Medical evacuation
Thirty-nine-year-old Andrew York is escorted to an ambulance by paramedics after he was airlifted from a survey vessel eight nautical miles off Gozo yesterday morning. An Armed Forces of Malta helicopter was sent to the vessel, the Skandy Inspector, where the British crew member was found to be suffering from a severely swollen elbow. He was taken to Mater Dei Hospital.
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Reuben Griscti
Jan 9th 2009, 21:47
@duncan et al
I'm sure you know I am well aware of the loose misuse of the term "Paramedic" in Malta! It has nothing to do with doctors being the centre of the universe! The original definition of paramedic was: "A person who is trained to assist physicians in providing medical care".
Nowadays, the term "Paramedic" refers to a group of INDEPENDENT professionals trained to "medically stabilize people through various interventions...outside of a hospital".
I am quoting internet-based dictionaries in the above, and from my experience, they are correct!
The fact that Maltese terminology still hasn't adapted, partly due to the fact that the DH does not staff its ambulances with UK/US-type paramedics, does not mean I have to accept it!
This is not to say that MDH's A&E Nurses are less qualified than the UK's paramedics to deliver a high-level of care (far from it!),nor am I trying/intending to put MDH's staff down! I AM however saying that Maltese terminology is out-dated and intrinsically wrong, just like practicing medicine from 20yrs ago would be wrong!
I feel it is important to be accurate - let's start with our terminology! May I suggest the use of term "Ambulance crew".
duncan briffa
Jan 9th 2009, 12:08
rueben.. unfortuantely.. here in Malta the word paramedic refers to anything but what people like you and me refer to as 'paramedics'. here in Malta paramedics refers to any health workers with the exception of DOCTORS.. as if the health care in Malta revolves around doctors!! . (sorry but i had to say it!!)
Reuben griscti
Jan 9th 2009, 09:17
As I've mentioned in the past, there are NO paramedics in Malta. Ambulances in Malta can either be manned by a driver and porter alone ("transport ambulance") or by driver, porter AND an A&E nurse ("emergency ambulance"). If the ambulance is responding to a very serious call (e.g. Multiple casualties, entrapped casualties etc), the assistance of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) doctors may be requested- this consists of a team of very dedicated doctors, specialised in prehospital emergency & retrieval medicine., responding to emergency calls on a voluntary basis.
The photo above includes a driver, porter and (if Im not mistaken) the AFM doctor often involved in AFM medical evacs.
May i advise the Editor to contact the ERT doctors in MDH A&E if you wish to learn more, & inform your readers of how the ERT operates.
May I also take the opportunity to thank all the people working on a volunteer basis to care for our friends & families, including the ERT, St. John's Ambulance, Malta/Gozo branch Red Cross & the CPD Spider team, all of whom I've had the pleasure of working with in the past.