I’m on nights tonight & tomorrow so I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for following me, for cheering me up, & for your continued support of me, my job & the NHS as a whole 💚
Happy New Year all! 🍾
I had a bit of a moment in Costa this morning & the manager came over & said “tears don’t always help, but cake does” & presented me with a muffin. Probably made me cry even more but thank you lovely Costa lady ❤️
This evening, my patient went into cardiac arrest in the back of the ambulance whilst on our way to hospital. Immediate CPR, one shock delivered, patient conscious & breathing.
When times are hard, a reminder of why I do this job always comes along ❤️
I found out today that a patient I took into hospital on my last shift died. Being able to be there in someone’s final moments is part of why I do this job. So don’t tell me I should leave if I’m not happy. I don’t want to leave, I want things to be better 💚
Today, there were 10 ambulance crews queuing on the hospital corridor, when a man walked in & called us all losers for striking. He’s read in the news we earn £40 an hour & the hospital never looked like this before we started striking. Right wing media at its best.
I was so nervous about going into work last night that I cried whilst I was getting my uniform on.
But this morning, the incredible support has made me smile. Thank you 💚
Hopefully the tide is finally turning against this government.
My dad just called me to ask about going out for a coffee. He wants to go out of the house so he doesn’t have to have the heating on all day.
Shit that, isn’t it? 🥺
We began our strikes at midnight.
Although the majority chose to strike, they still responded to our most life threatening calls.
Some chose not to strike, some aren’t in a union & can’t strike.
Please don’t let right wing media let you believe we do nothing. We do care 💚
I was called to an elderly person today who died expectedly at home. I apologised to their spouse for the 4 hours it had taken for me to arrive. And they actually thanked me, because it meant they’d had 4 hours to sit with them peacefully before someone came & took them away 😢
Remember when you were a teenager & you thought an age like 46 was ancient? Well I’ve just woken up aged 46 & I feel great!!! ☺️
It’s my balloon day!!! 🎈🎈🎈
Yes I’m a woman. My body was made to carry a child. But that doesn’t mean I have to carry one, or even that I can carry one. My choices are nothing to do with you. I am not a failure because I’m child free. Now go ask the 1950s if they’ve lost a chain to the sink.
40 minutes. On your own. Where an explosion has killed what you’ll later to discover to be 22 people, and you have no idea whether it’s safe. Your own life is on the line too.
Patrick Ennis is a hero ❤️
I have news!!! I GOT THE JOB!!! 🥳
Now an A&E Operations Team Leader, I’ll be leaving Wakefield behind & heading back to Leeds. I’ve had a superb 2 years as a Clinical Supervisor & am ready for new challenges ahead! 🙌🏻
#ambulance
#paramedic
#WomenInLeadership
12 hour night shift last night, half of it spent monitoring a queue of 10 ambulances at A&E. 170 patients in the department. 15.5 hour wait to see a doctor. One crew 5.5 hours late finishing their shift.
And this is BEFORE strikes.
It’s
#ChristmasEve
& it’s time for me to start my 12 hour night shift as Operational Commander. Have fun, enjoy yourselves but be careful!
The emergency services will make sure Santa gets to you all safely 🚑🚓🚒
Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎅🏻
Just before I go to bed, I just want to say that I genuinely thought there were people out there that hated us for what we’re fighting for, but I’ve received nothing but love & support in the last few days.
Thank you 💚 Let’s keep on fighting against this uncaring govt 👊🏻
Scott Benton, Lee Anderson, Jacob Rees-Mogg. Such vile, horrible men, who don’t seem to have an ounce of compassion for fellow human beings. Why do people vote for them? I don’t get it.
Today I’m standing on the picket line. We are still keyed on for duty, providing cover for our most life threatening calls. On a purely personal level, this is not about pay for me, it’s about providing a safe NHS for patients & staff 🧡
#SaveTheNHS
#SupportTheStrikes
Thank you to the kind gentleman who just passed this through my car window & said “that’s me good deed done for day, love”!!! Bless him! ☺️
#ambulance
#paramedic
#NHS
People think that being a paramedic is exciting & all about saving lives - cardiac arrests, major RTCs, heart attacks.
This morning, I washed an elderly person from head to toe with a flannel & soap. They told me it was wonderful. I cried 😢 That’s the rewarding part of my job.
Tonight is my Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day all rolled in to one, as tomorrow I start on nights for the entire festive period. I’ve got wine, Christmas cake with cheese, chocs, might even av a Baileys n all!
Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄🎄
I had to mute this tweet (mad!). If you made a positive comment, thanks so much. If there’s anything negative in there, I’m past the point of caring - I care about my profession, my patients & my colleagues, not what you think of me.
Hello & thank you to all new followers! 👋🏻
I’m on nights tonight & tomorrow so I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone for following me, for cheering me up, & for your continued support of me, my job & the NHS as a whole 💚
Happy New Year all! 🍾
Out on
#ambulancestrike
again today, for the biggest NHS staff walkout in history. Please see my tweet below this one for the lies & dishonesty that the Tories are spreading about NHS pay. Solidarity to all my fellow NHS colleagues on
#strike
today 🧡
Last week, I visited newly opened York bookshop, Criminally Good Books, which stocks true crime & crime fiction over two floors. It’s a beautiful shop & Isla, the owner, is so lovely.
Do pay them a visit if you’re ever in York!
I’m kinda wondering how
@SteveBarclay
reckons ambulance staff can be more productive when we spend hours queuing in the back of ambulances & on hospital corridors.
So here we are again, it’s the NYE night shift, which is usually our busiest night of the year. Hope you all have fun & stay safe! 🥂
Thank you for all your support, both in my job & on my bookish journey, I really appreciate it! Happy New Year! 🥳
The support for yesterday’s
#AmbulanceStrikes
was truly overwhelming & I absolutely feel the tide turning. The truth about the dire state of the NHS (& why) is finally getting out there & it’s making me proud to do my job again. Thank you 💚
Yes, they’re uncomfortable & annoying & probably make you feel like you look a bit strange. But if I & other
#keyworkers
can wear a
#facemask
for the majority of our working day, you can wear one to the shop. Please.
To those defending the 2.9% increase in MPs salaries by using “well at least they didn’t ask for above inflation pay rises like the public sector strikers”, just take a moment to compare an MP’s salary to the majority of public sector worker’s salaries. Then you might get it.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is being able to recognise that a patient is at the very end of their life & rather than bundle them off to hospital in their last moments, sit peacefully, holding their hand until family arrive to say goodbye. The greatest privilege ❤️
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again, I know not everyone agrees with strikes. But I will not stand for being called a murderer, or that I should be charged with manslaughter. I hope, for those who believe that, that you’re pointing that same finger at the government.
As Operational Commander, I wasn’t on the picket line today but that made for an exhausting day whilst my colleagues were striking. All part of what we need to do to continue life & limb cover for our communities whilst attempting to get the government to take notice 🚑
It’s
#NewYearsEve
& I’m about to start my last night shift. I love my job but it’s incredibly hard right now, so please
#StayAtHome
Happy New Year one & all! 🥂🚑
I know I’m incredibly lucky to be able to afford to go on holiday at all, but the additional cost to solo travellers can get in the bin.
I’ve just looked at booking a 10 day AI holiday to the Dominican & they wanted me to pay…
For my 44th birthday, I got Covid. For my 45th birthday, I got work. Is this how birthdays go now?!
Anyhoo, I’ve got me a brew, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! 🥳🥳🥳
Today, I used our end of life pathway to keep a patient comfortable at home. Our elderly patients deserve a dignified death, not spending their final moments in the back of an ambulance.
I held their hand until family arrived. Emotional day that was 😢
Katy works for me. She is single & earns less than 30k, rents a room for £775pcm in Central London, has student debt, £120 a month on travelling to work saves money every month, goes on foreign holidays & does not need to use a foodbank.
Katy makes my point really well.
This is the face of one VERY tired
#paramedic
but
#Christmas
weekend is done! 🙌🏻
Huge thanks for all your support, it’s meant a lot. Only one person told me that working Christmas is part of my job, so I’ll take that as a success! Time for bed, si thi on t’other side! 👋🏻
Sick & tired of seeing all the vitriol against NHS staff recently. If you have an issue with the NHS as an organisation, fine, but don’t take it out on us on the ground, who are just trying to keep it together long enough to come into work each day.
…a single supplement of £670 AND a “room under occupancy” rate of £1770 so, except for the flights, essentially paying for two people.
With solo travel becoming more & more popular (& yes I do know it’s always been a thing), the travel industry needs to get a grip!
I got a DM from someone today, following my tweet yesterday where myself and 5 of my colleagues went out for drinks, wanting to know why none of us were at work. Sorry, wasn’t aware we were supposed to work 24/7 🤷🏼♀️
Sometimes I walk to & from work. Today I walked in at 6.30am & walked home at 7pm. Twice today I’ve been told I shouldn’t be walking at either of those times as it’s dark. Not saying they’re wrong, but it’s not right either is it?
Today was a bit shit. I took some stuff too personally, which makes me upset, and it ruined my day. Something about myself that I need to work on.
In the meantime, I’m having Biscoff cheesecake & reading! 🥰
Gosh I can’t quite believe I’m now less than 500 followers away from 40k!! 😱 I am truly humbled that people listen to my ramblings about work, books, mad runs and wine/gin!
This tired paramedic has just tonight to do & is then looking forward to 6 days off.
THANK YOU!! 🫶🏻
6 shifts, 66 hours, two cardiac arrests (one resuscitated!), 50% of patients not required to attend ED & left at home 🚑
Would it be ok if I read my book & drink some wine now, please? Ta! 🙏🏼
DM: Saw you running this morning, you looked in great shape.
Me: It wasn’t me, I was asleep after nights.
DM: I know you run after night shifts, you’ve tweeted before.
[I haven’t, because I don’t.]
Blocked & running routes will change for a while.
Men, please don’t.
I had a bad end to my shift yesterday, ended up doing a 14 hour shift, couldn’t get to sleep & then ran the Leeds 10km this morning in 49:08!!! I don’t know how my body copes with what I put it through!!! Thank you
@runforall
🥇
It’s
#InternationalParamedicsDay
! 13 years ago, I saw an advert in the newspaper for a Student Paramedic after being made redundant from my legal assistant job & thought I’d give it a go. Now a Team Leader & still
#ProudToBeAParamedic
🚑
#IPD2022
Anyone else bored of Bake Off?
When it moved to C4, I said I’d boycott it. I didn’t & I still loved it, but I’ve had enough of the gimmicks now. It’s not the show it was.
This is the week I dread coming round on my rota - four 12 hour night shifts on the cardiac arrest car. I’ve had a 40 minute nap today & I’ve got a coffee bigger than my head - that should do it, right?! And please help us by following the rules &
#StayAtHome
🚑
Please only travel if it’s essential, unless you’re a BBC reporter where it makes perfect sense to stand on the promenade in Cornwall telling people how dangerous it is to stand on the promenade in Cornwall.
I’ll be honest, I felt a bit sorry for myself this afternoon as today has been the least enjoyable
#ChristmasDay
I’ve had in a long time. But, for many, it’s like that every year, so I’m picking myself up to be here for those who might need us. Night shift two is a go! ❤️🚑🎅🏻
When politely asked not to film ambulance staff doing their job, please don’t give them a tirade of abuse about your right to film in a public place. Thank you :)
I have spare copies of two of my
#BooksOfTheYear
so it’s
#giveaway
time. To enter, follow me, RT this tweet, comment
#DemonCopperhead
or
#WrongPlaceWrongTime
below & I’ll pick a winner for each book.
Entries close midnight 8 Jan. UK only. And I’ll throw in a choc orange each!
Just remembered that today is my 14 year anniversary with Yorkshire Ambulance Service. There have been many tears, but also many laughs. Some days, it’s the toughest job in the world, others it’s the best 💚
And despite the current state of the NHS, I still want to be here 🚑
Better late than never, here’s my promised 25k
#giveaway
.
To enter, follow (or already be following) me, RT this tweet & comment
#BookTwitter
below. UK only. Entries close midnight 10 August. Good luck! 🙌🏻
Today, a member of my family died after a short illness with cancer, taken into a hospice only yesterday. We weren’t close, so this is not a sympathy tweet. I just wanted to raise a glass, light a candle & say “f**k you cancer” on behalf of each & every person affected 🕯
Today’s the day I can officially wear my medal (not wearing it for work today though)!🏅
Thank you Your Majesty! And congratulations on your
#PlatinumJubilee
!
Whilst working on an ambulance today, I was approached by a random member of the public.
Him: I just wanted to come over & ask how you are & to say that I hope you are looking after yourself.
Me: 🥺🥺🥺
As promised, my 15k giveaway is here! 🎉 3 of my favourite books, a
@bookbuddle
(with button so it’s good for a book or kindle), choc, candle, Lush bath bomb & face pack! 🛀
To enter, follow me, RT this tweet & comment
#MeTime
below! UK only. Entries close midnight 30 June 🙌🏻
I’m proud to be a
#Paramedic
& proud of the progress I’ve made in the last 13 years.
In that time, I’ve seen the decline in the NHS but as we celebrate
#NHS75
, I’d like to congratulate every small cog in its machine that battles on every day to do the best for our patients 💚
I was called out to a patient today & it turned out they were lonely, felt unsafe at home & wanted to go into care. 2 hours later, after discussions with a GP, a care home & social services, we were able to get them a social care visit today. More than just an emergency service.
I am going to Whitby tomorrow! And I’ve just been getting a BAG ready, with a PURSE in it! And I’m going to wear proper CLOTHES! And I’m going to go in some SHOPS! And eat food I didn’t make myself! And OMG it’s going to be weird & so freaking EXCITING all at the same time!! 😃
My reading nook (aka the spare bedroom - that’s a chair that folds out into a single bed for anyone wondering!) was a bit grey & untidy so I gave it an overhaul. Cosier, calmer & tidier. I will spend a lot of time here now! 🥰
Saddens me that people feel uncomfortable attending literary events. I’m not of any form of literary intelligence, I haven’t read all “the classics” & I look like an idiot by gushing at authors I love, but I’ve never felt like I didn’t belong.
Please go! Books are for everyone.
And…she’s back! Today, I’m on the cardiac arrest car so here’s hoping for a steady one, fingers crossed! Stay safe out there, peeps! 🚑
#ambulance
#paramedic
#NHS
#letsdothis
Last night my Twitter went crazy! Tweet went viral, followed & RT’d by Andy Burnham (big fan!) & 1200 new followers overnight!
Its time for me to get some sleep, but I’ve said it many times (& will continue to do so) - THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support. Let’s keep fighting 💚
I meant to do this as a Christmas giveaway & forgot so seeing as we all need a pick me up at this time of year, let’s do it now!
Copies of 3 spare paperbacks I’ve got, chocs & a candle!
To enter, follow me & RT this tweet. UK only, entries close midnight 14 Jan. Good luck! 🙌🏻
Today was one of the sad days at work. I don’t think I’ve ever cried on scene at a call before but today just broke me.
Thankful for this timely pop up on Facebook of why I do my job. I don’t do it for thank yous, I do it to make a difference to people’s lives ❤️
Sorry, but can we please stop this thing of “you only read 10 books in a year? Wow”.
Read what you want, read what you love, & read as few or as many as you like. It ain’t no competition, it’s reading. No one should be made to feel inferior because they “only” read a few.
Maaaaan!!!! That was A COURSE! Jeez, THE HILLS. Anyway, smashed it in 3:57:57!!!! Thanks
@runforall
for a fabulously organised event & thank you to all the spectators - you were AMAZING!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
#leedsmarathon