Protocols relating to paramedics, technicians and safeguarding (FOI)

​Request

​In respect of the following response to a previous Freedom of Information request:

​Protocols relating to paramedics and technicians (FOI)

A

Please can you specifically provide copies of any protocols, policies, procedures and guidance that relates to a person who presents as being disorientated, potentially under the influence of alcohol or other substances, lacking capacity and maybe seen as being uncooperative.

B

Noting that an assessment is guided by a range of factors please provide details / copies of any clinical guidelines, protocols, polices, procedures or clinical notices which apply when attending a person who appears to be disorientated, uncommunicative, lacking capacity, potentially under the influence of alcohol or other substances and maybe considered as being uncooperative.

C

When responding to a 999 call and attending to a person who appears to be disorientated, lacking capacity, uncommunicative, potentially under the influence of alcohol or other substances and maybe considered as being uncooperative, what does the JRCALC specific guidance specify in terms of key considerations and red flag advice?

D

Please provide a copy of the Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Policy (June 2022) and the Consent to Care and Treatment Policy (March 2023) and any other protocols, policies, procedures and guidance that relate to a scenario where an adult presents as being disorientated, potentially under the influence of alcohol or other substances, lacking capacity and maybe seen as being uncooperative.

E

Please provide a copy of the Place of Safety Joint Protocol and any other protocols, policies, procedures and guidance that relate to a scenario where an adult presents as being disorientated, lacking capacity, potentially under the influence of alcohol or other substances and maybe seen as being uncooperative. In such a scenario what judgements and checks would ambulance personnel make and what relevant guidance would they follow?

Response

A and B

Much of the States of Jersey Ambulance Service’s guidance is taken from JRCALC.  JRCALC is a reference publication which is subject to copyright and does not constitute information held by the Scheduled Authority.  Therefore Article 3 (Meaning of “information held by a public authority”) of The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

There are multiple reasons for a patient appearing in a manner described in the request and there are three key guidelines in JRCALC which may be applicable and give guidance to crews:

• Agitated Patients
• Acute Behavioural Disturbance
• Delirium

There are also more specific guidelines in JRCALC that narrow down into the individual complaint/condition:

• Alcohol-use disorders
• Confusion sits within multiple guidelines (37 on JRCALC)
• Mental capacity is referenced across 15 guidelines.
• Consent is covered in the Guideline Consent in Pre-Hospital Care as well as referenced in 16 other guidelines.
• Overdose & Poisoning Guideline as well as referenced in another 27 guidelines.

Attached are the SoJAS Stroke Guidelines and Violence and Aggression Policy which may be applicable in certain cases.  Some of the presentations described in the request may fall under the Major Incidents Policy.  However, release of this policy into the public domain could compromise national security and therefore Article 27(1) – National Security of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

C

JRCALC is a reference publication which is subject to copyright and is therefore not information held by the Scheduled Authority.  Therefore Article 3 of The Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

D

The Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Policy (June 2022) is attached.  Please note that this is a Health and Community Services policy however it is adhered to by SoJAS as best practice.

E

The Place of Safety Joint Protocol is attached.  Attached also is the SoJAS Lone Worker Policy which may be applicable in certain cases.

SoJAS Stroke Guidelines( final).pdf

P HCS Consent to Care and Treatment.pdf

SoJAS Violence and Agression Policy.pdf

P Place of Safety Joint Protocol.pdf

P Safeguarding Policy - Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk.pdf

Ambulance Lone working Policy.pdf

Articles applied 

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 27 - National security

(1) Information which does not fall within Article 26A(1) is absolutely exempt information if exemption from the obligation to disclose it under this Law is required to safeguard national security. ​