Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, raised the issue of ECA training and capabilities in Parliament last July: "A third issue that staff have raised with me is the medical qualifications of the emergency care assistants who drive the ambulance, which will be less than those of existing ambulance staff. That does not seem to be very safe, especially for complex problems or where more than one person has been injured, say in a car accident. Surely that marks a worsening of the service and patient care." Junior health minister Rosie Winterton wrapped her in warm flannel: "An emergency care assistant will be trained to the equivalent level of first aid responders and will also be qualified to drive an ambulance under blue light conditions. That was something that was changed during the pre-consultation period to ensure that an ambulance with a two-person crew would be available at all call-outs. I hope that that addresses my hon. Friend’s point." No, it doesn't. This is going backwards, not forwards. I've already delayed a decision about working in this area because of the govt's continual arsing about with the service's structure. If this goes through in my region (Southwest, who have done limited trials in Cornwall with ECAs), then I'll forget about applying to work for the ambulance service. I'll train as a nurse instead.