West Midlands paramedic on 14-hour shift says ‘I used to enjoy my job’ but has ‘begun to hate it’

A West Midlands paramedic has revealed how his perspective on the job has started changing - amid gruelling shifts on the front line. Adam Aston is a paramedic for West Midlands Ambulance Service[1] and also a Dudley[2] councillor. The NHS[3] including hospitals and ambulance services are always under pressure, and Mr Aston revealed the lengths that paramedics go to in their job.

In a post on X/Twitter, Mr Aston revealed how he was in the "14th hour" of a 12-hour shift - and was sat waiting ninth in the queue at a hospital. He wrote: "I'm a paramedic. Today, I've fed, watered and toileted patients in the back of a van.

I'm in the 14th hour of a 12-hour shift and 9th in the queue at a hospital it takes an hour to drive back from. A job I used to enjoy, I've begun to regularly hate." Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp[5] - click the link to follow

His post prompted a number of responses from social media users who sympathised with hardworking NHS staff, such as Mr Aston, on the frontline. @marshajdavid tweeted: "This is the reality of the health system. "All I can say is thank you (and to others) for going over and beyond. It can be disheartening at times, working in this way, which seems relentless.

Desperately need reform and more resources for our healthcare to continue." @ford_brazel wrote: "I hear you and I feel you." A third, @mbutton72, said: "I have no words. This is horrendous."

@simplepics66 wrote: "Feel for all your colleagues." @megstee said: "Just so you know I appreciate your work Adam. The system is shocking yes but you don't go unnoticed I take my hats off to the paramedics." Meanwhile, @snook_louise said: "Keep going as I sincerely hope things will improve.

You (all) are very much appreciated for what you have to do xx." And @IanJYeo added: "I hear you and I share your pain. It's those very reasons that I left frontline after 27 years." During the previous winter, data revealed that ambulances[6] had been taking longer than ever to reach patients across the West Midlands, amid a crisis facing the NHS.

The pressure for beds saw ambulances stuck waiting at hospitals, with fewer ambulances available[7] to respond to 999 calls.

References

1. ^ West Midlands Ambulance Service (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Dudley (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ NHS (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ Shock data reveals true scale of West Midlands' ambulance crisis (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ BirminghamLive WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)
6. ^ ambulances (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
7. ^ fewer ambulances available (www.birminghammail.co.uk)