Have you been checking ISPs or something?? Cos I sometimes have a read when I'm at work, so that'll show up as a Govt Dept - but it's not DH so I'm not really much use!

Let's have a punctuation target of 100% correctly used apostrophes.

it's no good you posting that, because we are all incompetents with no public service ethic who are, in fact, hell bent on getting you personally.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but what actually happens if ambulance staff fail to reach the eight minute target on a regular basis? Do you get disciplined? We have targets at work, but if we document why they were unachievable on a case by case basis we don't get any grief. It only becomes a performance issue if we have no sensible reason for not achieving a target.

The previous blogs on old people and care homes make me feel sad. Some carers are great and some are awful. I have a friend with MS and he was actually scared of one of his visiting carers. She was more than neglectful, she actually bullied him.

This really is clutching at straws now and please excuse the interuptuion but...
I've been kicked back from an application to be a paramedic with the LAS because I have 6 points on my driving licence when the max is 3. It was all speed camera's - twice in one week, argh. Before anyone starts; I hold a RoSPA advance licence and stressed that the points meant nothing as far as my road usage is concerned. The points don't come off till 2010! I've already tried applying regardless with a cover letter. Any suggestions?

They probably knocked you back because you think the plural of 'camera' is 'camera's'.

Sorry, but it's National Apostrophe Week.

I'm going to apply in Quebec then, they don't have plural there anyway 'One of our teacher told us'.

I'm DEEPLY sorry, as you may know, we are speaking french in Québec. Its obviously a shame I'm making some mistake in a language who is not my mothertongue...

No, fair play and good point. I will retreat from that one, as it was a low blow. Though I did detect a hint of sarcasm in your post...
Thanks for considering the predicament anyway guys.

My only suggestion would be to wait till the points come off. After all, if their rules state a maximum of three points, I can't see any way to get round it.
It's not as if they are short of applicants, using the number of points on a licence is probably a convenient way (no doubt one of many) for them to shorten the number of successful applicants.

I can't really help I'm afraid - the human resources people make the rules. If they are unimpressed by the cover letter then I have no idea what you can do.

Sorry.

Don't forget to to omit the human from human resources !

I'm studying to become a paramedic in quebec city, Canada. One of our teacher told us: "Your worst nightmare is a MD on your scene." I was told that less than half of the MD keep their CPR up to date. I could easily imagine an OB-GYN on a car crash...

Also, I was very touched by your account of the old person, alone. I met a lady, the other night in the A&E, actually pleased to be in the waiting room, so she could talk to someone.. Saaaad...

Bonne Chance Ben.
Don't worry about not having 100% english. There's many in England who can not speak their mother-tongue correctly let alone something like french ;0)