The concept of the RRU/RRV/RFU was in essence initially sound....getting a trained professional to potentially seroius patients with a view to starting life saving treatment. Back up crew would be dispatched once one had "greened up" after doing the transfer/admission/outpatient after treatment discharge/inappropriate job. When I first started on the RRV we were given extra training and equipment...we were also all paramedics. Control soon cottoned on that we could just be used for cover while crews were given even more transfers/admissions/outpatient stuff etc etc. Waiting for a back up crew when you are in a resus situation can be difficult to say the least. Then with an even greater emphasis on pleasing the Great God "Orcon", we were used as racing cars to beat the clock regardless...a situation made much much much worse with the preposterous AMPDS system. (AMPDS should be sued under the trade description act!!!) This then brought the introduction of anyone being allowed to man the RRVs....station cleaner and cat included....with the supporting training being diluted...and the inclusion of staff on return to work programmes (as the cars were seen as easy...some people did indeed swing the lead and skived but then this is down to having no system of quality control.) As ambo people we all know to cover our arses with the paperwork....but how far do we take our responsibility for the patient. Just because we are called to them does not mean we are responsible for them for the rest of their life. As was mentioned in a previous reply we should refer onto other agencies if appropriate. I, like most of my colleagues, treat for the worst and err on the side of caution. Education of the public should be more high profile rather than just at local level (if this is carried out at all anywhere?).