Appendix One
Interview Schedules
University of Ulster Evaluation Project of Rapid Response Project (NIAS)
Interview Schedule: A&E staff
Introduce yourself.
Briefly inform the participant of the research
Seek participant’s consent to be interviewed and have the interview audio-taped.
Assure the participant of confidentiality and anonymity.
1. Are you aware that Rapid Response is operating within Northern Ireland? When and how did you become aware of this?
2. What is your understanding of the concept of the Rapid Response service within the Northern Ireland ambulance service?
3. Have you had any direct contact with patients who were attended by the Rapid Response team?
4. Do you think the Rapid Response service makes a difference? If yes, in what way? If not, why not?
5. Do you think the Rapid Response service has any implications for patients and their relatives? If so, in what ways?
7. Does a rapid response service have any implications on your role/service?
8. Do you think that the rapid response service is working? Do you perceive any difficulties?
9. What suggestions would you make to improve the service?
10 What do you think is an ideal response time?
11. Do you feel that the Rapid Response Vehicle’s are meeting target response times?
12. The Rapid Response service in Northern Ireland is a pilot project. Do you think it should
be rolled out? If yes, in what way? If not, why not?
13. What impact do you think the Rapid Response service could have upon critically injured
patients and their transportation to and between hospitals?
14. Where is the ideal location for Rapid Response Vehicles? Urban (service stations?),
rural (GP surgery?) Do you think the Rapid Response service is best suited to rural or
urban environments or both?
15. How do you think the change in GP working hours will impact upon the ambulance
service and how do you think that Rapid Response will fit into these changes?
16. Are there any other comments you would like to make about the provision of this Rapid
Response service?
Thank the participant for taking part in the interview and ask if they have any questions they would like to ask you.
University of Ulster Evaluation Project of Rapid Response Project (NIAS)
Interview Schedule: Control Staff
Introduce yourself.
Briefly inform the participant of the research
Seek participant’s consent to be interviewed and have the interview audio-taped.
Assure the participant of confidentiality and anonymity.
1. What is your understanding of the concept of the Rapid Response service within the NI ambulance service?
2. When and how did you become aware that rapid response was going to be piloted in Northern Ireland?
3. How did you feel about rapid response being introduced?
4. Do you think the RR service was well set up?
5. Do you feel there is a need for Rapid Response Vehicles? If so, why?
6. What impact has the introduction of Rapid Response service had on your job as a controller? Has it made it easier or more difficult?
7. Do you think that Rapid Response Vehicles make a difference to the ambulance service?
8. Do you think it supports the work of the NIAS or brings added value to the service?
9. Do you feel that there are any implications for patients? If so, what are these implications?
10. Do you think that Rapid Response is working? What difficulties do you perceive operationally?
11. Is the RR team kept busy? Is there times when you would have used them in a different manner?
12. Can you describe an instance when the service has worked well? And poorly? Why do you think this was the case?
13. What suggestions would you make to improve the rapid response service?
14. Do you think that Rapid Response works better in some areas that others? If so, in what areas does it work well and why? Do you think the Rapid Response Vehicle is best suited to rural or urban environments or both?
15. Where do you think is the ideal location for these vehicles? Urban (service stations?), rural (GP surgery?)
16. What do you think is an ideal response time?
17. In your opinion are the Rapid Response Vehicles meeting target response times?
18. The Rapid Response service in Northern Ireland is a pilot project at the present time. Do you think it should be rolled out? If yes, in what way? If not, why not?
19. What impact do you think rapid response has upon critically injured patients and their transportation to and between hospitals?
20. How do you think the change in GP working hours will impact upon the ambulance
service and how do you think that Rapid Response will fit into these changes?
21. Have you any other comments you would like to make about the provision of this Rapid Response Vehicle service?
Thank the participant for taking part in the interview and ask if they have any questions they would like to ask you.
University of Ulster Evaluation of Rapid Response Project (NIAS)
Interview Schedule: Key professionals
Introduce yourself.
Briefly inform the participant of the research
Seek participant’s consent to be interviewed and have the interview audio-taped.
Assure the participant of confidentiality and anonymity.
1. What is your understanding of the concept of the Rapid Response service within the NI ambulance service?
2. Are you aware that Rapid Response is operating within Northern Ireland? When and how did you become aware of this?
3. Do you think that Rapid Response Vehicles will make a difference to the ambulance service? If yes, in what way? If no, why not?
4. Have you had any direct contact with patients who were attended by the Rapid Response team?
5. Do you think that Rapid Response is working well? Do you think there are any
difficulties with it?
6. Do you think that Rapid Response works better in some areas that others? If so, in what areas does it work well and why? Do you think the Rapid Response Vehicle is best suited to rural or urban environments or both?
7. Where do you think is the ideal location for Rapid Response Vehicles? Urban (service stations?), rural (GP surgery?)
8. Do you have any suggestions that may improve the service provided by the rapid response service?
9. What do you think is an ideal response time?
10. In your opinion are the Rapid Response Vehicles meeting target response times?
11. Rapid Response in Northern Ireland is a pilot project at the present time. Do you think it should be rolled out? If yes, in what way? If no, why not?
12. What impact do you think the Rapid Response Vehicle could have upon critically injured patients and their transportation to and between hospitals?
13. How do you think the change in GP working hours will impact upon the ambulance
service and how do you think that Rapid Response will fit into these changes?
14. Have you any other comments you would like to make about the provision of this Rapid Response service?
Thank the participant for taking part in the interview and ask if they have any questions they would like to ask you.
University of Ulster Evaluation Project of Rapid Response Project (NIAS)
Interview Schedule: Patients (and relatives/friends)
Introduce yourself.
Outline project and the participant’s role in it.
Ask for the participants consent to be interviewed and to have the interview audio-taped.
Ask participant to sign and date the consent form.
Assure the participant of confidentiality and anonymity.
1. Can you describe the experience that necessitated calling the ambulance service?
2. Can you describe the feelings you had waiting for the ambulance to arrive?
3. Can you tell me what happened to you when the ambulance (RRV) arrived? Do you think it arrived quickly?
4. Were you aware at the time that it was a rapid response vehicle that attended you?
5. What did it feel like when the ambulance personnel arrived? Did you realise that he/she was alone? Did it make a difference?
6. How were you treated by the rapid responder? Were they competent and confident?
7. How long was it (how long did it feel like) until the second ambulance arrived? Did you realise the difference in the responses at the time?
8. Did you know that a Rapid Response service was operating in Northern Ireland before you were attended by one?
9. Do you think that Rapid Response is a good idea? If so, why? If not, why not?
10. Rapid Response is a pilot project in Northern Ireland and is only operating in a few locations. Do you think it would be a good idea to have it as a permanent service across the whole of Northern Ireland? If so, why? If not, why not?
11. Do you have any suggestions that may improve the service provided by the rapid response team?
12. Have you any other comments you would like to make about the provision of this Rapid Response service?
Thank the participant for taking part in the interview and ask if they have any questions they would like to ask you.
University of Ulster Evaluation Project of Rapid Response Project (NIAS)
Interview Schedule: Rapid Responders
Introduce yourself.
Briefly inform the participant of the research
Seek participant’s consent to be interviewed and have the interview audio-taped.
Assure the participant of confidentiality and anonymity.
1. What is your understanding of the concept of the Rapid Response service within the ambulance service?
2. Outline your role as a rapid responder on a day to day basis.
3. What difference do you think the Rapid Response service makes?
4. Do you think that Rapid Response works better in some areas that others? If so, in what areas does it work well and why? Do you think the Rapid Response Vehicle is best suited to rural or urban environments or both?
5. What implications do you feel there are for patients attended by the rapid response team?
6. Do you think the service is working well? What difficulties do you perceive both operationally ?
7. Why did you apply to become a rapid responder? Is there a prospect of career development?
8. Was the selection process fair or biased?
9. What training did you receive? Do you feel that you are better qualified as a result of the training?
10. How were you received by your colleagues?
11. Is there role conflict between responder, paramedic and ambulance technician?
12. How do you think you are received by control, A&E staff, patients, other paramedics and ambulance personnel?
13. What type of response have you received from the general public? And specifically from patients that you have attended?
14. Can you describe the best thing that has happened to you as a rapid responder? And the worst?
15. What suggestions would you have to improve the service?
16. What do you think is an ideal response time?
17. In your opinion are the Rapid Response Vehicles meeting target response times?
18. Rapid Response in Northern Ireland is a pilot project. Do you think it should be rolled out? If yes, how? If not, why not?
19. What impact do you feel that rapid response has upon critically injured patients and their transportation to and between hospitals?
20. Where do you think is the ideal location for these vehicles? Urban (service stations?), rural (GP surgery?)
21. How do you think the change in GP working hours will impact upon the ambulance service and how do you think that the Rapid Response Vehicle will fit into these changes?
22. Have you any other comments you would like to make about the provision of this Rapid Response service?
Thank the participant for taking part in the interview and ask if they have any questions they would like to ask you.
University of Ulster Evaluation Project of Rapid Response Project (NIAS)
Interview Schedule: Paramedics
Introduce yourself.
Briefly inform the participant of the research
Seek participant’s consent to be interviewed and have the interview audio-taped.
Assure the participant of confidentiality and anonymity.
1. What is your understanding of the concept of the Rapid Response service within the ambulance service?
2. When and how did you become aware that a rapid response service was operating within the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service?
4. What are your perceptions of Rapid Response?
5. What impact does Rapid Response have on your role as an ambulance paramedic?
5. Would you be interested in being involved in Rapid Response?
6. What difference do you feel rapid response makes to the service provided by the ambulance service?
7. What implications do you feel there are for patients attended by the Rapid Response team?
8. Do you think Rapid Response is working? What difficulties do you perceive operationally ?
9. Have you had any experiences of working with the rapid responders?
10. How do you think the rapid responders are received? Has this changed since the start of the service?
11. Can you describe an experience when you think the service has worked well? And poorly? Why do you think this was the case?
12. Do you have any suggestions for improving Rapid Response?
13. What do you think is an ideal response time?