A new series of BBC’s Ambulance aired last night (30 September) and it featured the work day and stories from some of the North West Ambulance Service.

Blackpool-based paramedic, Nutan Patel-West, featured heavily on the show alongside her colleague, Lisa.

The episode touches on some heavy subjects seeing Nutan and Lisa called out to mental health calls and deaths from cardiac arrest.

The episode explores both the medical side of being a paramedic – as well as the more human side which Nutan displays throughout the episode.

In the episode she said: “I don’t see myself always as a paramedic. Once you enter into that person’s home you become a part of it.

“You’re there as a person relating to another person but I always want to try and make it before for them in whatever way I can.”

“It’s never easy to walk away from a person. Especially when they are on their own. You’re always left wondering ‘did I do right?’ ‘Did I use the right words?’”

 

 

“But you’ve got to learn how to deal with it. I always think there’s gonna be someone else who needs you after than job.”

Towards the end of their 10 hour shift, Nutan and Lisa are called out to an elderly couple who have been married for 70 years.

89-year-old Peggy has been being sick after having a bad reaction to antibiotics.

She is struggling to stand and also suffers with dementia.

She lives with her husband, Raymond, who is blind.

Lancashire Telegraph: Raymond and Peggy (Photo: BBC)Raymond and Peggy (Photo: BBC)

Raymond explains that he left Peggy earlier that evening and went to bed to listen to his audio books.

He explained: “See I go to bed early and listen to my talking books [in the back bedroom]. I can’t have talking books on until one in the morning keeping Peggy awake.”

Nutan asks Peggy to stand – but she complains of feeling dizzy when she tries.

In the episode, Nutan tells Peggy: “Just based on that I do have concerns that if you can’t stand up and get to the bathroom then something is going on.

“I think the best thing to do is go to the hospital.”

In a heart-wrenching moment, Peggy explains that she can’t leave Raymond due to his disability.

Peggy says: “I can’t leave Raymond. Because he can’t do anything.”

“I can’t leave Raymond,” She continues to repeat.

Raymond also makes a comment and advises against hospital admission.

He adds: “She has dementia. She’s gonna be totally disorientated in hospital – will it do her more harm than good?

“All you’ll do is you’ll take her there and you’ll leave her in the hands of someone who knows nothing about what’s going on.”

After a moment of thought, Nutan decides to call the out of hours doctor to come visit and stays behind to get Peggy dressed and make the couple some tea.

 

 

She describes her outfit to Raymond and says:“She looks absolutely beautiful.”

“She always was,” Raymond replied. “I wish I could see her”

Raymond was quick to praise Nutan and all the help she provided.

He said: “May I just say thank you. All the paramedics who have come to this apartment have been excellent – but you have been excellent plus.

Nutan asked: “Can I get two plus?”

“I’ll give you three,” Raymond replied.

 

 

While debriefing in the ambulance, Nutan said: “Oh my God 70 years of marriage – how cute is that?

“It’s nice to deal with a couple rather than individuals sometimes.

“I’m glad we managed to come to a resolution that they both agreed with.”

Nutan had some final comments to make about her work as a paramedic.

She said: “I find this job empowering. Because when we make a difference you can definitely tell in both patients and families that you help them.

“As soon as you walk out that job knowing they’re happy – there’s no feeling like it.

“It’s like winning the lottery without the money.”

At the show’s close it was revealed that Peggy made a full recovery and that she and Raymond are now living in a care home together.

They will soon be celebrating their platinum wedding anniversary.

You can catch up with the episode of Ambulance on BBC iPlayer.