Serious Question Time - If you called an ambulance would you be bothered if it was a private ambulance or an NHS truck that arrived?

[bobjugs12]

Say for example your OH is ill and you dial 999. The vehicle that arrives is a proper ambulance with blue lights, markings, and all the kit onboard. However, it does not belong to the NHS. Would you be upset that it's owned and run by a private company or would it not bother you?

[jake-the-peg]

You're deliberately answering your own question.

You're specifying that absolutely everything is the same other than ownership and then asking whether that would bother you in time of crisis.

You might as well ask whether or not someone would be bothered about the colour.

However when it's not a moment of personal crisis you could ask the question the other way.

Would you mind whether the money you pay in tax to support the NHS was going to shareholders in a private company that was running ambulances on a commercial basis you might get different answers

[bobjugs12]

As soon as his blog went global he became untouchable, and as a result (allegedly) thought he was above the menial work that we all put with. He also (allegedly) became very arrogant, and a 'don't you know who I am' type

[daffy654]

B00, this is another book I can recommend: http://www.bookdeposi...uk/book/9781905548705

it is even funnier (and sadder) than the paramedic one.

[bobjugs12]

Koode, you are correct that most employees of private firms are either ex NHS or ex Military medics

Jake, good point.

Would you mind whether the money you pay in tax to support the NHS was going to shareholders in a private company that was running ambulances on a commercial basis?

[ummmm]

No...

[bobjugs12]

Bednobs, the taxpayer funds the private ambulances just like it funds NHS ones, although private trucks are invariably cheaper to operate than the NHS

[bobjugs12]

Ummmm, what was your bad experience with the Ambulance service?

[ummmm]

Me and my son got knocked down on a pedestrian crossing. An ambulance was called...we were taken into the back but because my son was in shock they told me to drive him home and bring him to the hospital later. They didn't even ask about me...So they just left me there, holding my son and shaking. Luckily a man who seen it all came and took him and carried him to my car. It took a couple of hours for the shock to wear off and the pain to kick in. When I went to the hospital later the Doctor was very surprised the ambulance hadn't taken us straight in.

[China Doll]

Not at the time of calling 999, I can't imagine who would since there's likely to be larger concerns!

No, I don't agree with privatising parts of the NHS and yes I mind that the money goes to shareholders rather than the NHS. It worked so well for British Rail.

[DEN53]

Having been carted off in an ambulance back in Feb of this year, I can honestly say, I would'nt have cared if a big red bus had turned up, as long as it got me to A & E and the bus driver was fully trained.

[annie0000]

For me, it depends on who is on it - I know quite a few A&E people that I would rather not have to rely on in a time of crisis and I am sure the same applies to Private ambulance staff. I would rather that the NHS ambulance service worked efficiently enough to render the private service obsolete to be honest but there is no chance of that happening any time soon. My only concern is that it seems to take very little time for a person to become trained in the private firms, but that is maybe due to past experience.

[paddywak]

While I would prefer the NHS to be there lf needed, I must be honest If the Boss was bad enough for me to have to dial 999 i wouldn't be bothered if a flying saucer manned with men from Mars arrived as long as they got her to hospital asap

[McMouse]

Doesn't really matter to me whether ambulance or emergency medical treatment is provided by NHS or private concern as long as the care is professional. I suspect the author of this post has an agenda here.

[NoMercy]

I expect you're just looking for an excuse to find fault as per, McMouse.

[Mobius1]

"The hospital called the NHS ambulance to transfer me to IC at a NHS hospital and they refused to come saying that they were not allowed to pick up from a Private Hospital. Explaining that I had given 40years as a Consultant in the NHS and paid more taxes than most, cut no ice."

If you don't mind me asking, why would the fact that you've paid lots of tax and you were an NHS consultant make any difference at all as to whether an NHS Ambulance Trust provided urgent transport or a private service did it?

At the end of the day the hospital arranging the transport is responsible for sourcing said transport (the fact you were travelling to an NHS acute trust location is irrelevant). So if that private hospital doesn't have a contract with the region's NHS Ambulance Service, then said service cannot provide the transport. It's the hospital's responsibility to tender transport contracts, and they will undoubtedly have awarded the contract to a private ambulance service. So it's their job. Fair and square. If the guilt trip had worked, it would mean the NHS Ambulance doing the job, instead of the service that's actually paid to do it, tax or no.