Describing a 12-Hour Ambulance Shift during a Second Wave of Covid-19 in London

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, has strained international healthcare systems, including ambulance availability. Ambulance officers and paramedics are at the frontline of this pandemic and are therefore particularly exposed. Under normal operational circumstances, ambulance delivery is challenging; the effects of COVID-19 have exacerbated both the delivery of services and the stress placed on paramedics.

In this case report, we describe a 12-hour emergency ambulance dayshift in central London during the second wave city-wide lockdown. We also discuss the impact COVID-19 has on day-to-day operations and the strategies employed to reduce paramedic infection.

Keywords

paramedicine COVID-19 Ambulance

References

Perkins

, Kelly

, Dumbleton

, Whitfield

Pandemic pupils: COVID-19 and the impact on student paramedics.

Australasian Journal of Paramedicine 2020; 17. https://doi.org/10.33151/ajp.17.811

Maguire

, Smith

Injuries and fatalities among emergency medical technicians and paramedics in the United States.

Prehosp Disaster Med 2013; 28: 376–82. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x13003555

Maguire

, O'Meara

, Brightwell

, O'Neill

, Fitzgerald

Occupational injury risk among Australian paramedics: an analysis of national data.

Med J Aust 2014; 200: 520. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja14.10941

Central Queensland University. Paramedics have the most dangerous job in Australia [Internet]. 2017. Available at: www.cqu.edu.au/cquninews/stories/research-category/2017/paramedics-have-most-dangerous-job-in-australia,-says-professor

The Conversation. Paramedics have one of Australia's most dangerous jobs - and not just because of the trauma they witness [Internet]. 2021. Available at: https://theconversation.com/paramedics-have-one-of-australias-most-dangerous-jobs-and-not-just-because-of-the-trauma-they-witness-149540

Lawn

, Roberts

, Willis

The effects of emergency medical service work on the psychological, physical, and social well-being of ambulance personnel: a systematic review of qualitative research.

BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02752-4

Flynn

, Moloney

, Bhattarai

COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Health Policy Technol 2020; 9: 673–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.003

Demography, London's Population & Geography - Trust for London. 2021. Available at: www.trustforlondon.org.uk/data/geography-population/ [Accessed 27 June 2021].

Population density - population and migration - KS3 Geography Revision. BBC Bitesize [Internet]. Available at: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zkg82hv/revision/2 [Accessed 4 February 2021].

10.

The top 20 busiest airports in the world by passenger number [Internet]. International Airport Review. 2019. Available at: www.internationalairportreview.com/article/32311/top-20-busiest-airports-world-passenger-number/ [Accessed 4 February 2021].

11.

We ask public to help us help them after busiest ever days in our 999 control rooms. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust [Internet]. 2021. Available at: www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/2020/03/18/we-ask-public-to-help-us-help-them-after-busiest-ever-days-in-our-999-control-rooms/ [Accessed 29 April 2021].

12.

We thank partners helping us get double the usual number of ambulances out responding to patients in the capital.

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust [Internet]. 2021. Available at: www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/2020/04/03/we-thank-partners-helping-us-get-double-the-usual-number-of-ambulances-out-responding-to-patients-in-the-capital/ [Accessed 16 May 2021].