Sorry. >> Oh dear me. >> Somebody's going to be looking after you. >> Thank you. >> We are back with the West Midlands Ambulance Service. >> We got a job. >> As the paramedics take us to the heart of the action once more. >> He's currently having seizure in the back of the ambulance. >> You're going to be all right. You're going to be all right. >> Old friends are back on shift in Dudley. We see everything from life to death and everything in between. >> We do. >> And for the very first time, >> we're in and we're online. >> We're taking you to Stoke. >> This is where it's all going to kick off today. >> Where new crews face fresh challenges. >> Oh, you kidding me? God, it's going to be horrible. >> And experience heartpounding action. >> Grab the kit. Grab the kit. >> Bodymounted cameras record every moment. >> What's that? showing you what goes on behind closed doors. >> Still struggling quite a bit, aren't you? >> Well done. You >> don't shoot me. I'll try not to. >> This is a paramedic's eye view of life on the road as they battle over 4,000 calls each day. >> You need to keep very still. >> Am I alive? >> I think you're alive. >> Okay. >> You'll be on the front line with them as we take you inside the ambulance. That's what I love about this job, though. You never know where you're going to go, do you? No. [Music] [Music] >> My dog hates people. Hates everybody. >> Very weird. I think my my dog just hates the world. >> Hates the world. >> Hates the world. >> What's the like most unusual animal you've ever seen in a patient's house? >> Um, snakes and spiders would be the ones that are common and unusual really. >> How about a goat in a garden? >> A what? >> A goat in a garden. I've never been out to somebody who's got a goat. I've been out to people who've got my goat. You got him my pip. [Music] >> There's a fox down there. All right. there. Look. Oh, yeah. It's there. >> Where? >> There. Scorny little bugger. Is it? >> Well, it little foxy. Oh, look at that. >> It's 9:30 in the morning. Paramedic Gaz Clark and technician Lee Tim have been called to a patient who's apparently been hit by a truck. >> We're going to a 28-year-old being hit by a bin lorry to foot and hand. >> How has she not seen it? >> All depends if she was wheeling it and pushing it back and it's pinned her against the wall or something. million and one combinations, isn't it? >> We shall find out when we get there. >> Since being hit by the lorry, the patient has managed to get off the street and into a nearby pub where she's being looked after by her mom, Sharon. >> Is it Lindsay? >> Daughter, daughter. Right. >> What happened? as I was walking like over the lorry didn't see me and I dying the lorry and it just happened so quickly I can't even remember what I did but according to them I'd actually bounced off like by the wheel I' gone out to the lorry it was like one of them council dust bin ones or recycling one >> so how do you feel at the moment >> really bad pain >> as in where what >> all my foot >> right and about your arm >> just at all >> just all around there what we aim to do is we need to get you on back of the ambulance so we can have a look. We can take your boot off and everything and see what's going on. >> Yeah. >> So, have you vomited at all this morning? >> Lindsay and her mom are both care assistants. On a rare day off together, they'd arranged to have breakfast along with a couple of friends. >> Was that for me? I could do with the light. >> Before moving her onto the ambulance, Lee wants to reduce the pain of Linds's injured foot. >> Have you ever had gas and air before? Yeah, we're not in either. >> You've had this before. Hold it yourself. Nice deep seal. Breathe in. Hear that hissing sound. >> That's it. What we're going to need to do is get you onto the stretcher. >> Oh god. Yes. Given that Lindsay had made contact with a very large vehicle to come away with just an injury to her foot, she was incredibly lucky. >> It was important where Lindsay was inside a public place to get her into the security, the back of the ambulance. That way we could remain dignity while we actually removed the footwear and inspected the injuries. >> Feeling now. >> So now we're outside. >> Admit it. There wasn't a bin. Lori, you got over excited and jumped in the soft play area, didn't you? >> It wasn't as deep in the ball pit as you thought. >> I must pre my feet stink. >> Don't matter. >> Cuz I've been waiting. We're literally just going to move uh a couple of yards up the road and just turn left to off where the cross is. Last thing I want to do is cause another accident. >> When it happened, I got up >> and I kind of like just stood there and told the people that was driving the wrong just to carry on. I was all right. >> The thing is when something happens initially, a bit of shock, you don't really know what's happened. You don't know what injuries you you feel things little bit after. >> How do PC Gavin has come to take a statement to decide who if anyone is responsible for the accident? >> Okay. If the officer steps in. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Step. >> Thank you very much. >> Did you get the the Bin L detail? >> To be fair. To be fair, they did come back around to see if they could see it cuz they was in shock. It was just it were really nobody's fault. It was >> It just happened. >> Did the lorry hit you or you walk in front of the lorry? >> I hit the side of the lorry like like on the corner bit by the head lamp. >> Yeah. >> And somehow I went by the wheel. >> I've been l is a professional driver. It'll have a camera on you. See those lries do. So whether you've walked in the lorry or the lorry should have seen you, don't know, but there's a little bit of paperwork I need to do. >> Gaz wants to get a closer look at Linds's foot. After 10 minutes of gas and air, he's hoping she won't find it too painful. >> This is where you wish you put your best socks on. >> Yeah, my feet have gone all black. >> Is this thing still on? >> Yep. Keep socking on it. Couple of go. Come on. That's it. Nice deep breaths. I'm ready to have it. >> Okay. >> Put it in your mouth and suck it hard. But >> we're going to need to take it to hospital. You're going to probably need that X-ray. >> What do you think she's done? >> I think that looks like the wheels gone over the top. >> Yeah, it's going to be swollen up and painful for quite a few days. And if you have broken anything, normally it's not operation wise. It's normally just plasticcast wise. Sorry. Best case scenario, you're looking at soft tissue damage. Worst case scenario, you're looking at fracture. In a nutshell, >> my foot work then >> on first examining her foot, there was actually tread marks across the top of it. I would have thought there might have been broken bones, so a trip to hospital was definitely necessary. >> PC Gavin has completed his statement from Lindsay. >> I'll have to speak with the driver. The book then gets sent off to the central um road traffic office. We don't have nothing to do with. They'll decide what they're going to do with the driver. >> Yeah, that's fine. >> No problem. >> Thank you. >> Right. So, you're not allergic to any medication? No. >> And you're not on any regular medication at the moment? >> No. And fit as a fiddle. >> That's a button I'm going to come to. past medical history that there normally fit is one we very very very very rarely use. Okay. It just isn't. You know yourselves in the jobs that you do being carers, don't you? >> Yeah. [Music] >> It's a short drive to the hospital. >> Yeah. Just pulling in there. >> It's really sad. I can recognize the rocks and bumps in the road. Doesn't matter which way I'm facing. Just recognize it. I'm not going to touch my Don't panic. >> Lindsay will now be taken to A&E to see if she has broken any bones. [Music] >> Well, our young lady was a bit unlucky, wasn't she? >> Yeah. She's managed to step out into the road and get her foot potentially run over by the lining. Looked like some definite marks on the top of the boot. >> Yeah. >> And her foot looked bruised enough. Fingers crossed it's just soft tissue damage, but potentially you could have metals in here. [Music] me and my other half at home like when we say like, "Oh, let's go to bed, right?" Get a bottle of water out the fridge or whatever to go to bed cuz you have to have something there during the night just in case >> you wake up with like a mouth full of cobwebs or something like >> um and then he'll turn the lights off, but then I can't see where I'm going. I don't know where he is. And I'm like that. I don't like this. >> Ain't it funny the stuff that you do? >> I still won't sleep with my feet outside the duvet. >> I have to have mine tucked in. >> Yeah, because I still think there's monsters under the bed that are going to grab it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Do you know what my other half does when I'm all night? Checks under the bed. >> I don't know why, but he checks under the bed. [Music] in Dudley. Keith Charro and Jamie Busby have just begun their shift. >> Good morning. Thank you. Whisper number 630. It's um Mary Hill. I don't know if you're aware of this lady. >> Yeah, we do. Thank you, mate. Um I've met Mary many a time. Um and I've seen the good and the bad of Mary. Um so we'll see what mood she's in today. Mary is one of several patients affectionately known as frequent flyers. In his three years with the West Midlands Ambulance Service, Jamie has often visited her. >> I've not been out to her for a week or so. >> Uh about 3 weeks for me. >> Keith has been with the service for 10 years. Plenty of time to know the regular patients. Well, >> we do in the main end up building quite a a good >> rapport with a bit of banter with Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, which is good cuz it helps them to assess them a little bit better and they they got confidence with us and they relax around us and we we normally resolved it quite well. [Music] >> Mary is bedbound. The crew is prepared knowing that years of heavy smoking have taken their toll. >> Hello Mary. >> Hello. Can you help me breathe? Hang on, darling. >> Hello, Mary. Hello, my sweet. How are you? >> Mary suffers from emphyma. Her breathing difficulties go back years. >> I haven't seen him for a long time. >> God bless you, darling. >> Oh, are we to see you? >> Hello. >> You look very well. >> You've got your nebulizers back. >> Yeah. >> Progress. >> Are you all right? >> Not too bad yourself? >> I'm not too bad. You burnt your table. Mary, can I just move Can I just move this table a little bit here, Mary? Would that be okay, my darling? Just so we can come and have a chat. >> Help yourself, sweeties. >> All right. Okay. >> The chocolates under those. >> So, what you going to be doing then? >> Well, >> what we normally do, we'll check you over. >> Nice and gentle >> as always. How have we been the last couple of weeks? >> I see my my comfortable. >> Can I pop this on your finger, Mary? I I know you know, but we still ask, don't we? >> Here we go, my sweet. >> The crew always carry out basic checks, even though today there appears not much wrong. >> Let's have a look. Looking ticky boo. Can I have a listen to your chest? >> That's fine. That's the best I've heard your chest for a while. >> Is it? >> Yeah. >> Good. >> Those nebulizers are working, aren't they? >> Yes. I have cut down a lot in my smoking. >> Oh, or is it the mint level? >> Too good to her rem. >> Sorry, Jamie. >> Completely over my heads. With regular patients such as Mary, it's still important to do the observations and check them over medically to make sure that they are well in case it's that one time that they are genuinely unwell. Um, I was glad to hear that she was starting to cut back on the cigarettes. However, I was concerned that she'd got singe marks on the duvet and quite a large bird mark on her bedside table. >> The carer's notes provide more information. >> It was this morning that you set fire to your table. >> Me? >> That's what it says here. >> I never set fire at the bloody >> That's what That's what the carers have said. >> Oh, I know. >> It says here Mary had set fire to table and burnt her bed sheets. To be fair, I'm not saying you've done it today, but that does look quite fresh, Mary. >> There we go. >> Your table, >> the burn >> the burn marks on your table. >> I did that today. >> Today? >> Yes. >> Yeah. It was a little bit, you know, untidy. >> You You're lucky cuz if that had gone up, you couldn't get anywhere, could you? >> That's true. Mary lost a leg four years ago after developing gang green and is reliant on carers and her husband Paul for what little mobility she has. >> Does your smoke alarm work? >> I was going to cuz obviously Mary's caught a table this morning and it's burnt a table and you'd have thought it would have gone off. >> Why didn't it go off? >> There we go. I have no idea. And obviously my only concern, Mary, is obviously the fact that you're stuck in bed. If that had have gone up or caught the bed sheets, you'd have been in a spot of bother, wouldn't you? >> It's extremely difficult to set fire to that bed, >> even though there's an all in the bottom sheet. >> But it's not so much the bedding, it's those nice fleecy pajamas. >> Should we all agree not to try? >> Well, so if they caught an ember, all they'd do, they they wouldn't burn. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> they'd turn to like a molten plastic >> and stick to the skin and it'd be >> That would be >> So, Mary, what I what I want to do is to make sure that you're as safe as can be as such is there's what's called um the the safe and well referral line to the fire service. And what it would be is I' I'd pass your details on, explain what's happened this morning with your table, etc. Um, what they do is they'd send one of their community safety team out. They'd come and have a chat with you and what they'd do is they'd look at or they'd see if there's any other ways to make you as safe as possible. So, it's free. >> As long as they don't come in here and say, "You must give up smoking." >> No, no, no. That's not my home. >> That's not what they do. What they're here to do is to try and make you as safe as possible in your house. Mary is a classic case of a non-medical patient that we go to quite regularly. Um, she was as a whole relatively medically well, but that wouldn't carry on if she kept smoking in bed with no fire alarms. Um, she was putting herself at risk. She wasn't overly happy with the fire safety teams coming out to see her, but we felt it necessary and quite important, so we got them involved. >> Bye then. >> See you soon. >> Having left Mary tucked up in bed safely for now, the crew have one more task to carry out. >> Oh, good morning. Good morning there. My name is Jamie Busby. I'm a paramedic with West Miland's Ambulance Service. I was hoping to be able to make a safe and well referral, please. Right. So, they've put the safe and well in the fact that she's had a fire as such in the house as well. I think they they're going to come out today and assess >> heightened awareness. >> So, can't know more than that, can we? >> Job done. The crew are on their way. >> Oh, she was rather pleasant today. She was very pleasant. Nice surprise. >> Um although I stink smoke now. [Music] [Applause] In Stoke on Trent, Dino Gould and Dave Trotter have just finished their lunch break and are back out on the road. >> How was your buddies? >> H quite nice to be fair. >> What did you have with it? Chicken >> wings. Couple of chicken drumsticks and >> chicken drumsticks. Former jeweler Dino has been a student paramedic for just over a year. >> Very synchronized. Y >> Dave is a clinical team mentor and has recently become a granddad for the first time. >> Yes. Don't go to sleep. >> No. No. Try my best. >> Try my best not to. >> They've just been alerted to their next job. >> Yeah. Medical symptoms there. Patient. Uh oh. 18month old little boy who query sector. >> Roger. Thank you. >> The call has come in from a medical center. Staff raised the alarm as soon as they saw their young patient. Sepsis can be extremely dangerous, especially in children. >> You have reached your destination. >> I'll do mate. >> The patient's mother, Ruth, is waiting outside, ready to bring baby Elijah straight on board. Ruth brought her 21-month-old son to the doctor just half an hour ago. On examining him, they called 999. >> Oh, dear. >> Worried he might have a life-threatening infection. >> And how long have you noticed he hasn't been himself? And >> since 9 10:00 this morning. >> Oh dear. >> It's like a pain, I think, cuz he keeps coming over in waves and then he'll like really scream and then he'll kind of start calming him down. Um but obviously he was breathing so fast and we got the doctors >> the doctor that was involved uh she was quite concerned that the patient could be uh showing signs of sepsis. The temperature was higher than what it should have been. >> Our main priority was to get Elijah to definitive care which was at hospital but obviously we we had to deal with his temperature initially. >> He's not happy. Bless him. >> I couldn't get his temperature down. It just didn't come down. H. You going to put your finger in here like a brave boy. >> I'm going to put it there. >> Good boy. Look at that. >> Oh, you are cooking hot, matey. >> Was he sent 41 something? 40.1. Sorry. >> I think we might have that t-shirt off possibly. He's cooking hot. >> That's it. >> He's very, very warm. Bless him. >> We've got a racing suit for you now, matey. >> Oh, yeah. your very own throne. >> Yeah. >> What we'll do, we'll get him in there and make him comfy and calm him down and then we'll >> we'll do some checks on him then. All right. >> Baby Elijah had been given Calpole at the medical center earlier to help reduce his soaring temperature, but it's still not shifting. Dave is unable to give Elijah any further medication since he already has the maximum dose in his system. >> A >> You've not noticed any new rashes or anyway? No, nothing. I've checked him over. >> Brilliant. >> All right, mate. >> I'm not really that scary, honest. >> Grandpa's going to meet us there. [Music] >> 35 39.5. So, we're still too wide. >> We'll get him in, Mom. Get him checked out. >> Thank you. >> See you on the other side. >> Indeed. Dave wants to make the ambulance as calm and relaxing for baby Elijah as he can. I saw some mood writing. [Music] >> He's been at my mom and dad's. They tried to give him a bit of breakfast. He wouldn't have any. I tried to give him a gingerbread man and he just >> was that when you knew he really wasn't well when he would decline the gingerbread man. >> Yeah. I did get to the point where I thought you love a gingerbread man. Well, it was the point he was holding the gingerbread man but he was sobbing into it at the same time. So, >> did it go soggy then? >> Yeah, it didn't. >> Elijah's been in an ambulance before as he recently had pneumonia. On top of that, mom Ruth has had her own share of health problems. >> Okay, just try and get in touch with that team. >> It work. >> Yeah, I had loads of days off though cuz I've just been in hospital. >> All right. I had surgery 10 days ago. That's our life. It's always a bit chaotic, isn't it? >> You're all right. I know you put a brain face on, but >> still not nice, is it? You know, you've seen it before. >> No, I could cry, but >> I don't want him to. >> Is it granddad that's coming or n granddad or grandad? Grandma's broke grand. >> Well, as a family, are you really? >> No. Dad's okay then. >> Oh, that's >> Well, he's just run the house for a week while I was in hospital. >> You did a better job than me, though, to be fair. >> Oh, don't tell him that. >> Well, I've said there's no excuses now. [Music] >> Oh, a very great partner. I'm sure you'll thank him. >> It's a 35minute drive to the hospital and Elijah sleeps soundly the rest of the way. >> Hello you. >> Hello. Oh, we're waking up now. >> Ready, boys? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He said your jerky driving was just what he needed to shake him asleep. He said >> jerky driving. >> Come to mommy. Elijah will be taken to Children's A and D where he'll be monitored by the doctors until his infection has been brought under control. As a family, mom was saying that they've been through quite a bit and >> Nan broke her ankle and that's why she wasn't coming to the hospital. She's recently had an operation for whatever reason and uh the young lad's been unwell earlier in the year. One thing after another with somebody in the family that they keep picking up to >> which isn't nice. >> No, mustn't. I hope they get back on the tracks and get some normality really. [Music] [Music] It's early afternoon and in Dudley, Simone Armfield and Clare Hunt are on shift together. Simone has been a qualified paramedic for 15 years. Trainee Cla is due to complete her training next month. Have you ever had that moment when you've been outside and you've tripped up or you fell over and you hope no one sees and you quickly jump up? >> I did. I did. Not long ago. I Somebody shouted me and I'd got some bags and I fell over. I could feel myself going to put my hands out and I had two bottles of wine in my bag and all I was thinking was, "Oh my god, my wine." [Music] Already on their way to a job, they're diverted to another. >> 57 57. We had to divert you to speak to case number 1425. We have got an 89y old female who apparently has had a fall last night. >> That's all received. Thank you. We're mobile on that case. [Music] >> What was the lady's name? So easy it [Music] [Music] >> 89year-old Edith is cared for by her son Andrew who lives nearby. >> Hello. You okay? He called for an ambulance when he popped in to check on his mom and found her on the floor. >> There we go. >> Hello, Edith. >> Hello, Edith. >> Hello, Edith. How are you feeling? >> Are you son, are you? Could you tell us what's going on? >> She fell out of bed. Um, she said she fell out in the night. I come in to check on her and she was on the floor. >> Okay. She's had no water or food. >> A Was she been on the floor since last night? >> Yes. >> So all night she's been on the floor. >> Have you got any pain anywhere? >> I don't know what it would be. >> She looks a bit red. Let's have a look. Let's have a look. >> Not there. >> Turn it over. Turn it over. Edith. >> Is that from your arthritis? Cuz you've got one there as well, haven't you? >> Oh, yeah. Can you move your wrist, Edith? >> Oh, dear. Did you break that one? Have you broken that one you said? >> Yeah. >> Is it all right if I just do your blood pressure and things? Is that all right? >> We didn't know how long Edith had been on the floor for and if she'd been on the floor for um a good few hours. Um it could have frightened Edith. We don't know if that was linked to her confusion or disorientation. >> When we first went into Edith because we knew she'd had a fall, our initial thing was obviously to see if there was any injuries. No bruises, no swellings. >> I want to go home. >> You want to go home? You are at home, Edith. >> I want to go to bed. >> You want to go to bed? Does she normally is she normally like this tired the way she spends a lot of time? >> Oh, does she? >> You've hurt your knee? >> Does she normally >> is everything >> complain the way she's complaining now? This is this is normal for her now. Do you want to try and sit up a bit? She did look a bit com we'll try and try and sit her up just to see. >> Edith, sit up for us. That's it. And >> a little back of you. >> She slice down. >> Yeah. There's no bruising. Nothing there. No bruising in your head. >> No, nothing. >> Edith, push your bottom back. >> One, two, three. Push your bottom back. >> Oh, brilliant. Is that any better? >> Is that all right? >> We couldn't see anything externally. We couldn't see any bruising, any swelling. She could move. Um, but obviously all the other things going on and her age and living on her own. She needed a checkup at hospital just and to get some bloods done. >> Edith, we need to get you onto this chair. Do you want to hold on to my elbow and lean on me? Okay. >> Lean on me as well. >> That's you're doing everything. Well done. >> There you go. >> There you go, Edith. This is right here. >> All the way back. >> Oh, >> I'm just going to lock up, make sure everything's off, and then come straight up to your mom. All right. >> Okie dok. >> Bye-bye. >> I'll see you in a bit. >> Have you lived here a long time, Edith? In your house at you now. >> Yeah. >> Right. Edith, the last move. We just need to get you onto our stretcher. Okay. >> It's getting lean on me. Is that song again? That's it. Edith, swing your bottom round. Lovely. Pop your bum. Oh, perfect. >> You can relax now, can't you? Somebody's going to be looking after you. All right. >> Thank you. >> Oh, that's nice. You relax now. >> Look at that, Edith. Is that better? >> She had those paracet. >> No, >> me. >> Oh, just drop you in. Hey, I'll leave you two girls together then and we'll we'll pop the new crop. >> Sorry, Ed. I'm going to lean over. >> Don't drive crazy. >> Don't drive crazy. >> I I'll go nice and steady. That's what she says. Edith, make sure you're all belated in. >> Do you trust her? >> Oh, I don't know. Do you trust her? Oh, here we go. >> Yeah, good to go. Here we go. Hold on tight. I would >> safely strapped into the bed in the ambulance, Edith is much more relaxed. >> Do you like your job? >> I do. I do. I enjoy my job. Yeah, it's um different. We have um obviously good days and bad days and we have a right range of jobs. >> Oh, which you do? >> Oh, we do. Yes. What job did you used to do >> in America? >> Oh, you worked in America. What did you do over there? >> I was automatic electric. >> Was you? And what did your husband do for work? >> He was a child. Oh, okay. >> He died over there. Okay. So, you move back here on your own with Andrew. >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> It takes under 10 minutes to get to the hospital. >> All right, Edith. Wasn't too bad. >> Wasn't too bad. >> Let's take all this off. >> Nothing. >> No, nothing. Edith, there we go. >> I only need a couple people. That's all. just nicked him. [Music] >> So, what time do you say he usually puts her to bed when she goes to bed? >> Um, I don't know. Well, I didn't catch that bit, >> but I know he said he found her at half 11 this morning, >> but it could have been absolutely >> anytime. It could have been 5 minutes after he put her to bed or anytime really. She doesn't know. >> I think that's why you need a pendant cuz it must have been horrible and scary being on there all night on her own. >> But he said he's going to um order one. >> Nice old lady there, weren't you? [Music] Stuff it in my eye and I don't know what. It's >> called your finger at the moment. >> Oh no, my finger's in there trying to get out whatever's in there. >> You got your eyeball eyelashes. >> Iris and retina. >> Who's Iris? What's her doing in your eye? >> Iris. I really can't see. >> That's going to be an issue. Is it? >> There is something in my eye. >> How are you going to get home if you can't see? Ow. You'll have to take me. You'll have to carry me to your car. No comment about the weight. [Music] >> It's a blustery day in Dudley where Olly Raven and V. Hodkins have just started their shift. >> You know, yesterday when I said that wind's a bit windy. >> Yes. I think that wind's a bit windier today. >> It does feel a bit windy. >> It's not an official storm though, is it? With the name. It was Storm Doris, wasn't it? Last October. Storm Doris. >> Storm Doris. I've been to a few Dorises in this job that were a bit stormy. >> Stormy. Yeah. >> Look at this. The storm has put a bin in the road. >> Cycling. Be careful. Be careful. >> Navigate that. >> Well done. >> That was close. >> Start of the shift. First job is uh category 3 63 year old male. Um he feels that his ankle has come out of joint. >> Yeah. >> He can walk but foot's gone white. Okay. He fell into his chair this morning. He's got pain in his groin when lifting his right leg. He's had a recent operation on his left hip. >> That sort of seems a bit weird, doesn't it? He went to hospital yesterday with pain in his left knee and he says that his right leg looks white compared to the left one and both feet are cold. So that sounds somewhat very complicated, doesn't it? >> Got a funny feeling this might not be all as it seems. I've been down this street before. I don't think it was for this man. I've been down this cresant before. Follow me. The door almost went then. [Music] >> Okay. Hello. It's a lady. >> Hello, sweetheart. >> Oh, don't call me. >> 85year-old Brenda shares her home with her 63year-old son, Steven. He called 999 worried about his ankle after having a fall. >> Hello. Is it Steven? >> Are you decent there? You got your pants on? Can we drop this towel over you? Pop that over you. I'm too young to see such things. Steven, I'm V. This is Ollie. Okay. So, what's going on? You've been at the hospital yesterday. >> I fell down at morning. >> Okay. You've got a lot of movement in that leg. >> But I think all that bone's gone in. >> No. Looks good to me. I tell you what, Steve, let's give you a check over. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Didn't you pop a finger in there for us, Steve? >> So, you fell back in the chair this morning. That's correct, isn't it? Okay. >> Let's just do your blood pressure. >> Let's have a check of your head. That's good. Shrug your shoulders for me. Shrug your shoulders. Good. Bring your toes up to the sky and point them like a ballerina now towards the television. You're fine. There's nothing wrong. There's nothing wrong. >> Steve, we have to think about when we call 999. Yeah, it's Listen, listen. It's important. We're here for life-threatening emergencies. >> We don't get fined for it. >> Well, you won't get fined for it, but we just need to think about what 999 is there for. It's there for strokes, heart attacks, serious blood loss, when someone's unconscious or when they can't breathe. Yeah. >> All right. Yeah, >> cuz while we're attending you, >> somebody might be having a heart attack or a stroke. >> Me mom said I will get into trouble. >> Well, I I How often are you having an ambulance out to you? >> Too much. >> Every day. >> Every day. >> Yesterday. >> The ambulance service when we have people calling inappropriately, they do look into it. Why do you think you've suddenly started being concerned for your health and calling us? >> Uh, I think I'm getting a bit confused. >> Okay. It is frustrating when people call for an ambulance when they don't need us. Um, same token, we have to be mindful that these people may be suffering mental health problems, be lonely or be anxious or something along those lines. >> With Steven, we could appreciate that what had happened had made him anxious and worried, but we had to make sure that we took the opportunity to educate him on the use of of the emergency services. >> Really seriously, I think your mom's right. When your mom says you don't need an ambulance, I think she's probably got the right judgment call of it. Yeah. Got to be careful. Haven't you? It's like the boy who cried wolf. >> Before they leave, V wants to see Steven walk to be 100% sure he's not hurt his ankle. >> Have you got some trousers you can put on just so that you're decent? >> Right. Better wearing your trousers and sat there with your meat and two veg hanging out. You embarrassed me, Steve, when I walked in. Let's just have take a few steps for me then. I just want to make sure that we're all okay. >> Look at that. That'll do me. >> Better than me. >> There you go. You can go back in your chair. >> Right. So, I'm more than happy. There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing wrong with you. >> Not with me back. >> No. I've had a good feel of everything. >> Yeah. >> No. If you've got a bit of pain, then some paracetamol as per the instructions on the box. >> So, can you get me some water off there and I'll take some. >> Can you >> Can you put some water in that dog? >> Yeah. Well, we can do, but obviously you are mobile and >> you don't want to ruin nothing, >> doesn't he? Maybe you need to give him a kick up the backside. >> Okay, so we're going to go cuz like I say, we're very busy. Please, please, please think about when you should and shouldn't be calling an ambulance. All right, which when I got pain, I'll take the painkillers. >> That's right. Yeah. So, unless it's something really serious. All the best then. >> Take care. Happy to meet you. >> Byebye, Brenda. Okay. >> Take care, my darling. All right. >> We see ourselves. >> All right. You make sure you tell him if he tries to call us when he shouldn't. All right. >> Listen to your mom. She know moms always know best. Okay. Take care then, Steve. >> As soon as they leave Stevens, their next emergency call comes through. [Music] I think when we walked in, Brenda was sort of almost not pleased to see us. Um, wasn't she? And sort of said, "He doesn't need you. I've told him to stop calling." >> Bit odd >> to make with a patient moving his knees around. I mean, almost >> more flexibility than myself. >> It It's just It's really hard for us, isn't it? When we're so busy, there is someone always sort of worse off, isn't there really? >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, you know, if our radios had gone shouting out for anybody available for a cardiac arrest that was around the corner, you know, we can't just walk out. I guess time will tell whether he listened or not. [Music] Lindsay, who had her foot run over by a bin lorry, spent the afternoon in hospital. X-rays didn't initially show any fractures, but a return visit a few days later revealed she had chipped a bone. She continues to have physio to strengthen her foot. [Music] Baby Elijah, whose rocketing temperature had caused concern that he might have sepsis, was seen by the pediatric team in the hospital. By then, the Calpole had kicked in and his temperature was back to normal. He was diagnosed with viral tonsillitis and discharged home to be looked after by his mom. 89year-old Edith had become very confused after falling at home. In hospital, MRI and CT scans showed no sign of injury, but she was diagnosed with a urinary infection which could well have caused her unsteadiness and confusion. She was treated with antibiotics and has had no further falls. Steven, who had been calling for an ambulance every day, was left at home with no sign of injury or illness. In the weeks after this visit, he called 999 three more times. Each turned out not to be an emergency. [Music] Mary who regularly called on the ambulance service had emphyma and breathing difficulties after many years of smoking. In the coming weeks she had several more visits from the paramedics until sadly 2 months on her condition worsened. She declined to go to hospital and passed away at home. [Music] [Music]