Should the Emergency Services be merged?

[mammutly]

I've been thinking about this for awhile.

They already have a shared initial point of contact via the 999 number and it makes no sense to have 3 separate control and administration structures when one could do the job equally as well.

In fact, the response to emergencies would be improved and the cost savings would be immense. Significant incidents are often attended by the police, ambulance and fire services, yet they all arrive separately. Surely it would make more sense for them to travel together. There would then be no need for timewasting radio and phone chatter because coordination could take place in real time - time which at the moment is largely wasted in being devoted just to travel. That's even without considering the environmental benefits.

I think this is something the government should be looking at and I intend to write to my MP about it.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

Can't we just give the paramedics a bucket of water and a truncheon ?

 

[Notinmylifetime]

I've been thinking about this for awhile.

They already have a shared initial point of contact via the 999 number and it makes no sense to have 3 separate control and administration structures when one could do the job equally as well.

In fact, the response to emergencies would be improved and the cost savings would be immense. Significant incidents are often attended by the police, ambulance and fire services, yet they all arrive separately. Surely it would make more sense for them to travel together. There would then be no need for timewasting radio and phone chatter because coordination could take place in real time - time which at the moment is largely wasted in being devoted just to travel. That's even without considering the environmental benefits.

I think this is something the government should be looking at and I intend to write to my MP about it.

Good idea but why stop half way? Why not have just the one vehicle with firefighters, police and paramedics all crammed in as well? Maybe use a hearse so if the worse comes to the worse, cut the middle men out and drive straight to the cemetry? Put bars on it and straight off to the nick if need be too? Wheres my patent attorney?

 

[maineman]

Can't we just give the paramedics a bucket of water and a truncheon ?

don't tell scumeron or it will be selservative policy

 

[mammutly]

Can't we just give the paramedics a bucket of water and a truncheon ?

Services these days are quite specialist and, although I agree there is room for more overlap, hence my suggestion, neither one could actually replace the other.

 

[The perfect fumble]

Can't we just give the paramedics a bucket of water and a truncheon ?

don't tell scumeron or it will be selservative policy

They could deliver meals on wheels as well, and maybe a paper round, clean windows, pick up litter, issue parking tickets and in their spare time do a bit of air traffic control.

 

[rushts]

Could also involve the AA, they're the fourth emergency service.

 

[Rascal]

Can we privatise them and give ATOS or G4S the work?

 

[mammutly]

Could also involve the AA, they're the fourth emergency service.

Actually, that's not a bad idea. At the moment there are 3 lots of mechanics - one working in each service. If my ideas were implemented there would be a lot of spare capacity and offering a new service like breakdown recovery might avoid the need for redundancies.

 

[yerwot?]

just give them all to g4s, they could downsize, outsource to their heart's content, any death's and it is just 'collateral damage'. Progress.