Sir, – Your article "Christmas emergency: the people ready to answer your call" (December 20th) rightly acknowledges some of the many people who will be working over the Christmas period.
However, the use of the term “ambulance man” is outdated and does not reflect the professionalism of ambulance services in Ireland today.
Paramedics and advanced paramedics who crew our frontline ambulances are healthcare professionals educated to diploma, degree and, in many cases, master’s level.
Emergency medical call-takers and emergency medical dispatchers are also trained to internationally accredited standards in emergency dispatch.
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A very safe and hopefully quiet Christmas to all my professional paramedical colleagues in Dublin Fire Brigade and the National Ambulance Service who will be working and on call with me over Christmas this year. – Yours, etc,
Dr DAVID MENZIES,
Bray, Co Wicklow.