Table 2
Final opinions of respondents to the second questionnaire
| Median score (MS) | Interquartile range (IQR) | |
|---|---|---|
| 0=Strongly disagree 9=Strongly agree. | ||
| Dispatch criteria | ||
| Paramedic (ALS) unit sent to all calls | 0 | 1 |
| ALS unit to all category A and B calls only | 4 | 4.5 |
| ALS unit to all category A and selected category B calls | 9 | 2 |
| Technicians with automated external defibrillator (T-AED) unit to selected category A and B calls and all C calls | 8 | 3 |
| A first responder unit ( with BLS skills only) can be sent to selected category C calls | 4 | 3 |
| A first responder unit to all category C calls | 0 | 3 |
| An assumed or confirmed cardiac arrest should receive an automatic additional response from other units | 7 | 3.5 |
| Transportation criteria | ||
| After assessment by an ALS unit, certain category B patients can be handed over to a T-AED unit for transportation to hospital | 8 | 2 |
| After assessment by an ALS unit , certain category B and all category C patients can be handed over to a T-AED unit or first responder unit for transportation to hospital | 8 | 2 |
| Development of advanced skills for paramedics | ||
| A number of paramedics within a system should have additional skills to perform endotracheal intubation using anaesthetic agents | 7 | 4 |
| Paramedics should be taught to carry out and interpret 12 lead ECGs for patients with chest pain | 9 | 4 |
| Paramedics should be taught to carry out thrombolysis for patients with confirmed acute myocardial infarction on a 12 lead ECG | 7 | 4 |
| Development of a first responder system | ||
| A first responder system should be trained and fully integrated into an EMS system | 9 | 2 |
| Should be employed solely by the ambulance service | 1 | 7 |
| Should be made up partly of members of the voluntary services | 5 | 3.5 |
| Should include members of the police service with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) | 6 | 4 |
| Should include members of the Fire Service with AEDs | 6 | 4.5 |
| Should include trained members of the local community | 8 | 4 |
