I sympathize. I've never yet done a transfer (blue light or not) where the patient was actually ready for us, despite the claim "The patient is ready to travel now". You can always assume that you will be waiting around at hospital for at least 45 minutes. Then if you're really lucky, just as you're about to load the patient the anaethestist who has to travel says "I must have a paramedic to assist me if anything goes wrong"; even though it didn't occur to them to specify this (unnecessary) requirement when the transport was booked. Mind you, it is amusing to see the look of near terror on the faces of these alpha-males (& females) when they get in the back of an ambulance and realize that they might have to do all the work themselves if things go pear-shaped instead of having half-a-dozen lackeys running around for them. btw - could anyone let me have a recording of "that" episode of "Tonight with Trevor McDoughnut"? I was working that night and I'd like to see the program that by all accounts suggests that EMTs are barely capable of tying their own bootlaces.