As usual, a good thoughtful posting. It is interesting that ambulance staff are beginning to experience this problems that are faced regularly by Jobbing GPs. You take a history. You examine the patient. You make a judgement in good faith. You don't always get it right. If something goes wrong or you make a judgement that ends up with somebody being harmed, you might be hammered for it. I was interested in your 'putting another professional' between the patient and you. We get quite a few calls to ask us to check patients over, and I've often thought that this is a "covering your arse" tactic. You have confirmed this. I'm not angry or surprised. I have met loads of ambulance people and, by and large, you do a terrific job. But it makes more work for us. There is a culture of trying to find blame if something goes wrong. People sometimes forget that "shit happens" Have a nice day - its raining here. JD.