http://www.harrowobserver.co.uk/west-london-news/local-harrow-news/2009/03/19/harrow-volunteers-could-save-lives-116451-23184306/ I thought this was somewhat relevant. Harrow are looking for volunteers to train up with basic first aid so they can be sent to 999 calls not deemed an emergency. One wonders how you would triage these calls (as I've read many times on your blog, the call comes in as not breathing and you arrive and they're sat up, chatting in bed) and if the calltaker is making a judgement call in sending a volunteer rather than an ambulance, why not cut out the middle man and get the call taker to tell the caller to get in their car and visit their GP/A&E while the ambulance service deals with people who actually need them? And who are these volunteers accountable to? What if something goes wrong or the call is triaged wrong and the patient dies. Is the volunteer then responsible? Can the family sue because the calltaker sent a volunteer and not an ambulance? This appears to be a logistical nightmare and something that doesn't stand up to the current procedures.