brother's severely autistic.
Growing up, we constantly had ambulance crews to the house.
My dad had a mental health crisis, ended up being sectioned.
And four years ago, I lost my dad.
And that was the biggest turning point for me.
It's like, "Your life's going nowhere.
"You need to do something now, or you never will."
Went back to college, gonna make my dad proud, and...
..here I am. (CHUCKLES)
Hey, you OK?
And all I can hear is, you know, "He's floppy, he's blue."
Yeah.
It's a horrible call. It's a horrible, horrible call to take.
But, at the same time, what you've done has made that difference.
I'm not usually emotional like that, either, as well, like...
That's what I'm training to do, so...
Yeah. Well, exactly. Exactly.
But...
You're made of strong stuff, Jen, honestly.
Thank you. Cool. Just take as long as you need.
To go through a pandemic and to try and do a degree,
and to try and juggle being a single parent, is a big thing.
I don't think I could do a job where my kids weren't proud of me.
When that day comes, where they say, "You're a paramedic now,"
I just think I'll be in total shock.
I can't wait for that day.
PATIENT:
OK. OK.
OK. OK. We're coming as quickly as we can.
We're coming as quickly as we can, OK?
So, I'm organising help for you now.
Stay on the line and I'll tell you exactly what to do next.
OK, so, listen carefully -
I'm going to tell you how to do chest compressions.
OK, place the heel of your hand on the breastbone,
right between the nipples,
and place your other hand on top of that hand.
Yeah.
Pump the chest hard and fast at least twice a second,
and two inches deep.
Let the chest come all the way up in between pumps.
We're going to do this until help can take over.
We're going to go at a rate of
one, two, three, four, one, two, three, four.
(SIREN WAILS)
791, we've got an arrest in Winsford. Are you available?
MAN: Yes, mate. Jumping on it.
793, CPR is in progress.
WOMAN: Yeah, no worries. Er, we're getting there.
NARRATOR: The cardiac arrest call in progress
is a category 1 - the most time-critical.
A solo paramedic is five minutes from the patient,
closely followed by an ambulance crew,
and advanced paramedic Naomi.
762. Hi, Naomi. Yeah, this is a confirmed cardiac arrest.
All received. Thank you. ETA five minutes.
(SIREN WAILS)
You're doing really, really well, OK?
One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.
Yeah, keep compressing for me.
One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.
Are the paramedics there?
(MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON LINE)
Are the paramedics there?
OK, I'll leave you with the ambulance crew. Take care, now.
NARRATOR: The crew have successfully resuscitated the patient.
With specialist skills to care for critical patients,
Naomi will now take the lead.
WOMAN: Dad, listen to the paramedics.
MAN: I need you to sit back.
Dad. Sit back.
Ready to go? WOMAN: Are we ready to go?
You happy with your line, Marcus?
I've got one here. OK.
You've got your meds bag at the bottom. You want an Ondansetron?
Uh, yes, please. OK.
ECG, Marcus, is showing AF.
There's no ST elevation or ST depression,
or reciprocal changes on there, buddy.
So, it's gonna be Leighton from here, I reckon.
Uh, I've got a weak, thready radial.
OK, so, at the moment, until we get blood pressure,
let's hold off from any GTN.
If he's not allergic to it, let's go with the aspirin.
You're in the back of an ambulance at the minute, Alan.
We're gonna take you to the hospital ever so shortly, alright?
I'm gonna give you this tablet, mate.
Just get that chewed for me, chewed and swallowed.
NARRATOR: The patient, Alan, must be immediately transferred
to the nearest cardiac specialist, 13 minutes away.
Happy? Do you want to jump in the front and get ready to go?
(RADIO BLEEPS)
Come back - X-ray 762.
762, go ahead.
Can I pass a red stand-by through to Leighton Hospital, please?
How long will this take?
(INDISTINCT SPEECH OVER RADIO)
Affirmative. Thank you.
I've got a 56-year-old male, who is post-ROSC.
Current GCS is 14.
Our ETA will be 12 minutes. Over.
Roger. I'll pass that down to Leighton for you.
GRANT: The arrest - they've got him back, GCS 14.
Wow. God, that's... that's good CPR, then.
KATH: What did the call come in as, Grant?
Collapsed. 56.
Go away. Mm.
And he's up and awake now? Yeah. Just a bit confused.
That's amazing, that.
From being dead to being confused... (LAUGHTER)
It's not bad, is it? That's... It's bloody good!
(LAUGHS) Not bad at all.
(LAUGHS) That's amazing, that.
JAZZ: I got another update...
Oh, yeah? ..from earlier.
Um, he is on a ventilator.
Oh...
So sad, isn't it?
I hope his partner's OK.
They both looked terrified.
Just reminds you, you know... I know. Terrified.
And you know what?
As much as we moan about the madness,
we keep coming back every day, don't we? So...
We do.
Beep John. Beep John. Beep John.
(BEEPS HORN) It's not John.
Is it not?! You're a tit! (LAUGHS)
You actually just made me do that!
You're such a...
Oh, I've come in the wrong way now!
(LAUGHS)
('HURT' BY ARLO PARKS PLAYS)
GRANT: Well done to everyone on scene.
Doesn't get much better than that, does it?
Oh, it gives you that warm, tingly feeling, doesn't it?
Thank you, love.
NAOMI: It's become really apparent
how important everybody is in this role.
Everybody has had to work together to get those wins.
We've nailed that through COVID.
We have connected on a much deeper level than we ever did.
Because we've almost...
..been through it together, and...
..we've fought those battles together.
SONG: # I know you can't let go... #
See you soon, lads. Ta-ra. See ya, mate.
# Just know it won't hurt so
# Won't hurt so much forever... # Oosh! See ya.
Alpha 462, just calling to say thank you for that.
I know it's been a busy day.
And hopefully, speak to you in the morning.
(RADIO BLEEPS)
Oh, yeah. Thank you very much for a lovely day,
and we'll speak to you tomorrow.
Have a good night.
I think what's been nice is everyone looks out for each other.
Yeah.
They say that about Liverpool, don't they? It's...
The people...the people that make it.
Proud to be a Scouser. (CHUCKLES)
And an Evertonian.
And an... (LAUGHS)
There's always one to ruin it.
(LAUGHS) (CHUCKLES)
NAOMI: I think all we can strive to do in this job is make a difference.
It's not just that patient - it's the patient's family,
it's the patient's relatives that you affect,
because you've managed to make a difference for that one person.
No matter how hard it gets sometimes,
and sometimes you question why you're there...
..that's what we're here for.
Wow. What a job.
If that doesn't make you go to sleep and think,
"I'm ready to go to work tomorrow," what will?
# I know you can't let go
# Of anything at the moment
# Just know it won't hurt so
# Won't hurt so much forever
# Won't hurt so much
# Won't hurt so much forever
# Won't hurt so much
# Won't hurt so much. #