We have these 'probationary technicians' although they have a slightly different name, and I have to say, I can't remember the last time I was crewed with someone fully qualified. I'm a Paramedic, but I miss the feeling of having another brain to fall back on as I am nearing the end of my 5th 12 hour shift. They are useful in some cicumstances, but I personally feel that this is a cheap cop out that has been tried and tested and has failed miserably. It's not fair on them, us, and the patients. As for the RRVs...the same model has been implemented in our service and there are positives and negatives. I agree with the comment about Techs on cars. I think one of the most important drugs our Techs used to be able to give is Diazepam, and it's been taken off them. They too can sit with a fitter for 45 minutes because there are no double crewed vehicles to back up. That's if control remember to send one. There have been far too many times recently when they have 'forgotten'. Inexcusable. With the comment about the dispatchers sending the relevant resource, eg a Paramedic, to certain jobs.....the information is rarely correct that they (and therefore we) get through! How many 'unknown problems' have been a drug overdose or cardiac arrest? I think the switch to Paramedic is a tough one, especially like Tom was saying...hardly any financial difference yet a lot more responsibility. However, the frustration is a lot less when you know you can give the drug/intervention. There is a tendancy to mess around on scene a lot more, I agree, but as long as this is kept in mind, it's generally not a bad role (except for the politics). I love the job, but I hate that I have been forced into a) doing shift patterns I don't want to (and having my annual leave chosen for me) and b) that I can't work with qualified members of staff anymore. But to be honest, I can't think of anything else I would want to do. So why am I so tired and miserable?! I think, like LAS, we will eventually go back to just Techs and Paras. I can't wait. I don't mind the RRV too much, although feel a little unsafe in some circumstances (a recent job to a wrist injury was 5 very very drunk men being completely loutish and sexually inappropriate and explicit. I did NOT feel comfortable).