Tom Paddock

Latest article - a historical perspective: Forty years of Royal Navy mine warfare in the Gulf navylookout.com/forty-years-of…

@Paulblake8A @gjb70 Half way between a B1 and an FF/DD; DNA2 CMS doesn't have right software for missile targeting, iirc. Would need a 2 way data link, but probs smaller job than a mast redesign. Would be interesting to see if how much spare topweight the B2 has, to be fair.

@ThomasJPaddock @gjb70 Totally accept issue with radar/sensors, but thought the RB2s were built to a far more robust spec & with far better CMS, compared to the RB1s.

Top article as ever. I'm still struggling with the notion that an exercise in the North Atlantic (which IIRC depends on USN invovlement & is in part designed to impress the US) takes precdent over this extant major crisis.

@Paulblake8A @gjb70 Lashing the weapons to them isn't really the constraint; the ships don't have the survivability, DC organisation, firefighting capability or enough people to operate in a high risk combat zone. The radar & CMS are entirely incapable of providing targeting data to Sea Ceptor too.

@gjb70 In the absence of 'escorts' how quickly could the RB2's be upgunned - say 1 x 57mm, 2 x 30mm & 2 shipping containers, 1 with a Martlet armed Peregrine, & 1 full of CAMM ?

1. So during my time I have managed maintenance packages on RN warships, trials packages, done deployments and arranged my Department, WE, to be ready to go at short notice on Ops. So in no particular order, why deployment preps take a while.

A challenging read on the state of the modern Royal Navy. There are no RN ships in the Med, and only 2 OPV's and an SSN 'east of Suez'. OSINT indicates only three escort ships have been to sea in the last 3 weeks. 3 of the 5 SSN's have not been to sea for over 1000 days. The reality of 'NATO first' pivot is that the focus of the RN is on events close to home, and that the global presence previously central to RN operations is no longer the priority.

In 2024 NHS staff reported working unpaid overtime equivalent to at least 49 000 full time employees. A BMJ data analysis finds this discretionary effort, which has long underpinned NHS delivery, is declining. What does this mean for workforce planning? bmj.com/content/392/bm…

I’ve been an anaesthetist for 17 years These are the 10 most important things I’ve learnt! 1️⃣ Just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should 2️⃣ There is such a thing as a silly question, but it’s always better to just ask anyway 3️⃣ Safety fast, don’t faff

@MentalHealthCop @gmpolice RCRP implementation fascinatingly heterogenous: Some great models w comprehensive directory of services, agreed referral pathways & mature audit/joint oversight. But sadly also some just booting anything vaguely health/MH/welfare/social/vulnerability to amb as a "health issue"

NEW PREVENTING FUTURE DEATHS REPORT - Andrew Hughes in the @GMPolice area. This report doesn't even get close to covering the obvious questions I have arising from the RCRP decision-making. judiciary.uk/prevention-of-…

Latest news article: Wave-class tankers to resume naval support role under contractor operation navylookout.com/wave-class-tan…

Wales is fixing its ambulance service — by sending out fewer ambulances #Echobox=1770530736" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/…

Gibraltar had forgotten it was officially a city for 180 years. In 2022, it applied for city status and was initially denied—but researchers then discovered that Queen Victoria had already granted it city status nearly two centuries earlier.

2 millenia & counting. Hippocrates knew #delirium was a medical emergency. Why is it still so often missed, misdiagnosed, or undertreated? What are the barriers? What are the solutions?

@DrHuw @aled_fellowes I'm not sure you've picked the best example there - breathing problems are (iirc) the 2nd most common thing people call 999 for. It therefore features very highly in paramedic education - and by the time you've reached an advanced practice role, you'll have seen thousands.

@aled_fellowes If you had presented with breathlessness, what training does a paramedic have to distinguish between chest infections, lung clot, heart failure, punctured lung etc.?

Paramedics should not be working in GP practices They do not have the training, knowledge or skills to perform this role This is not a controversial opinion, rather a patient safety issue bbc.com/news/articles/…

On this day in 1765, Commodore John Byron, aboard the frigate HMS Dolphin, took formal possession of the Falkland Islands for King George III. The Union Jack was then erected at the landing point on Saunders Island off West Falkland. 🇫🇰🇬🇧

Today I saw a patient whose notes read " He could climb the stairs in railway station to catch his train on the platform 3, with a suitcase easily 9 months back. Now he gets breathless with a small backpack" His cardiologist had written such beautiful, detailed functional assessment. Simple variables like BP, pulse rate etc have their place - but are often reductionist. That's where a clear description of fitness /frailty comes in. The cardio could have written NYHA class and called it a day. But he made it so vivid that anyone can understand. And in a beautiful handwriting. Reminded me of my cardiology Prof JBC. Doctor goals : write such beautiful case history that another doctor is so impressed that he shares it online 😍

@DrEilidhMaria An ITU transfer is entirely unrepresentative of a paramedic's workload. Between 45 and 60% of patients calling 999/111 won't even see the inside of the ambulance. Similarly, the types of incident PHEM teams are called to are (deliberately) unrepresentative.

The @ResusCouncilUK has launched a free, national e-learning course to help healthcare professionals confidently use the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (#ReSPECT).  Access it here: learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/resp…

. @AACE_org is supporting further excellent, free #adrenalinsufficiency information and training sessions hosted by @AddisonsUK - available for all #paramedics and clinical #ambulance personnel. Register for the next one (Jan 26) at addisonsdisease.org.uk/Event/paramedi… @ParamedicsUK #JRCALC