Paramedic Says He Was Criticised For Stopping To Get Something To Eat

You'd think that everyone knows how hard paramedics work and that, like any worker, they're entitled to a break to get something to eat during their shift.

However, two ambulance workers have opened up about how they were criticised while stopping to grab a bite to eat while working.

Paramedic Tim Hargreaves and ambulance technician Kiri Howard stopped to get some chips during a designated meal break when a passer-by piped up to say: "I had to wait for an ambulance, nice you have time to eat."

Tim told the Leicester Mercury: "It was an off-the-cuff comment, which we overheard. It was clearly directed at us and we thought, 'that's not very nice'. We'd been going for six hours without a break."

He added: "We don't like if people are disappointed with the service they received from us, that hurts. We don't know their circumstances, all I can say is we were probably very busy.

"If they'd asked to talk to us we would have explained."

He added: "We've got to look after ourselves, to be able to keep on going. The majority of our crews do a 12-hour shift.

"Anybody that works on the front-line ambulance service or the blue light services are there because they care. They want to be able to help the public.

"We are all here to care and comments like the one we received really do smart."

The pair had been put on a break by control, but five minutes into their meal they were called to an emergency job after someone had a heart attack.

"We dropped everything, binned our food and went out," Tim explained.

Thankfully, the incident had a 'positive outcome', according to Tim, who has worked for the service for 19 years.

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Tim said that although this is the first time he's experienced a negative comment from a member of the public, he does know colleagues who have dealt with similar.

After writing about the experience on social media, Tim was flooded with positive comments from people praising him and Kiri for their hard work, telling them they're 'only human'.

One wrote: "Self-care is so important. You can only continue to do the brilliant job you do on a 'full tank'."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, NHS

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19