Pre-Hospital Care Podcast

Today, we're diving into one of the most challenging scenarios any EMS provider faces: paediatric cardiac arrest. The figures are challenging, with only a 4.9% survival rate for infants and neurologically intact survival rates as low as 1-4% nationally. These calls have long been considered to have poor outcomes. But what if I told you that one fire department completely rewrote the playbook a...

This is the second audio blog, written by Dr. Will Duffin, detailing medical considerations and avoidance techniques for leeches, bullet ants, and mosquitoes, which are common threats in tropical environments. This guide provides practical advice on managing bites and highlights the importance of malaria prophylaxis and insect repellent for effective expedition planning. You can read the blog here...

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the evolving role of women in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and pre-hospital critical care, inspired by insights from Critical Care Doctor Sophie MacDougall. Sophie highlights both the unique challenges and the incredible rewards that come with working in this demanding, fast-paced environment, one that remains largely male-dominated but is gradua...

This blog post, written by Dr Will Duffin, addresses the benefits of in-situ wilderness simulation training for medical professionals working in remote environments. Written by Dr. Will Duffin, this blog post unpacks his experience providing medical cover for the TV show  Survivor to illustrate how practicing emergency scenarios on-site helps teams improve emergency management skills, foster team...

In pre-hospital care, paramedics regularly encounter patients with a wide range of mental health conditions. From anxiety and depression to psychosis and self-harm, the ability to quickly assess and manage these conditions is crucial in ensuring the best possible outcome for the patient. But how do paramedics navigate the complexities of mental health? In the field, where resources are limited and...

This is the second installment from Ryan Atkinson's blog post, "Let's talk about climate hypocrisy and carbon democracy…," which addresses the common accusation of hypocrisy faced by environmental activists. Ryan, a filmmaker focusing on conservation, acknowledges his own air travel, which contributes to global CO2 emissions, yet argues it is necessary for communicating and effec...

Today, we are joined by Dr Celestine Weegenaar , the first female PHEM trainee at Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). Originally from Amsterdam and now firmly rooted in the South West of England, Celestine brings a wealth of experience from emergency departments across the region – and even from the skies of Australia, where she flew with LifeFlight. We talk about her journey into pre-hos...

Ryan Atkinson's "Local Loss in a Global Crisis" explores the disconnect between Western perceptions of climate change and its tangible effects on vulnerable communities, specifically in the Langtang Valley of Nepal. Ryan reflects on his personal carbon footprint and the ethical implications of his travels while witnessing the devastation caused by the 2015 earthquake, exacerbated by...

Every year, thousands of lives are lost to suicide, and emergency responders are often the first line of support during these critical moments. In this episode, we explore the vital role that the London Ambulance Service (LAS) plays in suicide prevention and risk assessment. From the moment a call comes into the control room to the interaction on the frontline, paramedics are trained to recognise...

In this episode, we reflect on the article “Asking Why. Telling Stories. Owning Accountability” and its lessons for both the diving community and pre-hospital care. The piece explores how adverse events are too often met with blame and silence, when what’s needed is open storytelling, systemic accountability, and visible learning. Drawing on three academic theses, the author argues for a shift fro...

Today, we’re exploring some of the complexities of real-life palliative care cases that frontline staff have faced in practice. Joining me are four members of the London Ambulance Service’s dedicated Palliative and End-of-Life Care Team: Karina Catley, Natalie Nabunya, Rowena Rickson, and Jodie Grace. Together, we’ll examine real-life case studies that illustrate the unique challenges of caring fo...

This episode dives into a critical article arguing that the diving industry too often fails to learn effectively from fatalities, not because of individual mistakes, but due to systemic shortcomings. It distinguishes between “first stories”, simple narratives that assign blame, and “second stories”, deeper explorations into context, drift from safety standards, and the normalisation of deviance. T...

Mental health crises are one of the most complex and sensitive challenges faced in pre-hospital care. The London Ambulance Service (LAS) plays a critical role in responding to these emergencies, from the moment a 999 call is made to frontline crews delivering urgent interventions. But how does the system work as a whole? How are these calls assessed in the control room, and what role do specialist...

This blog is a personal reflection from Advanced Paramedic Wayne Auton, who shares how he has recently embraced what he describes as a “position of yes.” This mindset involves being open and willing to accept opportunities as they arise, often at short notice, and focusing on the positive potential that each opportunity may bring. Wayne acknowledges that it is a fortunate position to be in, but on...

Today, we're diving into the high-stakes intersection of tactical medicine, crisis negotiation, and pre-hospital care with Eric Acevedo, a seasoned professional operating at the front lines of some of Virginia's largest emergency response operations. Eric brings a rare blend of experience across tactical EMS, hostage negotiation, and field-based crisis response, offering a unique perspective on ho...

In this special series, we’re bringing insightful and thought-provoking blog posts to life in audio form, exploring the human side of pre-hospital and emergency care. Today’s piece reflects on Esprit de Corps, the pride, loyalty, and belonging that exists within high-performing teams, and how it is built, tested, and lived out in some of the most demanding environments. Wayne Auton reflects on a c...

In this episode of the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast, we’re joined by Critical Care Practitioner Mike Palmer to explore the evolving role of ultrasound in trauma care outside the hospital setting. We dive into the realities of training, drawing on insights from a bespoke HEMS hybrid ultrasound program that bridges classroom learning with frontline application. Our discussion covers the translation of...

In this episode, we speak with Carl, one of our podcast co-hosts, about his deeply reflective article, ‘Normal or numb – that is the question, but what is the answer!’  Carl shares the personal experience that inspired the piece, attending a call to a deceased patient, which triggered a cascade of questions about emotional detachment, coping strategies, and the long-term impact of repeated exposur...

In this episode, we explore the expanding role of ultrasound in pre-hospital trauma care. Once limited to hospital settings, ultrasound is now a vital tool in frontline emergency response, helping clinicians make rapid, informed decisions on scene. We begin by unpacking the physics of ultrasound, how concepts like frequency and resolution influence what can be detected, from internal bleeding to l...

CarlBetts, a co-host of this podcast, authored a reflective piece titled "Where Critical Analysis Becomes Critically Unhealthy," published in 2023 in the College of Paramedics’ Hindsight magazine. In this episode, we delve into Carl’s motivations for writing the article and examine its central themes. The piece discusses how critical analysis, while an essential skill, can become counterproductive...

Today’s episode dives into lived experience with cystic fibrosis through the remarkable journey of Paul  Butler. Diagnosed at two and warned he wouldn’t reach twenty. Paul’s childhood revolved around twice-daily chest physiotherapy, three-daily nebulisers, and a mass of hospital admissions for infections that chipped away at his fragile lungs. By his late teens, the odds felt fixed: average life e...

In this episode, we dive into The PITT , a powerful new medical drama that lays bare the raw, unfiltered reality of life in the emergency department. This conversation serves as a commentary on an AI-generated adaptation of Dr. Sarah Spelsberg’s original blog post, and it began with an interview. We first sat down with Sarah to gain deeper context and personal insight behind the post, ensuring tha...

Today’s episode explores one of the most profound and humbling themes in medicine: what the dying and those who’ve been brought back to life can teach us about living. Dr. Matt Morgan is an intensive care consultant, researcher, and author of A Second Act, a book inspired by the hundreds of patients he’s met who have crossed the threshold of death and returned. People like Ed, struck by lightning...

In this series, we are bringing blog posts to life by interviewing the authors. Also, by generating AI audio conversations of the blog to make them accessible in audio format. I then summarise the audio in conclusion. We begin this episode by interviewing Dr. Sarah Spelsberg to add context and personal insight behind an AI‑generated adaptation of her latest RogueMed post, “Emergency Medicine and P...

In this episode of the Pre-hospital Care Podcast, we explore a cutting-edge innovation that’s transforming how HEMS clinicians are trained for high-stakes, life-saving procedures, such as thoracotomy, resuscitative hysterotomy, and other HALO interventions. We’re joined by Jamie, founder of Maxres, and Lily, a Critical Care Doctor, to discuss how immersive headset training is being introduced into...