These Guys Saved My Life: Paramedics and The Welsh Ambulance Service

May 14, 2018

When you have suffered serious ill health, or have been involved in an accident, the paramedics of the ambulance service are always there for you as quickly as they possibly can be. One month ago three paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service came to my rescue.

The paramedics are unfailing in the treatment they give to people in need, and always transport them as quickly as possible to the nearest hospital.

So often the ambulance service seems to get a lot of bad press because we constantly see ambulances in news reports queued up outside hospitals, giving people, wrongly I might add, the excuse to criticise the service, and for maybe not attending a situation as quickly as they would like. This is sadly very misplaced. There is a massive combination of problems that result in ambulances waiting outside hospitals, which is often, if not all of the time, beyond their control.

On the occasion when I needed the assistance of the Welsh Ambulance service I have to say I have nothing but admiration and respect for the care and attention that they gave to me on the Monday evening in which I suffered a stroke. You can read all about this here: My 24 hours in resus.

To many this may seem a very extreme statement, the title of my post, but it was exactly how I felt at the time and since the incident. Yes compared to what happens to many people, whether it be ill health or an accident, what happened to me was not the most serious case that they would have to deal with, but it was to me,. The panic and feeling of disbelief at what was happening to me was sending me into shock and I started questioning my own mortality. A very scary time that I have absolutely no desire to repeat.

On that Monday evening just over a month ago three paramedics arrived at my home. Dan arrived first and instantly put me at ease, and started doing checks on me, which reassured me straight away. Shortly afterwards Roger and Gareth arrived, which totally put me at ease that I was in good hands, that everything was going to be ok.

I had a three hour wait in the ambulance outside the hospital, and at no point was I left alone. Either Gareth or Roger was always with me, allaying any fears or concerns I may have had.

A week or so later I was contacted by the Welsh Ambulance service, and asked if I would like to tell my story for their website, which would also involve meeting up with the paramedics Dan, Gareth and Roger at the Ambulance station for a catch up and some photos. This was a no-brainer for me! It would give me the opportunity to say thank you to the guys for taking care of me in my hour of need.

We can so often forget that when we are in need of medical attention, the first point of contact is a paramedic, and of course once they have handed over to the hospital they are moved onto their next emergency, more often than not they don’t get to find out the outcome of the people they help, and this must be frustrating, but I guess that’s the way it works. Having the opportunity to catch up and tell them that I am recovering really well was, I guess nice for them, as well as me.

I had a fantastic couple of hours with the lads, a great chat and I have to admit that the photo session was at times hysterical. Gareth, yes you really need to not to look at the camera when you are told not to haha! Saying that I’m not sure any of us are used to being photographed so much in the space of 30 minutes.

My admiration and respect for the paramedics of the Welsh Ambulance service is huge. They do a very tough job that I wouldn’t be able to do. They are often abused and treated disrespectfully when they are only there to help and to have to put up with people being rude is just unacceptable. It takes a very special person with qualities that most of us don’t possess, caring about people and always with a smile on their face.

I felt very privileged to meet up with Gareth, Roger and Dan to say thank you, because that evening you really did save my life. As I walked away from our meet-up the other day the emotion got the better of me and I shed a few tears, realising that without them it could have been a completely different story. I will be eternally thankful and grateful.

Please remember next time you see negative press reports of the Ambulance service which happens far too often I might add. Remember this! Without the dedicated men and women that are paramedics on the front line of the ambulance service, we might not get the care that at some point we all need in our lives at hospital. They are our first point of contact when it comes to helping us theough difficult times due to ill health. Please show them the respect they deserve.

Check out! The Welsh Ambulance service website

27 Comments

  • Enda Sheppard

    May 14, 2018 at 12:45 pm

    So true what an amazing job these guys do, and many more like them #GlobalBlogging

  • Tom Briggs

    May 14, 2018 at 6:19 pm

    It looks like you had a great time catching up with them and it’s really nice to see the emergency services getting the praise they deserve. They do an amazing job.

  • Liberty Henwick

    May 16, 2018 at 1:21 pm

    What a lovely story about a fantastic service although I’m sorry to hear you had such a fright. They sound like a lovely bunch of guys and I think I’d feel like I was in safe hands too. #globalblogger

  • Tom

    May 18, 2018 at 6:42 am

    So brilliant of you to meet them and share that appreciation. They do such an amazing job. They’re saving lives for gods sake!! It doesn’t get bigger than that!!

  • Chloe

    May 18, 2018 at 6:59 am

    How lovely that you got to meet them again in person and help promote the wonderful job that they do #thatfridaylinky

  • Rich Sayers

    May 18, 2018 at 7:15 am

    It’s nice to hear a good story about some part of the NHS for a change. I’m glad you’re OK mate

  • Tash

    May 18, 2018 at 7:43 am

    Such a great post! Its so nice to see Paramedics getting acknowledged & appreciated. The stuff they see and deal with is so full on, I couldn’t imagine being in that kind of work. So very glad you are ok too! #ThatFridayLinky

  • Maria | passion fruit, paws and peonies

    May 18, 2018 at 8:30 am

    Love this post and I agree wholeheartedly – these guys do an incredible job xx

  • Veronica Lee

    May 18, 2018 at 9:19 am

    How wonderful that you got to meet them again in person and so glad you are OK. They are amazing!
    #thatfridaylinky

  • Daddy Poppins

    May 18, 2018 at 10:30 am

    These guys are amazing. Well done them and we’ll sone You for shouting it from the rooftops

  • Jamie Moss

    May 18, 2018 at 10:40 am

    That’s pretty terrifying. Glad the level of care you received was so good and hope you’re on the mend. Those guys do a phenomenal job.

  • David Pearson

    May 18, 2018 at 11:25 am

    I have the utmost respect for all first responders in emergency situations. They are heroes. Why people feel it’s okay to abuse, even assault them, is beyond me. It’s not just a job to them, it’s a vocation.
    #thatlinkyfriday

  • Tracy Albiero

    May 18, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    I bet they are just as happy to see you as you are them! I saved a man from drowning many years ago. Two weeks later he showed up with flowers as a thankyou! He has a siezure conditon and I was so happy to see him. I am glad you are well! #thatfridaylinky

  • Laura – Autumn’s Mummy

    May 18, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Thank goodness for paramedics, they’re such wonderful people. I’ll never forget the ones that came to see Autumn or the ones that rushed her up to London in the middle of the night when she couldn’t breathe. I have such gratitude for them. #ThatFridayLinky

  • Noleen Miller

    May 18, 2018 at 2:06 pm

    I love it when I read these kind of post. It’s not often when essential service like paramedics, police, nurses, firemen etc get recognition for the great work they do. They are selfless heroes #globalblogging

  • Wrae Sanders

    May 18, 2018 at 2:10 pm

    First responders have a tough job. That’s really awesome of you to thank them like this.

  • Michele Morin

    May 18, 2018 at 2:13 pm

    Credit where credit is due!
    My son is a first responder, and this has opened my eyes to the incredible gift these people are to our communities.

  • Jeremy@ThirstyDaddy

    May 18, 2018 at 5:32 pm

    very cool Nige. It was have been a bit emotional meeting up with these guys again #thatfridaylinky

    1. Jeremy@ThirstyDaddy

      May 18, 2018 at 5:33 pm

      *must have been* sorry about that

  • This Scribbler Mum

    May 18, 2018 at 9:06 pm

    Great post! It is unfortunate that when you hear about them in the news, it’s usually focused on the negative. The importance of the job that they do should be highlighted more. #ThatFridayLinky

  • Enda Sheppard

    May 18, 2018 at 11:58 pm

    Well worth publicising. What great work these guys do #ThatFridayLinky

  • Heather Keet

    May 19, 2018 at 10:10 am

    I do think people are so quick to put out a bad story but then forget to tell the positive stories. So glad they were able to get your medical treatment to ensure you are healthy. I’ve needed an ambulance more than once in my life and I have nothing but gratitude for the incredibly difficult job they do. And you are so right, many times when things go wrong it is completely out of the crew’s hands. #GlobalBlogging

  • Confessions of a New Mummy

    May 19, 2018 at 10:26 pm

    Sorry to hear you have been so unwell, what a fright for you all. How lucky you are to be able to say thank you to them. Its so important to thank them and give the NHS recognition amongst the bad press we see so often. #thatfridaylinky

  • Jo – Pickle & Poppet

    May 20, 2018 at 10:21 pm

    I hate seeing negative comments about the ambulance service. They are not responsible for the queues outside hospitals they are simply trying to cope with it. I have only used the ambulance once with Jessica and they were absolutely amazing. I had 100% confidence we were in the best hands possible!
    It must have been lovely to meet the guys that came out to you #ThatFridayLinky

  • The Out Of Depth Dad

    May 23, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Great post! The staff of the NHS do such amazing work! They’re real heroes! Thanks for sharing #ThatFridayLinky

  • The Out Of Depth Dad

    May 23, 2018 at 1:45 pm

    Great post! The staff of the NHS do such amazing work! They’re real heroes! Thanks for sharing #ThatFridayLinky

  • Musings of a tired mummy…zzz…

    May 25, 2018 at 9:00 pm

    Well done for raising awareness of the brilliant work the NHS does every single day. Hope you are on the road to a full recovery #thatfridaylinky

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