The way it works here in my state anyway is you hand off to the state crew for unstable transports. Being that it was a private event we are not authorised to transport unless directed by the clinician of the state service over the phone (normally an extended care paramedic or doctor). That will only occur under 3 conditions, we will be quicker than them arriving and a paramedic is on crew, it is a triage situation or we are directed by the clinician due to overloading on their crews (they must be stable). It was not a metro event it was out in the country and most of the stations for the country have volunteer crews who are all at a emt b equiv. At some including the one they vollie crew came from had a paid Intensive Care Paramedic on crew in a sprint car (Ford Territory used to arrive quicker). He didn't attend as he was at another job. The sad fact is the constant shame I feel when dealing with them because I am a 'wannabe' or an 'ambulance chaser'. I can't be a paramedic here with the state service because I do not meet my BMI and am considered unsafe, although I can do all the manual handling required for the job.
The case in question was set out like this, for my organisation we have 2 ambulances and 1 4x4 support vehicle. At this particular duty we had 2 paramedics (to international standards), 1 EMT - I, 1 EMT - B and one trainee first responder. At the time I had a patient at our outpost who I suspected had torn his MCL but refused transport to hospital, it was at that time the rider went down. The other 4 (including the other Paramedic) set out to retrieve the patient, he was brought back to the post where I was. I only cannulated because he became unstable, everything else was done. They arrived to us and transported from there, where the above story takes over. We have to handover to a state run service if they arrive irregardless of their qualifications. The fact we are not normally shown any respect is par for the course around here and in the country 99/100 I will have a greater level of training than them. It was reported to the clinician on duty at the time (whom I work with at my hosptial job) and also to the health commission of Australia.
It really makes me question if its ego or the patient they care about. I offered to travel with them as they had Morphine and Fentanyl on board and with permission from a clinician I can administer these medications but that was refused. So for ego the patient suffered the 40 minutes over dirt and broken roads to hospital to get further pain relief when i could have given it to him then and there. It is just the sad fact of life I guess, this is not to say the state service is all bad. The majority show us respect (especially to myself and the other para's) but it just upsets me when pride and ego take over from patient care.
The patient was in full C-Spine and yes they did lift the head end of the stretcher, stop fluids and remove an IV Cannula because they can not transport with cannula in situ (unless I accompany them but oh how embarassing!).