IT was just like a normal day at work for York paramedic Glen Gears when he joined crews in New York as part of a six-day exchange visit to the Big Apple.

Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (TENYAS) paramedic Glen, 34, based at York ambulance station, said he was expecting major differences between his own job and those of his New York counterparts - but instead found lots of similarities.

He said: "Walking into their ambulance stations was like walking into any station in Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

"Visiting the casualty department at Belle Vue Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in New York, was not that dissimilar from visiting York Hospital in terms of the lay-out and the system they have for dealing with patients."

Glen and seven fellow ambulance service employees completing an International Studies Course at the Hull Trade Union Studies Centre took part in the exchange trip.

New York paramedics will be visiting the UK later this year.

The ambulance and fire service in New York merged seven years ago to become Fire Department New York Emergency Medical Service.

Glen, who was interviewed by one of New York's top radio stations about the visit in March, said the problems faced by services in New York should be a warning to the British Government not to explore that option over here.

He said: "The merger has resulted in a lot of problems and private ambulances are now assisting.

"There is the potential for a merger in the UK, but the overriding message was to avoid that route and learn from the mistakes they made."

Updated: 09:36 Thursday, May 01, 2003