In the LAS we have a thing called the 'high risk address' register - it's where we make note of any houses where an ambulance staff has been abused or attacked. We put addresses on it ourselves after the fact. It's something that will be part of a larger post sometime this week.

It was no surprise to see our current call tripping the alarm, I'd put it on there myself.

The woman who lives in the flat suffers from some pretty severe mental health problems, the flat is always a tip and she calls us for some rather strange reasons. I'd been to her when she had thought she was pregnant, about twelve months pregnant. I'd done nothing to provoke her, but her and her boyfriend had started shouting and screaming at us, so we'd retired to a safe distance; then called the police who calmed the situation down. I'd then filed the paperwork and the address was duly marked.

So we found ourselves parked up the road waiting for the police to come. We'd been called because she was 'hearing voices', then she'd told the calltaker that she had knives in the house.

Yeah - I'm brave, but I'm not stupid.

So we waited for the police, for they are braver than me and have much more experience in dealing with aggressive people in a 'physical' manner than myself.

They soon arrived, two officers, both about the same size as me. I may not have much of an ego, but even so it can be a bit bruised if I find myself hiding behind two female officers who are five foot nothing. Especially considering that they could probably 'take me out' in short order.

The police knocked on the door, I cowered behind them. Our patient opened the door with a smile.

"Come in, sit down", she said joyfully.

We walked into the flat - you couldn't pay me to sit down, it was a little tidier than before, but not by much.

"I'm fine now, I found my pills".

A little chat and we filed out of the house.

It's embarrassing when you ask for the police and don't need them - though they never moan about being used unnecessarily, it just feels like you are wasting their time.

But in this case it saw the officers off duty without having to fill in reams of paperwork, so it wasn't all bad.

I wonder how she'll be the next time I see her?