I suspect the nub of this issue is whether or not a paramedic MIGHT have been able to provide pre-hospital thrombolysis, whereas the EMT would not have been authorised to do so ? Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is approximately 40 miles away from Fraserburgh, a very long way to transport a critically ill patient. The media report claims the patient collapsed, so it is unclear if an anti-platelet, like aspirin, could have been given irrespective of whoever was at scene ? It may surprise some people but the NHS has been cited as the best service in the world when it comes to managing heart attacks. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7557/11-b?rss Despite these advances approximately 1 in 3 still die from a heart attack within 24 hours, increasing to 50% after one month. There are around 120,000 fatalities each year [after MI]. http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/heartattack.shtml I must admit I can't help but feel a weary sense of deja vu whenever I hear that a health spokesperson [in this case Cathy Jamieson] calling for an 'investigation'. If in doubt why not let the 'suits' waste time and money [on gathering pointless factoids] so they can then issue fresh instructions to front line staff - of course, these new instructions will be almost identical to the concerns we have been trying to tell THEM about for ages.........arrrghhhhh !!!!!