As an EMT in the states, I'm somewhat unfamiliar with the policies and protocols of UK ambulances services. But I'm curious, couldn't the ambulance technicians go enroute to the hospital and call for an paramedic intercept enroute? Do ambulance technicians have ASA or NTG protocols? If I read correctly, the nearest hospital was 40 miles away. There isn't another unit within 40 miles in the direction of the hospital?? Also, not exactly sure.. but what about a medevac helicopter? Second of all, I am rather confused at the message of the media by publishing this article. What is the purpose and how was it discovered that the nearest paramedic was on break? Shouldn't the next available unit be dispatched? As an EMT who doesn't officially get a break throughout the day, we grab food/coffee/cigarettes/lap dance whenever/where-ever we have the opportunity. I would also look into the dispatch information of this call.. Why didn't this paramedic on break get up from his lunch and respond? Perhaps dispatch did not give enough adequate information to "move" him from his cup of mediocre coffee or question how much the crews actually tried to get a hold of him. Like previously stated, there are a lot of unanswered questions here.