NOTE OF THANKS TO 999 ‘BLOCKERS’
WE’VE all seen the stories of angry homeowners sticking rude notes on ambulance windscreens when crews park across their driveway. But a resident in one part of Wales has shown their support for hard-working NHS staff by penning a letter of thanks.
The note, accompanied by a £5 note, reads: “Thank you for blocking my driveway to save a life. Refreshments on me.”
After this was Tweeted by Welsh Ambulance Service employee Dewi Lewis on August 22, he received more than 1,000 likes and nearly 250 retweets.
In response, @CaptJackB said: “That’s more like it. Well done owner of said driveway.”
Meanwhile @Tony_Hodson said: “Brilliant, love the idea, well done to the person who did the deed!”
And @GlenysTaylour added: “At last! Someone with some sense and decency. Whoever you are, good one mate!”
A spokesperson from the Welsh Ambulance Service responded to Mr Lewis’ tweet and said: “Such a boost for our hardworking crews when they get a heartfelt thank you note for doing a tough job.
“No financial incentive required! They are just dedicated. Thank you anonymous author.”
Earlier this week, East Midlands Ambulance Service urged disgruntled people to talk to staff, rather than leaving a note on their vehicles.
Their crews said they had been responding to a “genuine emergency” in Leicester when they returned to their vehicle and found a note on the windscreen.
Lee Brentnall, paramedic and ambulance operations manager for Leicestershire, said: “It is so disappointing to see that a rude note has yet again been left on one of our ambulances.
“This upsets our dedicated ambulance crews when they are trying to help our patients and do their job.
“Leaving a note will not resolve the situation as we are unlikely to see it until we are leaving in the ambulance to take the patient to hospital or to go to our next job.
“Our crews are approachable. If you genuinely need to leave your house urgently and we are blocking your access, please come and knock on the door where the emergency is taking place.
“Sometimes we will be able to move the vehicle; for example, if we are treating a patient but they do not need both of us there at the time.
“However, there will be times that we are treating someone experiencing a life-threatening and time-critical emergency and moving our ambulance will not be our priority.
“In these cases, you will need to be patient as we try to save someone’s life.”