Where have you been?

So I set this thing up, then never did anything with it. Useless. I told you I was new at this... My excuse is that I actually had a few days off so actually had to pay a little more attention to my kids and ignore the computer. Since I started my blog, rest breaks have been introduced and then revoked. There is some warped logic up in senior management that says "lets reduce the overtime, expect the same service, but still tell our crews that on their busiest shifts they don't need a break". I know that the whole rest break thing has caused some controversy (as per The Sun "news" paper), but working the night shift on Christmas eve (see also NeeNaw) which was one of the busiest shifts I have ever done, with no break at all, was a disaster.
In fact, nights over this whole period have been nightmarish. There are as many calls from drunks (or usually for them) as there are from lonely elderly types who just want to spend Christmas with someone, and equally from happy families who just want to get rid of nuisance granny so that they get drunk enough not to even remember they have a granny in the first place. How sad.
At least I've actually seen some genuine patients over the past couple of days. Did two shifts on the FRU (managed to actually get some O/T!) which vaguely restored my faith in humanity, if not in the overall use of FRUs.
Well, I'd like this to be your blog as much as it is mine, so if you wish to raise topics for discussion, please do so! I promise to post messages a little more frequently.
Wishing you all well into the new year! Hope it's a happy one for us all.

Late developer

Having been a reader of Blogs for a while, especially anything connected to the ambulance service, I realised (very slowly) that it was a great way to achieve several things. First of all, to get things off my chest. Despite the fact that most paramedics and EMTs (emergency medical technicians who are basically the same thing as a paramedic but get paid less money) will tell you that you can't take your job home with you or it'll drive you mad, but sometimes this job does just that.
Second, a little public education. Whether it'll be successful is open to much debate, but at least I'll feel like I've tried.
Otherwise, it'll hopefully be another insight into the world of a London paramedic. I'm aware that several of these already exist, but maybe I'll be able to give you a slightly different angle.
I was and EMT for almost four years and recently became a paramedic. For the sake of ease of use, any time I refer to paramedics in general, I'm referring to EMTs as well.
Enjoy.