BBC Ambulance: Documentary gives insight into control room responding to critical incidents in capital

Crews from the UK’s busiest ambulance service rush to a high street shooting in Clapham that has left multiple patients injured in the latest episode of ‘Ambulance’.

Tonight’s episode of the BAFTA winning series focuses on London Ambulance Service’s tactical operations centre in Waterloo which works around the clock to accelerate responses to the largest and most critical incidents in the capital.

A call is received from The Metropolitan Police with reports of a shotgun fired at Clapham Common. As information comes in, Operational Delivery Manager Pete Crean sends multiple crews to a rendezvous point where they await for the arrival of a police armed response vehicle.

In the show, Pete said:

“You’ve got to make some really quick decisions. Seconds really matter. They add to patient care. They add up to saving lives.”

Crews treat three people at the scene before taking two patients to major trauma centres, which can treat serious injuries like gunshot wounds and stabbings, and one patient to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, with just one hour remaining of a busy day shift, Westminster crewmates Omar and Kez are sent to a motorbike crash outside Kilburn Underground Station as 999 calls frantically continue to come in.

With reports that the patient may have suffered a leg fracture, Pete and the team in the tactical operations centre deploy advanced paramedic Dave, who is able to deliver stronger pain relief.

On their next shift in Marylebone, Omar and Kez stem the bleeding from a patient’s head injury while the patient expresses frustration at getting older.

After dropping the patient safely at hospital, Omar reflects on his role. He said: “Every time I go to a patient who is elderly, I just think, one day this is going to be me. This job has shown me that life is fleeting. It’s taught me to appreciate everybody and show love whenever you can.”

Later in the show, Brent crewmates Bea and Adrian attend an 82-year-old male who has fallen at home in north-west London. They’re greeted by the patient’s wife, who is relieved to see the crew arrive to help her husband. They find the patient on the floor in his bedroom, unable to get up. It’s the first time the patient has fallen, and the incident serves as a difficult reminder to his family that he is getting older.

Pauline Cranmer, Chief Paramedic at London Ambulance Service, said: “Every day in London our crews have to prepare for the unexpected as different emergencies unfold across the beating heart of the capital. However, no matter what the emergency is they are always there to help our patients.

“Our paramedics and call handlers can be treating traumatic injuries – whether that’s because of a shooting, a stabbing, a serious crash – or providing care to people in their own homes. As you’ll see in the episode, our crews have to adapt to meet the challenges of a rapidly aging population. Their skills, compassion and pride in caring for our vibrant city always shine through.”

The series airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available on iPlayer. The shows, produced by Dragonfly Film and TV, part of Banijay UK, put a spotlight on the challenges paramedics at London Ambulance Service face as they care for more than 9 million Londoners.

For more information about career opportunities at London Ambulance Service visit our careers page on our website.