THE 999 TWINS WHO COULD BOTH SAVE YOUR LIFE

Meet Christina and Philippa from Preston. They are non-identical twins working in different areas of our emergency service in Lancashire.

Christina, a dispatcher in our emergency operations centre coordinates all the ambulance resources in her area sending the nearest ones to those patients needing them the most. Philippa, an emergency medical technician works on an ambulance crew attending to the sickest patients that need our help.

Born within 18 minutes of each other, Christina and Philippa have had a close bond since their birthday. Philippa says, “As babies/kids we were inseparable, we literally shared everything including a desk and a bed!”

Christina adds; “Every birthday, first day at school, first jobs, first heartbreak, first holiday and now our children share a lot of firsts together. She’s always by my side and my go-to person and there is no one else in the world I would want by my side to share those firsts with.”

Their bond has continued to adulthood where they tell us they are not only sisters but best friends. It isn’t surprising then that they have ended up working together, for the same trust, in the same service.

Philippa was the first to opt for a career in public service and joined the ambulance service fourteen years ago. She started in our patient transport service before progressing to the emergency medical technician in our emergency service. It was only when Christina came back from travelling four years later that Philippa talked her into applying for a 999-call handler position.

Philippa who affectionately calls her twin “Kicks” says, “I desperately didn’t want Kicks to go off travelling again so I knew I needed to find her a good job. When the job opportunity arose, I helped her to apply, and the rest is history.”

Christina worked as a 999-call hander for nine years before transitioning over to being a dispatcher in the last year. In her current role, Christina often finds herself on the same shift as Phillipa and often dispatches Philippa and her crewmate to emergencies. Christina says, “I love working alongside my sister, it feels so nice particularly if you are having a particularly stressful day to hear her voice on the other end of the radio.”

While the pair share a love for each of their individual careers, they admit they could never do what each other does. “I am so squeamish that I can’t bear the sight of blood or sick or anything like that. I have such admiration for my sister, and I am so proud of how she helps people in her role.” Says Christina.

Philippa says, “Kicks is kind, funny and a genuinely lovely person which is why she has been successful in her career. She has lots of empathy and patience with callers which is something you need when taking 999 calls. She is also very calm and measured under pressure which is what makes her a great dispatcher. For me working at a desk isn’t something I could do, so swapping with Kicks won’t be happening anytime soon! Besides I love the camaraderie of working on the road with my colleagues.”

Sharing things in their lives has been common ground and their working life is no different. They both share the same best friend, they have the same circle of friends, they both love working within the green family and they both love working to help their community.

“I love working alongside my sister, we share ideas and experiences with our collective group of friends and together we like to think we make a difference.” Says Christina.

Unfortunately, as we have reported before violence against our staff is far too common. Staff who are abused and attacked when they are trying to help people is disturbing. However, while we encourage them to report it, incidents don’t always result in a prosecution.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT2) Debbie from Northwich is encouraging her colleagues to speak up, so perpetrators don’t get away with it. Last summer she was punched in the face by a patient who she had treated just moments before.

“We got him on the stretcher ready for transport to hospital but realised he was facing the wrong way. So, between me and my colleague, we tried to turn him around. As we did that he sat bolt upright and threw a fist right at my face. He then ran off down the road, coming out of his “seizure” very quickly. Then threw himself on the floor a hundred metres on the road.”

Debbie reported it to police officers who came to the scene and took a statement. In December she received a phone call confirming the man pleaded guilty to assault against an emergency service worker and received six months suspended sentence, six months on a community payback scheme as well as three months wearing a tag and a three-month curfew and ordered to pay her £200 compensation.

“I understand it can be difficult to get a conviction to stick, and I’m very satisfied with the sentence. I hope it serves as an example that you can get justice. Attacks on ambulance staff are awful. I hope the person involved in mine now thinks twice about doing it again and all his mates that know about his conviction would think twice as well.”

“There have to be consequences. He could’ve caused me a more severe injury, I’m glad he didn’t but he could have. I’ve seen it with my colleagues and in the press, paramedics being stabbed and punched… all sorts. It shouldn’t be tolerated. We need to take the time to report these crimes as it can make a difference.”