Pre-Hospital Care Podcast

In this episode, we explore something a little different, but deeply connected to everything we do in medicine, leadership, and human connection: the power of storytelling. Whether it’s patient handover, clinician-to-clinician stories, or the messroom chat, stories fill our everyday lives.  My guest today is Clare Murphy, a world-renowned storyteller who has been bringing the ancient art of story...

In this blog audio, Radu Venter emphasises the importance of developing a holistic understanding of the healthcare system, particularly for paramedics whose roles often exist at its edges. Drawing on the experience of observing an organ harvest, Venter highlights the intricate collaboration required among multiple hospital departments and specialists. This complex interplay contrasts sharply with...

Today on the Pre‑Hospital Care Podcast, we welcome Dr Maren Ranhoff Hov, a leading figure in the evolving field of pre-hospital stroke medicine. With a unique background that spans both paramedicine and neurology, Maren brings a rare and powerful perspective to the conversation. From her early days working in the ambulance service in Northern Norway, she witnessed firsthand the critical challenges...

In this blog audio, Radu Venter challenges the popular narrative that labels paramedics as “heroes,” arguing that while the term may appear respectful, it ultimately does more harm than good. He contends that calling paramedics heroes strips away their humanity, placing unrealistic expectations on their emotional resilience, availability, and ability to cope with trauma. This perception risks norm...

In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast , we explore one of the most powerful yet often misunderstood drivers of excellence in emergency medicine: the culture of clinical leadership. From the early evolution of paramedicine to today’sIn complex, multidisciplinary systems, leadership has never been just about titles or hierarchy; it’s about influence, mindset, and the ability to create env...

In this episode, we discuss an article by Dr. Sarah Spelsberg titled “HOCUS POCUS, the Magic of Point of Care Ultrasound in Remote and Rural Medicine.” The piece explores the transformative impact of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in austere, remote, and rural healthcare environments, with a particular focus on the Butterfly Ultrasound device. Dr. Spelsberg outlines the persistent barriers to wi...

Today on the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most critical and often misunderstood areas of pre-hospital care: defibrillation and the future of cardiac arrest management. We’re all familiar with the mantra of “shock early,” but how much of what we believe about defibrillation is grounded in evidence, and how much is myth carried forward through tradition and training? To he...

Welcome to Best of 2025, Part 2 . This collection of episodes reflects some of the most meaningful, challenging, and quietly powerful conversations of the year, the ones that sit at the intersection of clinical excellence, emotional labour, and human experience. We begin with After Death: Understanding Grief in Pre-Hospital Care with Liz Gleeson, Part 2. This episode gave language to something man...

As we close out this Best of 2025, these episodes represent far more than download numbers or chart positions. They reflect the conversations that resonated most with you, the ones that challenged practice, reinforced fundamentals, and reminded us why this work matters. From Prehospital Resuscitative Thoracotomy for Traumatic Cardiac Arrest with Mike Christian, to The Evolving Nature of Major Inci...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood and essential foundations of effective teamwork: psychological safety. Our guest is Dr. Michaela Kerrissey, associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and co-author of the recent Harvard Business Review article, “What People Get Wrong About Psychological Safety.” What does it really mean? Is it about bein...

In this episode of the Prehospital Care Podcast, we explore a compelling personal medical narrative by Dr Sarah Spelsberg titled “The Not Really an Asthma Attack.” The story centres on a challenging case encountered in a remote island emergency department and highlights the complexity of clinical decision-making when patients do not present in textbook fashion. Dr Spelsberg recounts the case of a...

In February 2023, the National Guardian’s Office dropped a stark warning: the culture in ambulance trusts across England was putting both staff wellbeing and patient safety at risk. Fast forward to this year’s Culture Review of Ambulance Trusts, and the findings are just as sobering. According to the 2022 NHS Staff Survey, ambulance services scored below the national average across all seven Peopl...

In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we explore what effective paramedic mentorship should look like, drawing on Radu Venter’s article, “What Should Paramedic Mentorship Look Like?” The discussion examines the shortcomings of current orientation practices, highlighting how short and inconsistent programmes frequently leave newly qualified paramedics underprepared and lacking confidenc...

On January 13th, 1982, Washington, DC, was paralyzed by a historic snowstorm when catastrophe struck, not once, but twice. Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, sending wreckage and passengers plunging into the frozen Potomac River, while across the city, the Metro system suffered its first deadly derailment. Amid chaos and freezing temperatures, first responders, bystanders,...

We're joined again today by Radu Venter, Flight Paramedic and Substack blogger. Radu discusses the common sentiment that formal paramedic education is insufficient and that crucial learning happens only during on-the-job practice. Radu also acknowledges that this perspective holds some truth because schooling often overemphasises skills and background knowledge, and can sometimes fail to adequ...

In today's episode of the Prehospital Care Podcast, we explore the complex intersection of adolescent male violence, social media's influence, and its profound impact on the medical professionals responding to these incidents. We're honoured to welcome Dr Naomi Murphy, one of the UK's most respected forensic clinical psychologists and recently appointed Honorary Professor of Psycho...

In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast , we explore Radu Venter’s insightful article “EMS Decision-Making” , which challenges the deeply held belief that faster is always better in emergency medicine. Venter questions the culture of constant urgency in EMS, the idea that every decision must be made in seconds, and argues that this mindset can sometimes compromise patient care, particular...

In this episode, we take a deeper look at the many faces of grief that pre-hospital professionals may encounter in the field, often in subtle, complex, and deeply human ways. While grief is commonly associated with death, it extends far beyond, touching every kind of loss: from separation and divorce to anticipatory grief, perinatal loss, and the unique pain of suicide bereavement. We’re joined on...

In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we explore Radu Venter’s powerful piece “No One Dies From Pain” , written under his pseudonym The Paramedic Philosopher . The article challenges one of the most common sayings in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the idea that “no one dies from pain.” While the phrase may have originated from a focus on rapid transport and prioritising life-saving...

In this episode, we bring together a remarkable group of guests to discuss an often overlooked but incredibly important condition, Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD). Joining us today are a SCAD survivor, the clinician who treated her, and an advocate working to raise awareness and improve patient outcomes. Together, they share their powerful and unique perspectives on what SCAD is, how...

In this episode, we explore “Leaving Room for Rougher Edges in EMS” by Radu Venter, a powerful reflection on perfectionism in paramedicine. Radu is a Flight Paramedic based in Canada. He challenges the unrealistic pursuit of flawless performance in an unpredictable, high-pressure environment and asks when “good enough” should truly be enough. We discuss how flexibility, honesty, and self-compassio...

In this episode, we delve into one of the most universal and often misunderstood experiences: grief. Whether it's supporting families after a sudden loss, witnessing trauma firsthand, or coping with personal emotional impacts, grief is an ever-present companion in pre-hospital care. Joining us is Liz Gleeson, a highly respected psychotherapist, educator, and specialist in grief. Liz is the cre...

In this audio blog, Carl Betts employs the analogy of a traditional dry stone wall to explain the principles of healthcare improvement. Carl suggests that just as these walls rely on the careful placement and interconnection of unique stones without mortar, healthcare systems depend on the relationships between processes, people, and policies. A key point is that a single failure or "slippage...

In this episode, we’re diving into the journey of Zoe Boswell, a dedicated paramedic, mother, and community volunteer with the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). Zoe brings over a decade of experience as a road paramedic, all while balancing the demands of family life and volunteering with the GWAAC Heartstarters program. Zoe’s story is a powerful example of resilience, progression, and...

This blog podcast unpacks an article titled "Beyond the Summit: Why Human Factors and Crew Resource Management Matter in Expeditions," written by Ryan Atkinson on 22 September 2025. Ryan asserts that while competence and experience are crucial for expeditions, human factors (HF), the psychological, social, and organisational influences on performance are often the difference between succ...