Table 6 Professional influences
Quote no | Quote | Data source |
|---|---|---|
1 | The paramedic and OT (Occupational Therapist) soon ascertained that he was uninjured, with a slight graze to his chin and an ache in his back … [They] decided to make a referral to the reablement team and dementia care. | Call 11, field notes |
2 | [The paramedic already present on the scene] had been unsure whether to admit and had spoken to a specialist paramedic for advice. As [the patient] was over 65 years the specialist was unsure about prescribing antibiotics. There was also some concern about whether this was COPD or asthma …. [The attending paramedic] said she was thinking it might not be of benefit to admit again but that she would like to speak to the GP. She called the GP surgery … a GP called back and they had a long conversation. | Call 3, field notes |
3 | A large element is learning on the job, past experience and that sort of thing … obviously you do your mentored practice as a trainee. That certainly helps. You progress through your course, then your mentor should be giving you more and more freedom, to the point where at the end of your course you are working independently, really. | Call 7, P8 interview |
4 | I think it’s always like tricky when you’re a lone paramedic, and you’re in a car. And you do feel a little bit more isolated. And you’ve got nobody really to consult with the decision-making. Like you’ve not got a crew-mate to bounce ideas off. | Call 3, P3 interview |
5 | When I saw that he’s had probably two hospital admissions already in March, and it’s a weekday and his GP surgery is open, and available to discuss his case with, I think I started to become a bit more keen about trying to keep him out of hospital. | Call 3, P3 interview |
6 | The paramedic discussed decision-making afterwards. She feels that they lack a good awareness of the legal implications for their decisions; and that paramedics protect their professional registration at all costs. This means that sometimes they make very cautious decisions. However, they all know people who have had to go to a coroner’s court or a tribunal by the HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) and no one wants to be in this position. | Call 8, field notes |