Name: Dave Tutty
Job Title: Clinical Support Desk Paramedic
Base: Millennium Point Emergency Operations Centre, Brierley Hill, Dudley
Length of service: 13 years
Role within West Midlands Ambulance Service:
I speak to patients who have called 999 who don’t necessarily need an emergency ambulance or a trip to A&E, but do need some sort of help. I carry out a clinical assessment on patients over the phone by asking questions to identify the problem and the seriousness of the illness or injury. I am clinically trained, just like a paramedic on the road, but my role is to help determine the best alternative care pathway for a patient, whether this is self-care, a pharmacy, a walk-in centre or a GP. An ambulance response isn’t always the best option for patients, nor is A&E, but there are a vast range of NHS services available to treat patients whose conditions aren’t life threatening.
Christmas day plans:
It’s my first Christmas off for 6 years so I’m going to be spending the day with my wife and daughter.
Top tip for winter:
Had your flu jab? It’s not too late.
Last year, flu resulted in more than 600 deaths in the UK; for thousands of others it was a contributory factor. As a Trust we have been working hard to make sure as many of our staff get the vaccine as possible because we know what a difference it can make. Flu is not like getting a cold. It will leave you feeling absolutely drained for anything up to two weeks. Flu is a highly infectious illness caused by a virus. It changes every year as does the vaccine to fight it, so it is important that those at risk protect themselves every year. This illness is preventable. By getting it, you not only protect yourself, you also protect your friends, colleagues and loved ones. If you get flu, keep warm, drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids and take paracetamol to keep your temperature down. Lots of people can get the flu vaccine free from their GP such as people with long term conditions, carers, those over 65 and pregnant women. For children under two there’s now a nasal spray rather than the traditional injection. Check out http://www.nhs.uk for more details