Poster Boy

"36 year old male, diabetic problems"

This winds me up! Diabetic problems?! Could they be any more vague! That could literally mean anything. The patient could be hyperglycaemic, hypoglycaemic, have retinopathy, diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar non-ketonic coma, renal failure, some kind of neuropathy problem, who knows! How are you supposed to prepare for a job if you have nothing to go on! Anyway, rant aside, off I went. Within a few minutes I was outside the house and ready to walk into the unknown.

After navigating my way past the 3 cars on the driveway (1x new Golf, 1 x Porsche Boxter and 1 x BMW X5) I knocked on the door. You'd think that when you dial 999 you'd be prepared for the imminent arrival of an ambulance or some kind of responder. It should never, ever, take over a minute to answer the doors unless the patient is disabled or frail. Anyway, annoyance at the delay aside, the door was eventually opened by the patient. He was well dressed, well spoken and going by the furnishings and accessories in the house he certainly wasn't short of a few quid! I followed him through to the lavish kitchen.

"What's the problem today sir?"

"I just need my blood sugar levels checked."

"OK, but why? Are you diabetic? Are you unwell?"

"I don't think I'm unwell, I mean I feel fine. I'm a tablet controlled diabetic."

"OK, but what did you need an emergency ambulance for?"

"To check my blood sugar! Keep up!" he chuckled.....

"I get that, but why do you think your blood sugar level needs checking if you're feeling fine?"

"Because I'm supposed to monitor my sugar levels and I've lost my test kit."

"So you've lost your kit, so phoned us to get your blood sugar checked?"

"Exactly!" he said in a condescending manor.

"I will check your blood sugar but do you really think it's an appropriate use of the service? You could have just gone and bought another one."

"Who do you think you are to tell me what I can and can't do? Lets not forget that I pay your wages."

Oh, he went THERE. I bit my tongue, did his blood sugar, cancelled the crew who were on route and offered him a full check over through the most hideous fake smile I could muster. Thankfully he refused. He signed my paperwork and I left without even receiving a thank you. I was surprised he didn't pat me on the head and say 'good dog'.

I sat in the car, heart pounding, steam coming out of my ear and a vein pulsating on my forehead! I was livid. Why is this tolerated? Why can nothing be done about it? Why can people be so rude and disrespectful. Then it all clicked into place. The nice cars, the nice house, the elitist attitude, the disrespect......and the Vote Tory poster in the window. How did I miss THAT when arrived?! I should have known I'm just a public servant.

We're all in this together!

Please Please Please

"Signature Needed NOW"

The purpose of this post is simple! I want you and everyone you know, to sign this e-petition as soon as possible. I want the link to it emailed and re-tweeted as much as possible. The e-petition was set up by the Oliver King foundation and was set up after his death at the age of 12. He died from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

Their aim is to try and raise awareness about the medical condition SADS which commonly affects people aged between 12 and 35 years of age.

By doing this through their fundraising events and major PR drives, their aim is to boost the awareness about SADS enabling them to take the first steps towards preventative steps being made freely available.

They are currently based in Liverpool, UK and are striving to ensure that schools primarily get the equipment they need to help any young people who are affected by this condition. This is namely defibrillators. They need your help to get the government to listen, as until now the only response they have had has been to refuse to help and pass the buck to the ambulance service. 

"From February 2007, responsibility for continuing the legacy of the National Defibrillator Programme was devolved to ambulance trusts. Most of the ambulance trusts across the UK have community resuscitation departments or similar, which work to place defibrillators in the community, and in areas of need."

What they mean is they won't pay for it! What they also don't tell you, is that the ambulance service places defibrillators in places only where the owners pay for them. We do provide HeartStart training in basic life support and defibrillation free of charge to anyone that wants it but this training is provided by willing staff, unpaid, and in their own time. I myself am a trainer. It is something I believe passionately about and it was of such a surprise to me that defibrillators were not in schools by legal requirement. 

The cardiac arrest survival rate in London is around 32%. That figure is much higher than the rest of the country but it also much lower than other cities in the world. Seattle has the highest survival rate in the world at 55%. The reasons for the huge gulf is simple. Basic Life Support is taught as part of the national curriculum from the age of 6. Everyone knows how to use a defibrillator and there is one on every street, in every school and in every public building. That is the survival rate that is possible but that is what the government are unwilling to do. £650 for a defibrillator is more than a 12 year olds life is worth apparently. They even refused to meet The Oliver King Foundation, yet weeks later 16 defibrillators were installing in Westminster and government buildings! If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for you and your children!

Please please please have your say. We have the chance to make a real difference so lets put our weight behind it. 

SIGN THE PETITION NOW!

For more information on the Oliver King foundation please visit  http://www.theoliverkingfoundation.co.uk/ or see them on twitter at @TheOKFoundation.