Sunday 8 November 2009

Curry

Our friends arrive for a night at Chez RRD, takeaway curry. The phone doesn't ring! We decide what to order (that takes a while) - the phone remains silent. Mr A drives off to get the curry (the restaurant's car has broken down, so sorry, no delivery tonight). No calls. We start the repast, a fine spread!! Still we are not disturbed. Then, just as I breathe a sigh pf relief, as the last of the CTM is mopped up with the final piece of peshwari naan, my phone goes off. A job about 20 minutes away. A car has hit a tree, and the driver is unconscious.

I learn something this evening: it's not easy to bend down to tie the shoelaces of your brand new, free(!) Magnum boots with a gut full of curry! It's even harder sliding down a ditch to help get a now fully conscious, if rather inebriated, driver out of a Peugeot. And, don't get me started on the journey to the hospital...

Tomorrow - Chinese!!!

17 comments:

  1. LMAO does the ambulance now smell of regurgitated curry

    ReplyDelete
  2. fortunately not!! But it was a close thing...

    ReplyDelete
  3. God, don't post the story when you guys decide to have mexican...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Have you tried Sea Bands? They're the only thing that stops my eldest puking all over cars and buses, and seem to help no matter what way she faces. They're easy to keep in a pocket and slip on when needed, as well.

    Just a thought ....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi, I have been following for a bit and love your writing.

    And I am never sure which is worse, being full on a call like that, or being so hungry on a call I can feel my stomach trying to eat me as we bump along.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Having been a Basics doctor since the mid/late 70's and been to thousands of calls, I feel your comments are an affront to our service. They inane and very childish and not what I would expect a doctor, and I presume you are one, to be airing. Grow up sonny boy and act like a responsible adult

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alan I am stunned.
    There are 63,770 views to RRD's blog. Most of the comments have been appreciative of the effort that he and other BASICS doctors put in, mostly unknown to the general public. Let's face it, Alan, how many people know of the work, or even the existence of BASICS, the charity or the doctors who volunteer for the charity? Certainly, in our area, BASICS was almost unheard of, before RRD began campaigning. RRD works tirelessly to promote the charity and ALL its doctors and the selfless work you all do. He has been on radio several times, explaining what they do, has raised thousands of pounds for the charity, and is constantly trying to bring the service into the public domain. This is the only way to have more funding for the equipment, and indeed more doctors to save lives. If you do not recognise that this blog is an inciteful and amusing way of doing all those things I am surprised. Shame on you for not seeing past the humour and only seeing fit to criticise.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Alan, and welcome to my blog.

    Everyone is able to have their own views - that is part of the wonder of the blogging world. Yes, I am childish and inane. Tell me, Alan, how do YOU cope with the death of a 14 year old girl? Or the death of a 5 year old? I only have two ways - go crazy, or ease the pain with a healthy dose of humour. If that offends, then I am sorry. There are plenty of other blogs that you are free to visit. However, if you can look at what I do and see yourself, some 30 years ago, struggling to cope with the injustices of life and death, then please visit again.

    ReplyDelete
  9. As an avid reader of the Blog, I feel that I must defend RRD against the undeserved and frankly childish comment by "alan"
    No one forces him to read and there are hundreds of people who do find the blog interesting and amusing - relating the darker side of the job with a pinch of good ol' NHS humour!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Whilst I accept that everyone is entitled to their own opinion I have to question "Alan's" attitude.

    He has moved with the times with regards to technology. The internet has become a popular way to educate and inform and "Alan" has demonstrated this by replying to this blog.

    What suprises me is that his attitude ( read stuffy doctor) seems to be sadly back in the 70's!!!

    If he is so against what it is that RRD does - then I would be grateful is he could give us an insight into what it is he does to promote BASICS, educate the public and indeed cope with the often sad and traumatic incidents we have to deal with...

    My blood is officially boiling!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Alan

    Your commitment obviously knows no bounds, but when you refer to yourself as a BASICS doc circa 1970s (mid to late) where the hell where you when we needed you?

    With respect, you are talking bollocks. I submit that you are possibly a GP at the side of the road, happy to let the crew of the 'blood buggy' go about their business.

    Mr & Mrs RRD I apologise for my language, but in the eighties, a RRD was not a species I was aware of. Please correct me if I am wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am not at all suprised at Alan's comments. Not suprised, but disappointed.

    I know there are a generation of Dr's practising who probably feel that the medicine, the surgeries, the technology, the service, the needs of the service, the gratitude and the pillar of society label from back in the day, have all changed too much for them to question whether continuing to pay for thier registration is worth it.

    I wonder from Alan's comments which of those changes he finds most reprehensible and which ones he values?

    In one entry Alan, you have managed to devalue not only your own efforts as a doctor over the years, but also those of any other critical care Dr or a Dr involved with BASICS.

    Shame on you, Alan. Either move into the new century, or retire with some grace left.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Alan if you are for real then you should be ashamed. Mr RRD gives freely and tirelessly of his time, compassion and critical care pre A&E arrival and makes a huge difference to countless ordinary peoples lives. His sense of humour is a lovely way of dealing with unimaginable levels of stress. Mr RDD, Sir, i am an avid reader of your blog i am in awe of your humbleness and the compassionate way in which you give much needed support and critical care to ordinary people at a time of great need. As i've said before i just wish that you could be everywhere, you make a huge, huge difference to countless people in a time of great need. You could never truely know how precious and needed you are and the huge, huge difference that you make. I hope that both you and Mrs RDD are able to dismiss bobbins comments of Alan's ilk out of hand and remember that there are many thousands of people out here who are right behind you and appreciate all that you do both in raising the profile of BASICS and in giving of yourself to give critical care and compassion in a time of great need. My family did not have a Mr RDD when we faced tragedy but it comforts me that other people will have a Mr RDD. I so hope that you and Mrs RDD know how precious and much needed you are and that there are many, many people who think you are amazing and enjoy your sense of humour recognising it as being a healthy way of staying sane. Mr RDD you are the best!, love Lois x

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, all you, I am stunned by the support from out there. Folks, just to set the record straight, BASICS had its roots in the mid-60's, in Catterick, and by 1967 had a total of 34 GPs and hospital doctors covering 1000 square miles.

    Many of the BASICS doctors to day are GPs, often in rural areas of the UK, where their assistance proves invaluable to the Ambulance Services around the country.

    I am sure Alan provides a sterling service in whichever area of the country he works, and that should be in no way denigrated.

    I will carry on writing in my own way, as long as there are readers out there who want to read it, and, to be honest, even if there were none!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Alan,

    I feel your very comment was, as you said 'childish.' I struggle, first of all, to see exactly which comments exactly are an 'insult' to BASICS, an organisation I'm very proud to be a [student] member of.

    Whilst you may have been a member some 35 years longer than me, and no doubt understand the workings of it to a far greater extent than myself, having worked in an active capacity, I personally feel that your comments are an insult to the organisation, if anyone's.

    In my humble opinion, RRD always offers a fair sided discussion and refrains from making inappropriate comments despite dealing with sensitive subject matter - there are certainly worse blogs out there!

    I wouldn't speculate as to why you left such a personal comment as that would be unprofessional, an idea you are clearly not familiar with.

    I will, however, say this: as a medical student, based on the evidence I've seen through this blog, I know who I look up to.

    Thanks, keep up the blogging and the good work RRD, you're a real role model.

    Matt.

    ReplyDelete
  16. As his Dad, Alan, call 999 and then go and put your head in the nearest gas oven, please. See how quickly anyone will come to your rescue; quite slowly on a push bike, if they've read your inane comments!!

    No-one could be prouder of the work he does, the compassion he displays and the way he writes, than his dear old dad; and I guarantee I started well before you as a caring professional!!

    ReplyDelete