Hi DSO! I was hoping you'd comment. I agree with the BMJ bit - I'd like to read the whole thing. But I'd disagree that it isn't science; it's sociology (or some such). The 30 minutes at hospital thing, sure it's too long - but do you really think that the people who sit at hospital for 30 minutes are going to become available 5-10 minutes sooner? Being realistic, I'd say that 'at hospital' times are going to remain the same. The reason why we should do it is because it's our responsibility to ensure our patient's safety. We do one job at a time, and that's our strength. And yes, it's partly because I can't always trust the nurses to do what I think is the right thing. We all know that we should leave another medical professional between us and the patient, by booking the patient in we *prove* that we have taken them to hospital. (And yes, that's horribly legal-cover-your-arse, but there you go). What next? Do away with the clinical handover - I mean, nurses are able to do that, and it'll be as if the patient just rolled up under their own steam - so they won't get that 'special treatment'. I don't like it because it puts the patient, and us at risk. It's why I don't walk 'regular drunk #3' of the night straight into the waiting room because I know that that one patient will be the one that dies. And then what? Pressure to try and reduce the time on scene? All because the government won't pay for the service that is needed.