London Ambulance Service

expect promptness and skills to deal with life-threatening situations as well as serious but non life-threatening. Challenges: unnecessary call-out; rudeness and violence from the public; traffic holdups; shortage of staff; waits at hospitals; low morale. I guess that the special alcohol tents put up for New Year in Trafalgar Square help for that night at least.  Do similar for major gatherings but the organisers have to pay a fee?

Making patients (in extreme pain) drag themselves into an Addison Lee minicab is not the answer. Especially when a paramedic in an estate car, is also there, waiting for the minicab. I am sure these cabs cost more than having more crew and Ambulances. Get Real

I expect the amulance to come immediately, for the crew to be caring and knowledgeable.  The main challenges facing them are roads that are, jammed pack roads so the ambulances cannot get through the traffice quickly enough; tired/stressed staff; low resources; and low paid staff. 

Many good comments already made.  I don't know any magic solution for dealing with hoax calls, but there must be some way of deterring hoaxers.  Ambulance staff do a splendid job and should have good pay and conditions.  I daresay all the emergency services need more funding.  Certainly scrap targets as I assume that staff do their best anyway and shouldn't be put under pressure.  There should be realistic penalties for people who abuse ambulance staff or their vehicles/equipment.

Training is vital, and I know that many ambulance staff are highly trained.  They deserve huge respect.

I have just read another post. In the USA firefighters and paramedics are all one unit and they attend to whatever they find at the scene. Of course private ambulances are used to convey people to hospital. There is no reason why our services cannot be combined with NHS ambulances being used when needed. In new developments the emergency services bases are being built in the same area. Again there is no reason why this could not be done in London. I was a friend of a Florida Fire & Paramedic Service Commander way back in the 1980's and saw things first hand. It makes me wonder why we have taken so long to develop this efficient pblic service.

My opinion of the London fire Service has not changed in the last 54 years. During this time I was a Police Officer until 1987. I have been a member of the Community Health Council, two PPIF's and laterly Havering Healthwatch (Had to resign due to health). I have had close contact with emergency ambulance crews and A & E's in local hospitals. The service provided by the crews is second to none but the time taken to get a ambulance to the scene of a incident is a disgrace. I am fullyware that the service is underfunded and that the present crews are overworked and the service relies on the goodd will of its staff. I personally would pay a penny in the pound increase in my income tax if and it is a big if that tax was used in the NHS including the LAS. Decisions as to what calls to consider urgent should  be made by a qualified doctor not a telephone operator with a list of types of call and their response requirements. Taxation pays for everything in the public sector. Maybe the massive 20% VAT should be used to fund the departments needing more funding. This also applies to overseas aid.  Senior officers of the LAS should be constantly bombarding the Minister for Health and Social Care and the Prime Minister with data that shows the urgent need for more funds. Use of the motorcycle/car paramedic to calls prior to the ambulance is a excellent idea and saves lives. In bad traffic conditions the motorcycle is King. Do not just talk a good fight actually do something to get the service we deserve.

I think they're doing a good job in London despite cuts and problems waiting around at hospitals to deposit patients.

I expect an emergency ambulance to arrive promptly, the paramedics to have the expertise to diagnose non-emergency illnesses and treat on the spot where possible and safe.  In order to carry out this service I expect them to receive excellent training and be paid propertly for their expertise and be valued as the professionals they are.  I expect them to take patients who need the care of a doctor to A&E.  I also think that less qualified ambulance staff should continue to take vulnerable patients to and from hospital