14 October 2006

Efficient but not effective

When Roger Flux, a paramedic from Hampshire, began to suffer from chest pains the other day his wife, fearing a heart attack, did the sensible thing. She rang 999 and requested the emergency services.

Following policy to the letter the medical services attempted to contact the nearest available responder. Almost immediately Mr. Flux's bleeper went off. When he checked it he saw that he was being contacted to attend a man experiencing chest pains. The address? His own.

After being discharged from hospital Mr. Flux said:

"At least it shows the system works. The whole idea is to get the nearest responder available to attend to an emergency -- and I was certainly the nearest."

Mr. Flux had not had a heart attack and is said to be recovering.

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