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Davidfilce  
#1 Posted : 24 August 2022 10:24:57(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Davidfilce

Hi

Just running through a number of scenarios for my team of first aiders and wondered what everyone's experience was.

The scenario is that an injured person is treated by a first aider, doesnt need an ambulance but could do with attending A&E (we are a rural organisation,so may be slightly different to town or city-based businesses).

Assuming the injured person cannot make their own way to A&E, do they travel with:

  • First Aider (who would drive)
  • First Aider and and driver (in case the injured person has issues en-route such as fainting or being sick

Should the First Aider stay with injured person at the hospital once triaged / signed in?

How may this change (or not) for night shift operations or when losing up to 3 members of staff for a signficant period of time (travel to and from A&E and the multi-hour wait, could significantly affect opertations back on site especially when there are lean staffing levels)

I appreciate that we would need to assess every case on its merits but it would be useful to produce some guidance for First Aiders if that is appropriate

Regards

Edited by user 24 August 2022 10:25:45(UTC)  | Reason: Typo

PDarlow  
#2 Posted : 24 August 2022 10:53:01(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
PDarlow

We have a policy regards to taking an IP to hospital. Points covered as follows:

First Aider to deal with IP and take lead - ask a colleague to call 111 for advice or 999 in an emergency.

Our first aiders are not qualified to triage so can not make the decision of hospital or not. That is why 111 or 999 is called.

You must have adequate first aid cover at work so we wouldn't send a first aider with IP to hospital. If there is sufficient cover then a decision to send a first aider to be made on a case by case. Although in my opinion I don't see the need myself.

If an ambulance is sent then IP must stay put and wait regardless of ETA, our employees are not to take IP to hospital in this instance.

In event of no employee available to take IP to hospital then a local taxi firm is called upon.

Best solution is to take measures to reduce or mitigate incidents that would give rise to serious injury or ill-health.

Paul

thanks 1 user thanked PDarlow for this useful post.
Davidfilce on 24/08/2022(UTC)
hopeful  
#3 Posted : 24 August 2022 12:47:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
hopeful

We have always had concerns about insurance cover if someone drives the IP to hospital so always ring for a cab if an ambulance is not required.

PDarlow  
#4 Posted : 24 August 2022 13:58:38(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
PDarlow

All of our employees are insured to drive a company vehicle or their own for company business from the first day of employment.

It might be worth checking with your insurers as to there standing in this scenario.

thunderchild  
#5 Posted : 24 August 2022 15:49:12(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
thunderchild

We were told on our last St John Ambulance course in October that it doesn't need to be a first aider that takes them to hospital and it should be 2 persons, one to drive and one to sit with the person.

Stopping at the hospital will currently be down to the hospital and there covid restrictions if they still have them in place and your policy. Ours was to phone the next of kin and have them meet us there so we could leave.

As for driving we only took the company pool car as our company insurance didn't cover personal cars and only I had business insurance (at the time) but I couldn't use my car as at the time only had a 2 seater.

Just chipping in my experience but I would suggest getting your managers together and put your own policy together and check what your insurance has in place for coviering driving on business or if anyone personally holds it and would be happy to be the designated driver should you need, but I would expect they'd like the expenses to be paid which is fair enough I feel.

Roundtuit  
#6 Posted : 24 August 2022 21:21:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Given the widespread issues with ambulance handovers, long waiting times at A&E if a patient is not an urgent handover your response should be transport (taxi) to hospital. Send driver and first aider to wait is asking to keep several people from shift, especially if it becomes a long wait meaning they should miss the next shift due to fatigue / hours restrictions.

Just seen a piece on South West news where a patient was in the back of an ambulance for over 24 hours (and they obviously have priority over the walking wounded you are describing).

Roundtuit  
#7 Posted : 24 August 2022 21:21:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Given the widespread issues with ambulance handovers, long waiting times at A&E if a patient is not an urgent handover your response should be transport (taxi) to hospital. Send driver and first aider to wait is asking to keep several people from shift, especially if it becomes a long wait meaning they should miss the next shift due to fatigue / hours restrictions.

Just seen a piece on South West news where a patient was in the back of an ambulance for over 24 hours (and they obviously have priority over the walking wounded you are describing).

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