Ambulance UK April 2018

Volume 33 No. 2

April 2018

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In this issue Hypothermia in Trauma Victims at First Arrival of Ambulance Personnel Challenges in Simulation Design and Presentation Life Connections Bristol June 21

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Ambulance UK This issue edited by:

44

EDITOR’S COMMENT

47

FEATURES

47 Hypothermia in Trauma Victims at First Arrival of Page 1 Ambulance Personnel 30838AMBULANCEUKCOVER2018_Layout 1 19/03/2018 14:14 ADVERTISING:

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2018 EVENTS

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43

th

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

EDITOR’S COMMENT Welcome to this issue of AUK Three things to comment on this month. The incredibly interesting Life Connections in its new regional format that started in Harrogate on March 15 which sadly several people missed. This is a shame since the knowledge imparted by the speakers is at the forefront of emerging practice, one can only assume the pressures currently in the system are making it difficult for staff to be released. Luckily there are three more similar opportunities across the country so, as Winter leaves us, perhaps there will be more time for people to spend time on their development.

“...someone at the DoH has seen sense and realised that all NHS staff are valuable resources and need to be nurtured”

Second on my list has to be the advent of independent prescribing from April this year, though I feel it may take a little while longer for Trusts to see how this might fit into their future clinical strategy. I suspect it will initially benefit Paramedics working in other health settings, eg. Walk-in centres, which in a way is a good thing since it will allow equal opportunity but at the same time may lead to a movement of good staff into these environments, especially if they have the ability to expedite the training and competencies required.

It has been a long time coming and those involved along with the CoP should be thanked profusely for their efforts which will, in the future, benefit patients and practitioners alike.

Lastly, did someone mention a pay rise for NHS staff ? That’s something I never though I’d see before retirement! But, yes, at very long last someone at the DoH has seen sense and realised that all NHS staff are valuable resources and need to be nurtured. I suppose, having seen the new structure, that those with the longest service are a tad disadvantaged but on the whole I feel this is good news. Time to reconsider the camping holiday and go for something more adventurous perhaps?

Spring is nearly here and plans for the summer must be on the forefront of your minds. However you choose to spend your new payrise, enjoy time with your families and enjoy the break.

Sam English, Co-Editor Ambulance UK

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

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FEATURE

HYPOTHERMIA IN TRAUMA VICTIMS AT FIRST ARRIVAL OF AMBULANCE PERSONNEL: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY WITH ASSESSMENT OF RISK FACTORS Frédéric Lapostolle1,2*, James Couvreur2, François Xavier Koch3, Dominique Savary4, Armelle Alhéritière1,2, Michel Galinski1,2, Jean-Luc Sebbah5, Karim Tazarourte6 and Frédéric Adnet1,2 Reproduced with permission from the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Results A total of 461 trauma patients were included in the study. Road traffic accidents (N = 261; 57%) and falls (N = 65; 14%) were the main

Background Hypothermia is common in trauma victims and is associated with increased mortality, however its causes are little known. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with hypothermia in prehospital management of trauma victims.

causes of trauma. Hypothermia (<35°C) was present in 136/461 cases (29%). Independent factors significantly associated with the presence of hypothermia were: a low GCS (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0,87 ([0,81-0,92]; p < 0.0001), a low air temperature (OR = 0,93 [0,91-0,96]; p < 0.0001) and a wet patient (OR = 2,08 [1,08-4,00]; p = 0.03).

Methods This was an ancillary analysis of data recorded in the HypoTraum

Conclusion

study, a prospective multicenter study conducted by the emergency

The incidence of hypothermia was high on EMS arrival at the scene.

medical services (EMS) of 8 hospitals in France. Inclusion criteria

Body temperature measurement and immediate thermal protection

were: trauma victim, age over 18 years, and victim receiving

should be routine, and special attention should be given to patients

prehospital care from an EMS team and transported to hospital by

who are wet.

the EMS team in a medically equipped mobile intensive care unit. The following data were recorded: victim demographics, circumstances of

Level of evidence

the trauma, environmental factors, patient presentation, clinical data

Prospective, multicenter, open, observational study; Level IV.

and time from accident to EMS arrival. Independent risk factors for hypothermia were analyzed in a multivariate logistic regression model.

Keywords: Trauma, Body temperature, Prehospital settings

Background Hypothermia is common in trauma victims. In several studies on severe

The aim of the present study was to investigate the risk factors associated

trauma injury, hypothermia has been reported as occurring in up to two

with hypothermia, not on arrival at hospital, but at the time of arrival of the

third of the patients [1]. Hypothermia is associated with aggravated

emergency medical services (EMS) team at the scene of the accident.

injury and increased mortality [2, 3]. A body temperature below 35°C is an independent risk factor of mortality in trauma victims [4, 5].

Hypothermia induced coagulopathy and cardiovascular, neurological, renal and hematologic effects, all contribute to increased morbidity and mortality [1, 6]. In addition, the lower the initial body temperature, the greater the incidence of hypothermia. Controlling body temperature is thus a priority in the early management of trauma victims [1]. Dedicated guidelines have been recently published [1]. Yet, hypothermia is underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly during initial

Study design The HypoTraum study was a prospective, multicenter, open, observational study to determine the risk factors for hypothermia on arrival at hospital.

Full details of the methods have been previously published [7].

prehospital management of trauma victims’ body temperature [1].

Setting

The HypoTraum study has shown that risk factors predictive of

called “SAMU” [8]. All calls are handled by an emergency physician

hypothermia on arrival at the hospital emergency department (ED) relate

dispatcher. Among different interventional means at his disposal, the

to the victim’s environment, the severity of the injury, and prehospital

dispatcher can send to the field, when required, mobile intensive care

management, especially during transport to hospital [7]. On the other

units (MICU), spread among operational centers over each French

hand, circumstances leading hypothermia, from trauma onset to rescue

administrative region. Each MICU is staffed, at least, by an emergency

team arrival, remain less clear. Such information should help to optimize

physician and by a specifically trained nurse and driver. Depending on

body temperature control, and improve management and final outcome.

center location, a medical student can be added to the team.

In France, all emergency medical calls connect to dispatching centers

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

management of severe trauma, and only a few studies have focused on

Methods

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FEATURE MICUs are capable of performing most techniques and therapies available in the emergency department; including venous access, airway management, chest drain insertion, damage control care,

Table 1 Trauma victim demographics and environmental conditions at the scene of the accident

blood volume expansion and anesthetics and intropic/vasopressor

Hypothermia

No hypothermia p

N = 136

N = 325

Age (yr)

33 (23–47)

34 (23–46)

0.9

Male - n (%)

105 (78)

229 (71)

0.1

Body weight (kg)

70 (60–80)

75 (65–80)

0.02

Height (cm)

173 (168–180)

174 (165–180)

0.5

support. Other devices are increasingly embedded, as blood sample analysers or portable ultrasound machines (for a complete presentation of EMS organization in France, see reference [8]).

Participants Patients were included by MICUs from eight French operational centers. Inclusion criteria were: trauma victim, age over 18 years,

Demographics and traits

2

Body Mass Index (kg/m ) 23.5 (21.1-26.1) 24.7 (22.1-27.7)

and victim receiving prehospital care from an EMS team and

0.01

Environmental conditions – n (%)

transported to hospital by the EMS team in a MICU.

Daytime - n (%)

Variables and data source

81 (63)

226 (72)

0.05

Winter

47 (35)

87 (28)

0.09

Spring

34 (25)

76 (23)

Summer

25 (18)

93 (29)

Autumn

Season - n (%)

The following data were recorded: patient demographics and morphological traits (age, sex, weight, and height), circumstances of the trauma (type of accident, date, time, place), environmental conditions (air and ground temperatures using a non-contact

30 (22)

69 (21)

UK), wind speed with an anemometer (La Crosse Technology ,

Indoors - n (%)

18 (13)

70 (22)

0.06

Geispolsheim, France), and rain, victim presentation (whether

Air temperature (°C)

12.3 (7.6-18.2)

18.6 (12.1-23.6)

<0.0001

trapped, seated or lying down, unclothed, wet, or protected by

Ground temperature (°C) 12.1 (7.1-18.2)

19.1 (11.7-23.6)

<0.0001

IR thermometer, TN1 Nonfumo flue systems®, High Wycombe, ®

a blanket), clinical data (nature of trauma, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), systolic blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates, oxygen saturation (and oxygen delivery)), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), epitympanic temperature and time from accident to EMS arrival.

Windy - n (%)

12 (9)

25 (8)

0.7

Rain - n (%)

20 (15)

31 (10)

0.1 0.07

Type of accident – n (%)

Rain and wetness were subjectively evaluated by the physician,

Road accident

71 (52)

190 (58)

in the field. To characterize patient evolution, body temperature

Fall

49 (36)

95 (29)

at arrival at hospital was also recorded and compared to initial

Weapon (gun or knife) 5 (4)

15 (5)

Other

25 (8)

temperature.

Epitympanic temperature was obtained by using a Métraux®

11 (8)

Results are expressed as numbers with percentages or as medians with interquartile ranges

tympanic thermometer (Crissier, Switzerland) [9, 10]. This device includes an 18 mm (epitympanic) probe and an isolating cushion (Fig. 1). According to standardized procedure, it was carefully introduced in the outer ear canal and held in place by adhesive

Data were prospectively recorded, in the field, by the emergency

bandage in order to obtain optimal isolation. The first stable

physician or the nurse on a dedicated paper form. The first

temperature was recorded.

measurement was recorded for each of the criteria.

The main endpoint was body temperature as measured by the EMS team on arrival at the accident scene.

Hypothermia was defined as a body temperature < 35 °C [1, 3–5, 7, 11–13].

Statistical analysis Results are expressed as medians with interquartile ranges.

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

Quantitative and qualitative data were compared by the Mann– Whitney and Chi-square tests, respectively. P values of 0.05 or less were considered significant. Factors with a p value <0.2 in univariate analyses were selected for inclusion in a multivariate logistic regression model (Statview 5.0, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated.

1 Metraux tympanic thermometer (epitympanic probe and Fig. 1Fig. Metraux® tympanic thermometer (epitympanic probe and isolating cushion) isolating cushion) ®

The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (Committee for the Protection of Persons – CPP Ile de France X, Hôpital Robert Ballanger, Aulnay-sous-bois, France).

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FEATURE Table 2 Trauma victim presentation and clinical examination on arrival of EMS team at the scene of the accident Hypothermia

No hypothermia

N = 136

N = 325

Trapped - n (%)

24 (18)

36 (11)

0.07

Time from accident to body temperature measurement (min)

30 (22–43)

30 (24–45)

0.8

Seated

22 (16)

49 (15)

0.8

Lying down

p

Presentation

Position - n (%) 114 (84)

272 (85)

On the ground - n (%)

91 (67)

184 (57)

0.05

Unclothed - n (%)

41 (30)

107 (33)

0.6

Wet - n (%)

26 (19)

23 (7)

0.0004

Covered by blanket - n (%)

75 (55)

157 (48)

0.2

Shivering - n (%)

25 (18)

54 (17)

0.7

Glasgow Coma Score (GCS)

15 (9–15)

15 (15–15)

<0.0001

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)

123 (108–140)

126 (110–140)

0.1

Heart rate (bpm)

84 (70–101)

90 (75–100)

0.1

Clinical examination

Respiratory rate (breaths/min)

18 (16–22)

18 (16–22)

0.8

Pulse oxymetry (%)

99 (97–100)

99 (97–100)

0.8

- head

71 (52)

0 5)

0.2

- chest

39 (29)

0 1)

0.7

- abdomen

17 (12)

42 13)

1

- hip

22 (16)

54 17)

1

- limbs

59 (43)

128 (39)

0.5 <0.0001

Nature of injury – n (%)

Revised Trauma Score (RTS)

11 (10–11)

11 (11–11)

Status on arrival at hospital ED - n (%)

62 (13)

399 (87)

Results are expressed as numbers with percentages or as medians with interquartile ranges RTS = GCS + systolic blood pressure + respiratory rate

Results

characteristics were GCS and RTS, whether victim wet, on the

Participants

2). After entry of these factors into a multivariate analysis, only a

Between January 1, 2004, and November 10, 2007, 461 trauma

low GCS, a low air temperature, and a wet patient proved to be

victims managed by the EMS services of 8 hospitals were included in

independent factors associated with hypothermia (Table 3).

ground or trapped, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate (Table

the study. The median age of the patients was 34 (23–46) years, 334 (72%) male and 127 (28%) female. Road accidents (N = 261; 57%)

Median time between first medical contact and arrival at hospital

and falls (N = 65; 14%) were the main causes of trauma. Median air

was 60 (46–80) min. In the group of patients without hypothermia on

temperature at inclusion was 17.0 (10.3-22.3)°C. The median time

EMS arrival on-scene, only 14 (4%) patients had hypothermia when

between accident and body temperature measurement was 30 (24–

arriving at hospital. While in the group of patients with hypothermia

45) min. Hypothermia (<35°C) was present in 136/461 (29%) victims

on EMS arrival on-scene, 48 (32%) had persisting hypothermia.

A comparison of trauma victims with and without hypothermia on

Table 3 Independent factors associated with presence of hypothermia in multivariate analysis (N = 450)

EMS arrival is given in Tables 1 and 2. Victim characteristics and

Factor

environmental factors associated with the presence of hypothermia (p < 0.2) were by decreasing rank order: air and ground temperature, body mass index (BMI) and body weight, daytime,

Main results

indoor accident, type of accident, season of the year, and rain (Table 1). Factors associated with victim presentation and clinical

Odds Ratio [95% CI]

p

Glasgow Coma Score

0,87 [0,81-0,92]

<0.0001

Air temperature

0,93 [0,91-0,96]

<0.0001

Wet patient

2,08 [1,08-4,00]

0.03

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

on arrival of the EMS mobile unit at the accident scene.

CI confidence interval

49 Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Features? Please contact us and let us know.

FEATURE

Fig. 2 Distribution of the patient according to the presence of hypothermia at the time of the first medical contact or hospital arrival. To indicates the initial median (interquartile) temperature

Initial median temperatures between groups were significantly different (pâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;<â&#x20AC;&#x2030;0,0001). Results are detailed in Fig. 2.

transport to hospital in 78% of cases, even if harmful interventions such as infusion of unwarmed fluid may have taken place [7]. In the present study, only 50% of patients (232/461) benefitted from warming (covered by blanket) before EMS arrival and hypothermia was controlled in fewer

Discussion

than 50% of cases whatever the measures taken by the medical team.

The prevalence of hypothermia was high (29%) on EMS arrival at the scene of the accident and especially noteworthy as patient body temperature was measured after a median delay of only 30 min after the accident. Because of this high incidence and because hypothermia in an independent risk factor of mortality in trauma victims, we recommend the routine early measurement and monitoring of body temperature in all trauma victims.

The main risk factors for hypothermia on arrival of trauma victims at the hospital ED were severity of injury (especially head injury) and certain aspects of medical care (e.g. orotracheal intubation) [7]. However, the nature of the injury was not an independent risk factor for hypothermia in an early prehospital setting, maybe because the interval between the accident and body temperature measurement was too short for the expression of all adverse effects.

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

In this prehospital setting, three independent factors predictive of hyperthermia were identified at the scene of the accident: a low level of consciousness of the victim as given by the GCS, a low air temperature (median 17°C in this study), and a wet victim. The risk of hypothermia was at least two-fold higher in wet patients, even if these patients accounted for only 11% of the overall population (49/461). A patient who is drenched should benefit from special measures. Usually this means being undressed, dried, and provided with thermal protection.

These actions are particularly important as there are no specific interventions that can compensate for injury severity (as given here by the RTS). Undressing, however, should be reserved for wet patients only as it becomes an independent risk factor of hypothermia on arrival at hospital [7]. Blankets were frequently used before MICU arrival and moreover after (74%) [7]. In contrast, active warming was very rarely used during management by the MICU (3%) [7].

Initial measurement of body temperature is crucial in the initial assessment of trauma patients. We strongly feel that body temperature should be considered as a vital parameter along with blood pressure and heart rate. Continuous monitoring should be performed where possible, particularly in severely injured patients. Only one non invasive device allowed pre-hospital was validated for continuous monitoring when we started this study [9]. A few more devices are now available [1]. This underlines the special attention currently being paid to temperature management in trauma patients.

Precocious, prehospital hypothermia diagnosis is the key to optimal hypothermia management. In this study, hypothermia was corrected (or avoided) before hospital arrival in two thirds of patients. As the Hypotraum study was conducted in France, involvement of an emergency physician in the prehospital setting and relatively short

The incidence of hypothermia recorded in our earlier study on arrival at the hospital ED was considerably lower (14% vs 29%). This may have been due in part to patient warming by the medical team during

transportation times may have contributed to hypothermia management.

First-aid rescuers must also be trained to manage temperature, and long transportation times need to be used to correct hypothermia.

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FEATURE The strength of our study was the exploration of a wide variety of factors (environmental and other) poorly documented in an early prehospital

Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

setting [3, 13–15]. Data collection was facilitated by the way the French EMS system is organized. In France, mobile intensive care units with an emergency physician aboard are sent out to accident scenes.

Consent for publication No.

However, the system was also a potential limitation of our study as, in the case of the most serious accidents, the fire brigade may have preceded the medical team on scene, commencing first warming measures, such as blankets, before MICU arrival and initial assessment.

Conversely, patients most in need of medical management may have

Ethics approval and consent to participate The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (Committee for the Protection of Persons – CPP Ile de France X, Hôpital Robert Ballanger, Aulnay-sous-bois, France).

had protracted periods outside on the ground before they could be moved. In contrast less severely injured patients could be managed

Author details

without MICU, however, such minor trauma patients are not at high risk

*

onset of hypothermia on EMS arrival are influenced by the EMS system.

Correspondence: frederic.lapostolle@aphp.fr 1SAMU 93, Unité de recherche-enseignement-qualité, Avicenne125, rue de Stalingrad, 93009 Bobigny, France. 2Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 93000

Furthermore, the time from accident to MICU arrival, the position of the

Bobigny, France. 3Pôle Urgence-SAMU-SMUR, Hôpital Michallon, La

patient, and the presence of a blanket were not significantly different

Tronche, France. 4SAMU 74, avenue de l’hôpital, Pringy, France. 5SMUR,

between patients with and without hypothermia. Finally, it cannot be

Centre hospitalier de Gonesse, Gonesse, France. 6Pôle urgenceréanimation-SAMU 77, Centre hospitalier Marc Jacquet, Melun, France.

of hypothermia. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that the determinants of the

excluded that the respective impact of ambient temperature, wetness and patient’s injury severity on body temperature could be different in

Received: 29 April 2016 Accepted: 13 January 2017

other locations.

Conclusion Early preventive or corrective measures should help reduce the incidence of hypothermia in a prehospital setting. These measures should be initiated as soon as EMS arrive at the accident scene. Body temperature measurement and immediate thermal protection should be routine, and special attention should be given to patients who are wet. These measures should be followed by optimal patient management during transport to hospital (warming of infusion fluids and ambulance heating) as previously documented.

Abbreviations BMI: Body mass index; CPP: Committee for the Protection of Persons; ED: Emergency Department; EMS: Emergency medical services; GCS:

References 1. Perlman R, Callum J, Laflamme C, Tien H, Nascimento B, Beckett A, et al. A recommended early goal-directed management guideline for the prevention of hypothermia-related transfusion, morbidity, and mortality in severely injured trauma patients. Crit Care Lond Engl. 2016;20(1):107.

2. Jurkovich GJ, Greiser WB, Luterman A, Curreri PW. Hypothermia in trauma victims: an ominous predictor of survival. J Trauma sept. 1987;27(9):1019–24.

3. Wang HE, Callaway CW, Peitzman AB, Tisherman SA. Admission hypothermia and outcome after major trauma. Crit Care Med juin. 2005;33(6):1296–301.

4. Shafi S, Elliott AC, Gentilello L. Is hypothermia simply a marker of shock and injury severity or an independent risk factor for mortality in trauma patients?

Analysis of a large national trauma registry. J Trauma. 2005;59(5):1081–5.

5. Waibel BH, Schlitzkus LL, Newell MA, Durham CA, Sagraves SG, Rotondo MF. Impact of hypothermia (below 36° C) in the rural trauma patient. J Am Coll Surg.

2009;209(5):580–8.

Glasgow coma score; OR: Odds ratio; RTS: Revised trauma score

6. Kaafarani HMA, Velmahos GC. Damage control resuscitation in trauma. Scand J Surg SJS Off Organ Finn Surg Soc Scand Surg Soc. 2014;103(2):81–8.

Acknowledgment

7. Lapostolle F, Sebbah JL, Couvreur J, Koch FX, Savary D, Tazarourte K, et al. Risk factors for onset of hypothermia in trauma victims: the HypoTraum study. Crit Care Lond Engl. 2012;16(4):R142.

- Sebbah JL (sebbahjl@me.com) SMUR, Centre hospitalier de Gonesse, Gonesse, France - Tazarourte K (karim.tazarourte@chu-lyon.fr) Pôle urgence-réanimation-SAMU 77, Centre hospitalier Marc Jacquet, Melun, France - Gerald Egmann (egmann973@yahoo.fr) Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon - Avenue des flamboyants, BP 6006, 9730, Cayenne, France

8. Adnet F, Lapostolle F. International EMS systems: France. Resuscitation. 2004;63(1):7–9.

9. Walpoth BH, Galdikas J, Leupi F, Muehlemann W, Schlaepfer P, Althaus U. Assessment of hypothermia with a new « tympanic » thermometer. J Clin Monit mars. 1994;10(2):91–6.

10. Skaiaa SC, Brattebø G, Aßmus J, Thomassen Ø. The impact of environmental factors in pre-hospital thermistor-based tympanic temperature measurement: a pilot field study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2015;23:72.

11. Aitken LM, Hendrikz JK, Dulhunty JM, Rudd MJ. Hypothermia and associated outcomes in seriously injured trauma patients in a predominantly sub-tropical climate.

Resuscitation. 2009;80(2):217–23.

None.

Availability of data and materials Yes. Authors’ contributions Design of the study: FL, DS. Study management: FL, JC, FA, FXC. Data analysis: FL, MG. Manuscript: AA, FA, FL. Manuscript reviewing: DS, TP. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

13. Beilman GJ, Blondet JJ, Nelson TR, Nathens AB, Moore FA, Rhee P, et al. Early hypothermia in severely injured trauma patients is a significant risk factor for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome but not mortality. Ann Surg mai. 2009;249(5):845–50.

14. Martin RS, Kilgo PD, Miller PR, Hoth JJ, Meredith JW, Chang MC. Injuryassociated hypothermia: an analysis of the 2004 National Trauma Data Bank.

Shock Augusta Ga. 2005;24(2):114–8.

15. Arthurs Z, Cuadrado D, Beekley A, Grathwohl K, Perkins J, Rush R, et al. The impact of hypothermia on trauma care at the 31st combat support hospital. Am J Surg.

2006;191(5):610–4.

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12. Danzl DF, Pozos RS, Auerbach PS, Glazer S, Goetz W, Johnson E, et al.

Multicenter hypothermia survey. Ann Emerg Med. 1987;16(9):1042–55.

Funding

51 Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Features? Please contact us and let us know.

FEATURE

SO LET’S TALK ABOUT REALITY: CHALLENGES IN SIMULATION DESIGN AND PRESENTATION Mike Davis PhD FAcadMEd Freelance consultant in continuing medical education, Blackpool, UK Role-play and simulation have been a feature of medical education for a number of years and they are making an increasingly important contribution to teaching and assessment of doctors and other health professionals in a variety of settings, without putting patients at risk. It may well be that many of you have experienced a simulated environment and learned from the experience. The purpose of this paper is to explore how this works for us as learners, if it does indeed do so, and by implication, to identify some things that get in the way of it working when it fails to provide a useful experience.

My view is that it all depends on the nature of the relationship of the simulated environment to “reality” and there are three dimensions I would like to explore:

Role play – an aside Role play is a prerequisite of simulation and has the following features: Playing self in familiar situation, Playing self in unfamiliar situation, Playing other in familiar situation, Playing other in unfamiliar situation It is likely that people will find Playing self in familiar situation the easiest of these roles to fulfil and in some respects, this type of simulation allows participants to explore complexity, particularly if there is an opportunity to switch focus from, say, technical competence (managing a trauma) to the more social phenomena such as non-technical skills (managing a team managing a trauma). This latter approach is a feature of, for example, the European Trauma Course (ETC), subtitled “The

Physical reality

Team Approach”.

Sociological reality Psychological reality

Playing other in a familiar situation can be illuminating for participants and can offer a challenge to everything from knowledge and experience based clinical competence to empathy. Participants should never be

Physical reality

put in a situation where they are expected to behave beyond their

This relates to the extent to which the “real world” is adequately reproduced in the simulated setting, and includes the environment and the type of equipment available. In some respects, this is both the easiest to manage and the least likely to be achieved. It is easy to manage because it is always possible to replicate features of the clinical or other setting, to get access to (even limited) equipment and other resources and even to gain access to real “patients”. It is a challenge because the patient is not “real”, even if an actor with specific physical characteristics (e.g. amputated limb). This is because the context (a simulation) and the interaction with the patient (some kind of script), both act as potential barriers to learners’ “buy in”.

capacity: a medical student would struggle to role play a professor of anatomy but could manage role playing a willing assistant who could be instructed to undertake certain basic skills.

Playing other in unfamiliar situation is rarely a useful experience as participants are likely to lack both personal competence and familiarity with content or context.

Playing self in unfamiliar situation can be the most valuable, putting people beyond their comfort zone and providing appropriate support mechanisms – everything from pre-reading (the flipped classroom) to “help”.

What this means is that while there is merit in maximising physical reality, other realities that are explored below, can have a more significant impact on nature of the learner experience.

Psychological reality For simulation to be fully effective, this “reality” has to be paramount

Sociological reality

and is achieved to a greater or lesser extent by the other two (physical and sociological), supplemented by some key ingredients, summarised

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In many settings, managing illness and trauma is a responsibility

neatly as participants having “a busy brain”: in other words, being in a

shared among a number of people representing different professional

situation where they are responding to a variety of stimuli that maximises

groups. The simulated environment may be problematic in this respect

their cognitive capacity to process the simulation as it unfolds. Much of

as there are organisational and other challenges associated with multi-

the challenge is informed by psychological theory related to issues like

professional training. The consequence of this is that introductions

schema, cognition (including cognitive overload), perception, memory

to simulation training is often in student groups (undergraduates

capacity etc.

in medicine, nursing, paramedicine) and this is a challenge the sociological reality because of certain requirements of effective and

Psychological realism, then, is the product of complex interactions

powerful role play. The increasing use of in situ and/or multi-professional

between a number of components. To explore this, consider a real

simulation in CPD is an effort to overcome this.

clinical case:

52 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

FEATURE A patient arrives in your care and you are, to all intents and purposes,

• the session may have a title (e.g. “the septic child”)

faced with an ill-defined problem. You manage the patient following

• there may be some essential pre-reading

agreed protocols and your interactions and investigations determine your actions. Especially when an analysis of the situation does not reveal a clear-cut diagnosis, you use clinical judgement. In all cases, you are constantly monitoring the impact of your actions to determine “what happens next”. You interact with others who share the experience but may have different interpretations/perceptions so you have to weigh up alternatives included in your own schema for the situation. Final outcomes depend on a wide range of issues, some of which are in your control, and others which are not. You will be aware of some of these but others will remain a mystery.

A simulated event works against a background of features that can mitigate against the realism that is evident in this clinical case. These features might include some or all of the following: • it takes place in a simulated setting (either a sim lab or in situ) • the patient is a mannikin or human patient actor • everyone knows there is a fictitious scenario to unfold

• you are surrounded by a group of fellow learners • patient responses are, to a greater or lesser extent, subject to intervention by the facilitator There is little you can do about the first six of these but the final one is a vital component in creating a situation where the brain is busy.

Psychological realism can be achieved through careful planning and subsequent management of information flow: those characteristics of the simulation that reflect the real world of patient management in a timely manner.

A future paper will explore some of the psychological theory in more depth.

This paper has its origins in “How to teach using simulation in healthcare” written and co-edited by the author Mike Davis and Jacky Hanson, Mike Dickinson, Lorna Lees and Mark Pimblett and published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell.

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53

Life Connec

FEATURE

Bristol event - Thu 21st June 2018 Bristol Paramedic Conference Programme Time

Presentation

Speaker

Position

9.00 - 9.30

Registration

9.30 - 10.00

Tea / Coffee

10.00 - 10.30

Dealing with distressing incidents

Joanne Mildenhall

Paramedic Team Leader

10.30 - 11.00

Paramedic and end of life care

Jo Stonehouse

McMillan cancer care project manager

11.00 - 11.30

Disaster response Paramedic, the Nepal Earthquake experience

Simon Greenfield

HART Paramedic

11.30 - 12.00

Tea / Coffee Exhibition

12.00 - 12.30

Advanced Airway Management

Amy Chan Dominy

Paediatric Consultant

Adam Layland

Senior Lecturer

Paramedic Leaders, 12.30 - 13.00 past present and future

Just under 200 delegates attended our Harrogate multi conference / workshop event and we are hoping for a similar turnout in Bristol. In addition to our Paramedic and Resuscitation Conferences, separate conferences will also be taking place for First Responders and First Aid Trainers, both have some excellent presentations in place that include: Assessing and Assisting the Fallen Patient (Dave Sale), Deteriorating Patient - Could it be Sepsis? (Sian Annakin), Why Trauma Patients Die (Professor Sir Keith Porter), Adapting First Responder Skill Set to Meet Wider Patient Needs (Richard Buckley), The Alternative Role of the CFR (James Crawley), The Changing Face of First Aid (Dr Mark Forrest), Dealing with Distressing Incidents (Joanna Mildenhall) and First Aid The Need for Effective Teaching and Learning (Rob Shaloe).

In addition, Pre-Hospital Care Consultancy are running a morning Trauma Workshop that includes Trauma Patient Assessment, Catastrophic Bleeding and Splintage Skills followed by an afternoon Airway Management Workshop that includes Direct and Video Laryngoscopy and Emergency Surgical Airways. Paul Savage OBE is also running a morning and afternoon workshop entitled ‘Seven Ways to Die in Cold Water’ which covers submersion, drowning and hypothermia.

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch, Exhibition

Topics & Speakers correct at the time of press but may be subject to change.

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To view all conference programmes or to register please visit www.lifeconnections.uk.com or call 01322 660434

54

Only 50 Places are available on each Conference at a cost of £30pp to include VAT, lunch/tea/coffee and free parking. Delegates can a to secure your delegate place please visit: www.lifeconnections.uk.com or call the organisers on: 01322 660434

Further Conferences are planned later in t

www.lifeconnections.uk.com For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

ctions 2018

FEATURE

UWE Frenchay campus Bristol BS34 8QZ Delegate feedback received from our Harrogate event has been very positive, a typical example being as follows: ‘We had 6 x personnel attend your workshops / conference last week in Harrogate. The feedback from this has been very positive.

Everyone felt they benefited from attending for the day’ Thanks to the generosity of WEL Medical, delegate rates at our Bristol event start from just £18 per person to include lunch, tea/ coffee, free parking, etc. Combined rates are also available for those wishing to attend both a morning and afternoon conference or, alternatively, a conference plus a workshop or, two workshops.

As delegate places are limited, particularly on the workshops, early registration is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Our Life Connections road show will then move on to Aylesbury (September 6th) and Stoke-on-Trent (October 25th).

We look forward to welcoming you to Life Connections 2018.

Resuscitation Conference Programme Time

Presentation

Speaker

Position

Sian Annakin

Sepsis Nurse Practitioner

Jonathon Green

Research Paramedic

Amy Chan-Dominy

Paediatric Consultant

Adam Layland

Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Management

Kim Kirby/Joanne Stonehouse

Research Paramedic/ Macmillan Cancer |Project Manager

12.00 - 12.30 Registration

12.30 - 14.00 Lunch/Exhibition

Sepsis - Time Critical 14.00 - 14.30 Treatment in the Acute Setting 14.30 - 15.00 Airways 2

What Does Adult 15.00 - 15.30 Congenital Heart Disease Mean?

15.30 - 16.00 Tea/Coffee/Exhibition

Leadership and 16.00 - 16.30 Management During Crisis 16.30 - 17.00

Decision Making in Cardiac Arrest

Topics & Speakers correct at the time of press but may be subject to change.

also attend our morning Paramedic Conference for a combined rate of just £42 to include VAT, lunch, etc. To view all programmes and

the year for Aylesbury and Stoke-on-Trent

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Features? Please contact us and let us know.

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To view all conference programmes or to register please visit www.lifeconnections.uk.com or call 01322 660434

55

NEWSLINE WAA

Wiltshire Air Ambulance lands at new airbase for first time Wiltshire Air Ambulance carried out its first landing on the helipad at the charity’s new airbase at Semington, near Melksham, on Tuesday 20 March.

This exciting milestone was followed by the official handover of the airbase to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The building will now be fitted out before the charity’s fundraising, administrative and operational teams move in by this summer.

David Philpott, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “Today has been a significant day in the history of Wiltshire Air Ambulance with the handover of our new airbase. We are now in the final phase of the building work as we undertake the fitting and equipping of it before it becomes operational.

“Our primary contractors, Rigg Construction (Southern) Limited, and our architects and project managers, CMS, have ensured

Wiltshire Air Ambulance and aircrew after the helicopter’s first landing on the helipad at the new airbase at Semington, (l-r) Paramedics Steve Riddle, Jo Gilbert and Pilot Nicky Smith. that our new home has the

administrative team and leases

airbase project on behalf of

best possible facilities for our

the hangar at Wiltshire Police

the charity and said the site at

helicopter, our pilots, paramedics

headquarters in Devizes for its

Semington was chosen after an

and our charity team to enable

helicopter and aircrew.

exhaustive search.

The new airbase has a Flight and

He said: “When we became a

Operations Centre for its aircrew,

stand-alone air ambulance three

“We have received amazing

a hangar for the helicopter and

years ago our aspiration was to

support from people for our new

medical equipment, offices for the

find a location to build the best

airbase, including donations, and

charity team, training suite and a

possible airbase to bring together

we’d like to thank everyone for

visitors’ viewpoint.

our charity and operational teams

us to continue to save lives in the future.

and to have full control over our

their backing.”

Kevin Reed, Head of Facilities Currently the charity leases offices

and Security at Wiltshire Air

in Calne for its fundraising and

Ambulance, has led the new

future.

“The site at Semington is ideal because it is centrally located and will allow our helicopter to reach all parts of Wiltshire within 11 minutes, as it currently does now from its base in Devizes.

In addition, as there is no ambulance station in Melksham our paramedics with their critical care skills will provide enhanced medical cover for the area for emergencies such as road traffic collisions, cardiac arrests and

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strokes.”

The fly in and handover of the new airbase took place a few days after Wiltshire Air Ambulance marked its 28th anniversary.

During that time its highly At the official handover of Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s new airbase at Semington are (front left) Chris Lear, Chairman of Trustees at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and Jon Price, Commercial Director of Rigg Construction (Southern) Limited, watched by staff and aircrew from Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Rigg Construction and CMS Architects.

56 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

trained aircrew have undertaken thousands of missions and saved countless lives.

VISIT US

NEWSLINE

College of Paramedics National Conference

Oxford Belfry Hotel 9-10 May 2018 SCAS

SCAS announced as one of three digital NHS pioneers South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is one of three NHS ambulance trusts that have been awarded a share of £5m to develop into world class digital organisations.

On Wednesday, 24 January, NHS England announced that SCAS and two other ambulance trusts, West Midlands and North East NHS Foundation Trusts, will be the first organisations to enroll on the ambulance version of the Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) programme.

Over the next two years, SCAS will receive an additional c£1.7m from NHS England (which the Trust will match fund) to continue its pioneering work in digital transformation. Innovations already implemented by SCAS to make its services more efficient, resilient and safe include: • digitally integrated clinical patient management systems and dispatch systems • virtual digital telephony platforms • electronic patient record system The announcement of an additional £5m in funding takes the total investment from NHS England to £10m as the three ambulance trusts develop into Global Digital Exemplars.

Charles Porter, Director of Finance at SCAS, said:

The additional funding allows us to accelerate our investment in digital technologies and means we will be able to move more

Vince Weldon, Associate Director of Information Management & Technology at SCAS, said: “This recognition of the Trust’s investment in technology over many years to improve patient care and make our staff more effective will allow us to fast-track the next iteration of developments in the digital age. In particular we will see enhanced use of our vehicles as digital hubs, improved forecasting and planning based on the use of wide ranging data, and direct access for our clinicians (both on the telephone and at the patient’s side) to shared and current care information, all of which will improve our ability still further to provide the right care, first time to the people we serve.”

Will Smart, Chief Information Officer for Health and Care at NHS England, said: “We have taken a different approach with the ambulance branch of the GDE programme and are asking the three successful Trusts to think of ways in which they can work together to drive improvements through the use of digital technology.

“By stepping up to become world class these three Trusts will join the most digitally advanced healthcare organisations across the globe and help deliver a sustainable and transformed NHS.” The Trust’s participation in the Global Digital Exemplar programme will ensure SCAS continues to lead the way in demonstrating how digital technology can positively impact on patient care and support transformation projects to revolutionise the way in which healthcare is delivered.

As part of the programme, SCAS is keen to work with other NHS organisations and pursue jointly funded projects with the Trust’s external partners.

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“We are privileged to have been named a global digital exemplar, which recognises the Trust as a successful technological innovator at the forefront of the digital arena. This recognition from NHS England will enable us to deliver further improvements in patient care, efficiency and integration within the local health system and the wider NHS.

quickly towards our digital vision to be ‘paper free at the point of care and to provide seamless patient care leveraging the full resources of the NHS’.”

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57

NEWSLINE SECAMB

Sepsis survivor reunited with ambulance crew A Worthing man, who survived

Lodge in Worthing after 74 days

The skin on Jason’s chest and

MOT tester Gavin Anyon was

in hospital. By February he was

abdomen was severely mottled

planning to head home for the

starting to walk with a prosthetic

with what could be described as

day when he spotted Alwena

leg and by the middle of March he

a purple and white chequered

falling.

was able to return home. However

pattern, one of the tell-tale signs

with his left foot still severely

of potential sepsis.

He dialled 999 and started to perform CPR with the guidance

affected by gangrene he had to undergo a further operation to

“We knew we had to act quickly

of Welsh Ambulance Service call

remove his fore-foot and tip of his

and get him to hospital. We

handler Amanda Williams.

finger – meaning another 16 days

called ahead to let them know we

in hospital.

were coming in with him and so

Gavin said: “I was literally just

they would be ready. I’m afraid

about to walk out of the door

Undeterred, Jason learnt to drive

to say I didn’t think he would

when I saw her collapse from the

save his life.

an adapted car in October and

survive. On behalf of myself and

chair and fall to the floor. I dialled

was able to return to work by

my colleagues it’s been a real

999 and the lady on the phone

Jason Beeching, an IT software

November. Further operations

pleasure to meet him again and

told me exactly what to do.

followed in 2017 but Jason

to see him looking so well. We

has continued to make good

all wish him a continued good

“I did a few checks before

progress following his initial poor

recovery and all the very best for

starting CPR and everything

prognosis.

the future.”

just happened so quickly, but

meningococcal septicaemia, and undertook an amazing journey of recovery to return to work almost a year later, has been reunited with the ambulance crew who helped

developer now aged 46, developed a heavy cold, sickness and diarrhoea in the week of 2 November 2015 and went home from work early on 5 November.

After taking the Friday off sick, Jason remembers waking up early on Saturday 7 November on his bathroom floor.

Knowing by now something was

afterwards it was a very nerveHe was pleased to meet and discuss his recovery with SECAmb staff Calum and Phil at Worthing Ambulance Station on Friday 23 February.

WAS

Mother-of-four thanks her lifesavers after suffering cardiac arrest in work

wracking experience. I was just relieved when I knew she was okay.”

Paramedics Ludwick Mrowiec and Gareth Roberts, based at Bala Ambulance Station, arrived

seriously wrong, he called 999.

Jason said: “I really wanted to

Paramedic, Calum Burnett was

reunite with the ambulance crew

first to arrive at Jason’s flat, where

as they did such an amazing job.

he was backed up by ambulance

Callum, Phil, Ray and of course all

A mother-of-four who collapsed

the Uwchaled Community First

crew Phil Swarbrick and Ray Pate.

their colleagues in A&E and ICU

in work and suffered a cardiac

Responder (CFR) team.

The team were quick to spot the

are my heroes and I want them to

arrest has thanked her

signs of sepsis and made use of

know that. I was so pleased they

lifesavers.

SECAmb’s ‘code yellow’ sepsis

remembered me two years on.

on the scene within six minutes, followed shortly by a member of

They confirmed Alwena was suffering a cardiac arrest and,

Alwena Evans, manager of

after delivering a shock with a

“I have also been thanking

Thomas Motor Mart in the village

defibrillator, achieved a return of

Jason was rushed to Worthing

nursing staff by doing a few

of Glanrafon, Denbighshire, was

spontaneous circulation.

Hospital where he was diagnosed

lectures to them about my journey

sat in the garage’s back office

with meningococcal septicaemia.

and sepsis, as I hear very few

one afternoon when she suddenly

However, the 65-year-old went

His parents and then girlfriend

survivors tell their story.

began to feel ill.

back into cardiac arrest and

“At the time I didn’t know

One of her colleagues quickly

how dangerous my condition

jumped into action to perform

However, Jason defied the odds

was, but now I look on it as

CPR when she collapsed to

Ludwick said: “We arrived and

and spent the next five weeks

a second chance at life. My

the floor, while road and air

saw that Gavin had done a good

receiving expert treatment in

recovery has been slow due to

ambulance teams made their way

job and from there everything just

ICU before being transferred to

a few complications and more

to the scene.

went like clockwork that day.

Royal Sussex County Hospital

surgery, but my amazing friends

ICU in Brighton for an operation

and colleagues at work have

Alwena, who lives in Bala, said:

“We gave Alwena one shock and

to remove his damaged tissue.

supported me and taken my mind

“I went to work as normal feeling

she responded well, but then she

Just prior to Christmas he left ICU

off things.”

fine. It was about lunchtime when I

reverted back into cardiac arrest

started to feel unwell and I vomited

and we had to give a further five

and also started sweating.

shocks. She was doing really well

diagnosis tool.

required a further five shocks, as

were told he might not survive the weekend.

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

but underwent an operation to amputate his right leg below the

Calum said: “It was very obvious

knee on 30 December.

to us that Jason was extremely

well as other lifesaving treatment.

when the helicopter arrived.

unwell when we attended him.

“At first I thought it was just a bug,

January 2016 saw Jason

While it’s more than two years

but then I suddenly collapsed

“We did an electrocardiogram

transferred to rehab at Salvington

ago, it’s still very clear in my mind.

from my chair.”

(ECG) which confirmed there was

58 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE something wrong with her heart

reunited with Ludwick and Gareth

Gareth said: “It’s quite good

without intervention, such as CPR

and she was then taken to Glan

to thank them for their involvement

because we don’t often get to

and defibrillation.

Clwyd.”

in saving her life.

meet patients after we’ve treated

The medics were supported by

She said: “The care I received

Corwen ambulance crew Manon

was absolutely brilliant, it was first

Williams and Ganor Smith, along

class and I couldn’t fault what

“We weren’t too far away when it

Uwchaled CFR team co-ordinator

with consultants Dr Stephan

everyone did for me.

happened, in fact we were just the

Tomos Hughes to increase the

other side of Corwen when we got

number of defibrillators in North

the call.”

Wales.

garage for fuel and Ludwick went

The Welsh Ambulance Service

The group has set up almost

to school with my daughter.

is currently running its annual

200 public access defibrillator

Defibuary campaign, aimed at

sites in the region, and trained

Clements and Dr James Chinery and Critical Care Practitioner Kate

“Although I hadn’t met them

Owen on the Wales Air Ambulance.

before, they regularly call into the

Together they stabilised her condition before Alwena was

them, so it’s really nice to see

The fundraising is being co-

Alwena looking so well.

ordinated by the Achub Calon Y Dyffrun group, launched by

airlifted to the North Wales

“I was going to my daughter’s

raising awareness of what a

approximately 3,000 people to

Cardiac Centre at Ysbyty Glan

one day after I was out of hospital

defibrillator is and where to find

use them and administer CPR.

Clwyd on the afternoon of 11

when Ludwick happened to walk

the closest one.

October 2017.

round the corner with his children on the way to school.”

There she underwent an operation

Tomos said: “Alwena’s story Following Alwena’s illness, the

shows the importance of early

community is now aiming to raise

CPR and defibrillation when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

to have a stent fitted to improve

Ludwick said: “Her daughter Tracy

£1,300 to place a public access

the blood flow around her heart.

lives round the corner from me so

defibrillator outside the garage so

I bumped into her a few times and

it’s available when someone goes

“Every second counts in a medical

asked how she was getting on.

into cardiac arrest.

emergency, and by placing a

“Then one of our friends Tim Williams

A patient’s chance of surviving

be closing the gap in those available

had a do on at Neuadd Buddug, and

an out of hospital cardiac arrest

to the public to provide immediate

Alwena, who has three

I saw her other daughter Mandy there

decreases by an estimated 10 per

lifesaving care in the minutes before

grandchildren, was recently

and she gave me a big hug.”

cent with every passing minute

an ambulance arrives.”

She was discharged from hospital

defibrillator in the community we’ll

nine days later and returned to work a week before Christmas.

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

59 For all your equipment needs visit: www.ambulanceservicesuppliers.com

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We are the largest ambulance service in the UK, covering one-fifth of the country, including some of its most beautiful and life enriching locations. Whether you crave a coastal location, the best of the British countryside or the historic cities of Bath, Exeter, Bristol and Cheltenham to name but a few, the South West provides the best of everything.

Join us and you will find an ambulance service that understands; the better we look after you, the better equipped youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be to look after our patients. We listen and work with our staff to ensure a progressive, clinically advanced service which takes account of feedback, organisational learning, providing staff with the equipment and support necessary to help them fulfill their demanding roles.

Our diverse geography, including some remote rural communities, has driven our ambition to equip all our staff with the training, support and skills they need to deliver a higher level of care. This enables more of our patients to be treated closer to home; resulting in the lowest conveyance rate across the ambulance sector.

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Our commitment to supporting our staff is evidenced by our better-than-average staff survey results; and in our commitment to a dedicated clinical career framework, which supports the development of Paramedics into specialist and/or managerial roles. The success and internal career progression of many of our existing staff is testament to the importance we place on growing, developing and supporting our workforce.

60 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE With over half the county designated as an Area of Outstanding

every member of staff makes a real difference to improving the service

Natural Beauty, no one can deny that Dorset is truly something

we offer to the community that we serve, with a wide range of career

special. Dorset’s amazing natural features include Durdle Door, Pulpit

pathways from support staff to the frontline.

Rock, Golden Cap, Lulworth Cove and Chesil Beach. The county also boasts 5 country parks too.

Here are just a few of the benefits of working for SWASFT:

With miles and miles of sandy beaches, some of the best weather in

• Contributory NHS Pension Scheme which offers free life cover,

the UK and the longest life expectancy in Britain, Dorset makes for a

ill health and redundancy benefits, a tax-free lump sum on

happy home. And along with our picture postcard villages, the vibrant

retirement and an index-linked retirement benefit that is based

towns of Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth are bursting

on final salary and number of years in the scheme. For more

with places to eat, drink and shop.

information please visit NHS Pensions • Occupational Health, Counselling and Physiotherapy Services • Childcare voucher scheme • Occupational sick pay scheme • Travel expenses • Job share opportunities • Career break schemes • Flexible retirement (NHS Pensions www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions) • Staff commendations and awards • Discounts on products and services (Healthservice Discounts www.healthservicediscounts.com) • Staff development/robust training and development • Appraisals/active encouragement of life long learning Picture courtesy of Poole Tourism

• Flu protection • Lease Car (where appropriate)

Benefits of becoming a Paramedic with the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust: • The most clinically advanced Trust within the UK • Permanent and bank opportunities available • One of the most beautiful parts of the country

Candidates need to be enthusiastic, reliable, self-disciplined, flexible and confident enough to take control of situations. You need to enjoy helping people whilst understanding their needs and treating them with dignity and respect.

We are particularly interested in recruiting Paramedics in the DORSET area. For further information about joining SWAST please see our recruitment advertisement on the inside back cover of this edition.

• Lowest conveyance rate in the UK • A better work-life balance • Structured career pathway SWASFT, like the whole of the NHS, is committed to being a model employer. This means offering excellent working conditions. It means giving equal opportunities to all, and treating everyone with dignity and respect. It also means helping staff to develop their careers by providing training and development, while keeping the right balance between work and their other commitments and interests.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust not only offers a team working environment, which focuses on delivering and improving

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rewarding all staff according to their skills and experience and

patient care, with a culture of social responsibility, trust and accountability;

61 Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Newsline? Please contact us and let us know.

NEWSLINE NWAS

Community specialist paramedic takes over @TeamNWAS A paramedic from Cheshire is taking control of @TeamNWAS; an Instagram account run entirely by different faces from the frontline of North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Carol Robertson is a Community Specialist Paramedic in Knutsford.

She joined the ambulance service in 2002 and has worked as a technician, paramedic and urgent

involves responding in my car

studies! I enjoy socialising in

and meeting with local health and

any format, camping, festivals,

social care teams.

gigs, meals etc and this year we have tickets for Ed Sheeran, Tom

“I educate local groups in CPR

Kerridge’s Pub in the Park and

skills and talk about when to call

the League of Gentlemen as well

an ambulance. I also educate

as a holiday to Tenby with several

care home staff in frailty and I’m

friends and their families.”

part of Cheshire East’s frailty training team.

@TeamNWAS is the only UK ambulance service Instagram

SECAMB

Trust teams up with Kent Police in Medway and Swale A partnership between South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and Kent Police will see a vehicle carrying a paramedic and two Special

“When responding to patients I

account run entirely by the

look out for incidents where I can

workforce. Each week somebody

help someone to stay at home

different takes control of the account,

such as an older adult who has

giving followers a behind the scenes

fallen. I will assess any injuries

peek into what life as an ambulance

and make a clinical decision as

service worker is all about.

The joint response unit, which will

to what the patient requires but

Constables respond to incidents across Medway and Swale.

initially run for a pilot period of six

also liaise with Cheshire’s East

NWAS employs almost 6,000 staff

months, will be in operation on

care specialist before taking up

Intermediate Team and or own

in over 300 different roles across

Friday and Saturday nights from

her current role in 2015.

GP to ensure the patient has

the region. From paramedics,

2 March and will be assigned to

all necessary equipment, care,

dispatchers and ambulance care

attend incidents requiring a joint

Talking about what people will see

medications etc to keep them

assistants to 111 health advisors

attendance.

her share on the @TeamNWAS

safe within their own home and

and urgent care practitioners –

account, Carol said: “I absolutely

reduce any risk of further falls.

everyone contributes in one way or

The vehicle, a Mercedes Vito,

another to saving lives every single

has been provided by SECAmb.

love my role due to the variety and the projects I’m involved with. My

“Outside of work I’m often found

day and this is what the service

Its aims include reducing

working work is varied and usually

procrastinating from my master’s

hopes to share with the public.

the number of calls SECAmb

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62 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE needs to make to Kent Police for assistance and dealing more swiftly and effectively with alcohol-related injuries.

It is also hoped the unit will provide earlier intervention and investigation of crime and disorder.

SECAmb and its police services are each other’s main ‘customer’.

In Kent alone, SECAmb registered nearly 15,000 calls linked with Kent Police throughout 2017.

The special constables are not present to deliver medical assistance unless requested to by the paramedic, but they will assist the safety of the paramedic and establish if any police action is required at the scene. The partnership will add no additional cost to policing and is separate to a street triage service for people experiencing a mental health crisis, which is supported

by Kent and Medway NHS and

Study finds only half of infants with deadly meningitis display classic signs of the disease • Only around half of babies under three months of age who have bacterial meningitis present with fever which has for decades been the trigger for further medical investigation • Other features associated with meningitis in infants like a bulging fontanelle - the gap on the top of skull where the bones have not yet come together, coma, seizures and neck stiffness were found to be uncommon • Clinical presentation in young babies is often non-specific and hard to distinguish from mild illnesses - common features were found to be poor feeding, lethargy and irritability

Social Care Partnership Trust.

To date, 10 SECAmb paramedics and 12 police officers from the Kent Special Constabulary are signed up to crew the vehicle.

SECAmb paramedic and Operating Unit Manager for North Kent, Will Bellamy, said: “We’re really pleased to have developed this project and look forward to establishing the benefits we hope the pilot will bring. There’s obviously a huge amount of cross over between our work and that of the police and it makes sense to explore new ways of working such as this.”

project, Police Constable Paul Whitehead said: “This is a great

Researchers at St George’s, University of London, say their new study shows the classic symptoms associated with bacterial meningitis are uncommon in young infants less than three months of age – the group at highest risk of the disease.

Only around half of babies under three months of age who have bacterial meningitis display fever, which has for decades been the trigger for further medical investigations.

opportunity to help deliver a more effective service to the people of Kent, saving greatly on time and call demand and resources. The work of the unit is unique in the South East.”

Professor Paul Heath, one of the study investigators at St George’s, University of London, said: “The classic features of meningitis were uncommon in many cases. The

“Guidelines focusing on serious infections in children - including meningitis - have been introduced in the UK and the USA but all specify fever as a key feature of infection.

“Unfortunately, neither the rates of bacterial meningitis in babies, nor the numbers of deaths, has changed since the 1980s.

“Clinicians must, therefore, still consider bacterial meningitis in the diagnosis of an unwell infant that doesn’t present with fever.”

The study, Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Poor Outcome in Infants Less Than 90 Days of Age with Bacterial Meningitis in the United Kingdom and Ireland, is published in the Paediatric Infectious Diseases journal.

The study led by experts at St George’s University of London, funded by charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), involved 263 infants across the UK and Ireland and found that fever (temperature above 38oC) was reported in only 54% of cases, seizures in 28%, bulging fontanelle in 22%, coma in 6% and neck stiffness in only 3%.

In the UK, babies under three months of age are 70 times more likely to get bacterial meningitis than adults. Newborn babies are at the highest risk of all.

The study found that infants who did present with fever tended to be older than infants without fever.

The median age for this symptom was around 21 days old.

Common features were found to be poor feeding, lethargy and irritability, all of which can be difficult to distinguish from mild illness.

The study suggests that there

should be a low threshold for performing investigations on young infants when they arrive at hospital.

Of note, 52% of the infants without fever did have other features suggestive of bacterial meningitis, such as apnea (33%), seizures (32%), bulging fontanelle (16%), coma (7%) and neck stiffness (3%).

Earlier research from the same experts, in collaboration with the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit, found there to be in the region of 350 cases of bacterial meningitis in infants under three months of age per year in the UK and Ireland. Group B streptococci (GBS) and Escherichia coli remain the main causes of bacterial meningitis in this age group.

Vinny Smith, Chief Executive at MRF, said: “Young babies are particularly vulnerable to bacterial meningitis. Meningitis and septicaemia are deadly diseases that strike without warning. Rapid diagnosis and treatment provides the best chance of survival.

“Based on this research, we have collaborated with the study investigators to create a teaching package aimed at doctors and health professionals to aid rapid diagnosis and treatment.

“The package includes an eTool to help clinicians recognise bacterial meningitis in young infants; a lumbar puncture information sheet to help explain this procedure to parents; and an algorithm to aid management of bacterial meningitis. We hope that this can ultimately improve outcomes for this vulnerable age group. We have also updated our symptoms information for parents so that they know not to rely on fever alone as the main symptom to look out for in babies.”

MRF’s teaching package including the eTool and Babywatch card for parents can be accessed at www.meningitis. org/HCPresources.

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Kent Police’s lead officer for the

Experts are warning that doctors may miss correctly diagnosing babies with deadly bacterial meningitis as they may assume infants without a fever (a classic sign of the disease) do not have the illness.

symptoms displayed by young infants when they are seen by doctors at first in hospital are often non-specific and only half of cases showed signs of a fever.

63 Life Connections - The Affordable CPD Provider: www.lifeconnections.uk.com

NEWSLINE NWAS

Liverpool paramedic lands top ambulance role driving forward emergency care Emergency patients in Merseyside are benefiting from even more expert clinical skills as Paramedic, John Collins steps up to take on a

with other NHS Trusts and partner

Ambulance and was even

Dave and Hannah were nine-and-

organisations to implement

seconded as a Commander

a-half hours into their night shift

changes in the way that we

to the London Olympics and

when they got a call at 3.30am

respond to patients to help keep

Paralympics for two months in

to take Conor to King’s College

us up there at the cutting edge of

2012.

Hospital – a journey that took

pre-hospital care.

them just over four hours.

Giving advice to other people

“The NHS is changing and it’s

looking to work their way up the

His new liver was donated by an

a really exciting time to take on

emergency care career ladder,

11-year-old girl and he had the

such a challenging role. I’m really

John said: “Set your personal

transplant that morning.

looking forward to leading that

standards high, both personal

change”.

and clinical and you will be

It was the end of a long and

recognised as a result.”

painful wait for Conor, who

new challenge as Consultant

The ambulance service has

Paramedic for North West

increased their consultant

Ambulance Service (NWAS)

Although the role involves a

cryptogenic liver disease and

paramedics from four to six

making him the top ambulance

lot of leadership and learning

went on the transplant list when

meaning that there is now one

clinician in the county.

opportunities, John will still be

he was 15 years old.

focused each North West county

working alongside colleagues on

had been diagnosed with a

and one on clinical research Consultant paramedics are

ambulances, cars and helicopters

After their emergency dash,

with John taking up the post in

extremely highly trained and

promoting expert practice and top

Dave and Hannah had some

Merseyside.

notch patient care.

much-needed rest in London,

support advanced paramedics

before finally returning to Thirsk

in specialist pre-hospital care

Chief Consultant Paramedic

meaning that seriously ill patients

for NWAS, Mike Jackson, said:

can receive the best possible

“It’s been nine years since we

treatment before arriving at

introduced the role of consultant

hospital.

paramedic to the ambulance service and our patients have

YAS

Teenage transplant patient thanks ambulance crew after life-saving trip to London

Ambulance Station for the end of what had become a 26-and-a-half hour shift.

During their reunion, Conor told them: “I couldn’t really be happier.

John, 46, from Broadgreen joined

really benefited from the

the ambulance service in 1994,

specialised learning that each one

qualifying as a paramedic in 1995

brings to the organisation which is

before moving on to work in staff

why we have decided to expand

A teenager has been reunited

of duty and taking me to London.

training from 2004 until he was

them further.

with the Thirsk ambulance crew

You don’t do it for a reward or

who rushed him to London for a

sympathy, you do it because you

life-saving liver transplant.

enjoy helping people. I can’t thank

promoted to become one of the first advanced paramedics for

“John has years of varied

NWAS in 2010.

experience as a Paramedic and

I mean, what more can you ask for than life? Thanks very much for going above and beyond the call

you enough.”

is really eager to drive forward the

Conor Rowlands, from Huby

John said: “The consultant

organisation. He’s going to make

near Easingwold, visited

Looking back at the events of

paramedic job is a very varied

an excellent addition to the team.”

Advanced Emergency Medical

the last year, Elaine said: “When

Technician Dave Gardner and

we got the call about Conor’s

role and as well as supporting my team of advanced paramedics,

John also has years of experience

Emergency Medical Technician

transplant, I felt sick, but knew

I will also be involved in working

working for North West Air

Hannah Duffield on Wednesday

he needed it and he took it in his

7 March – just days before

stride.

his 18th birthday and the first anniversary of his transplant. He

“He now feels better and has

was accompanied by his mum,

loads of energy. It’s just lovely to

Elaine Hildrick, and they thanked

have a happy teenager. We’re so

their heroes with cards and gifts.

thankful to the donor family that

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he can live again.”

In a heartfelt message, they

Consultant Paramedic, John Collins gears up for his new role

said: “How do you say thank

The reunion was a very proud

you for saving a life? Thanks for

moment for Dave and Hannah,

going above and beyond and

because ambulance crews rarely

getting him to London in time

find out what happens to their

for his life-saving surgery. His

patients after they take them to

life can now begin – instead of

hospital.

us saying goodbye. Thanks a million.”

64 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

Dave said: “It’s definitely the

NEWSLINE longest shift I have ever worked!

up a public chief executive’s

But Conor got his liver transplant

commendation for her actions

and that’s all that matters. It

in calling 999 for her father who

was great to see him again and

collapsed at home.

looking so well.”

While sadly, Poppy’s dad’s life Within four weeks of leaving

couldn’t be saved, Poppy’s

hospital, Conor was back on the

quick-thinking meant he was able

road learning to drive and soon

to be given expert treatment by

passed both his driving and

ambulance crews and his family

motorbike tests. After eight weeks,

was able to see him before he

he returned to his apprenticeship

passed away the following day.

at City of York Council, and is now

Poppy’s actions also helped four

planning to become a mechanic.

other people who benefited from her father’s donated organs.

SECAMB

Ambulance staff, volunteers and public gather to celebrate achievements The achievements of ambulance staff, volunteers and the public were celebrated at the first of South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb) annual awards ceremonies.

The ceremony, for the east of SECAmb’s region, was held on Thursday 22 February at The Orangery at Turkey Mill, Maidstone, Kent.

Staff and volunteers were recognised for long service and Chief Executive’s Commendations were awarded across a range of categories including clinical

And staff from the David Lloyd Club in King’s Hill, Kent received a public commendation for springing into action to save the life of member and local man Steve Beal when he collapsed in cardiac arrest at the health club last year.

Elsewhere some remarkable teamwork between ambulance crews from Hastings, Polegate

EEAST

Man jailed for assaulting ambulance staff in Cambridgeshire A man has been jailed after assaulting ambulance staff in North Cambridgeshire. The defendant was sentenced to 10 weeks in custody and was ordered to pay compensation to two ambulance staff at a hearing at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 14th March.

It follows an incident on 8th December when the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) was called to an unconscious man in Cathedral Square, Peterborough.

The patient was intoxicated and was assisted into the back of an ambulance by two members of staff.

However, he became aggressive and started swearing and was asked to calm down on a number of occasions.

The crew were taking the patient to a place of safety when he started touching a female member of staff’s leg and trying to hold her.

He then took off his seat belt and walked towards her in the ambulance and grabbed her arms and forced himself onto her and tried to pin her down.

Luke Squibb, EEAST Senior Locality Manager for North Cambridgeshire, said: “This was a very distressing incident for our staff and we are grateful for the police and the courts for taking this seriously.

It is unacceptable that ambulance staff are subjected to violence when they are trying to do their best for patients. We hope this custodial sentence will stop this man and others from being aggressive towards our staff in the future. EEAST will always support staff in pursuing any acts of violence or aggression towards them and will push for the highest possible action to be taken.”

and the air ambulance service was recognised. The crews

Essex & Essex & Herts Herts Air Ambulance Air Ambulance Aeromedical Aeromedical Conference Conference 2018 2018

picked up a clinical excellence award for their treatment of a motorcyclist who not just survived a horrific impact with a car but begin the long road to recovery.

Celebrating four decades of service were Christopher Pentecost from Thanet and

Paediatrics Paediatrics – – our care, our care, their their future future th Wednesday Wednesday 27 27th June June 2018 2018

A dedicated, free, award-winning Aeromedical conference focussing on the causes, prevalence and changing face of paediatric cases and care in the pre-hospital A dedicated, free, award-winning environment.

A dedicated, conference free, award-winning Aeromedical focussing on Aeromedical conference focussing on

causes, prevalence and changing Thisthe brings together clinicians, the prevalence facecauses, of paediatric casesand andchanging care face paediatric cases andand care partner professionals, students in theofpre-hospital environment. in the pre-hospital environment. agencies to together exploreclinicians, what we have This brings This brings together clinicians, professionals, students andbetter, partner and done, what we can do professionals, students and partner agencies to explore what we have what the future might hold. agencies to explore what we have done, what we can do better, and done, what we can do hold. better, and what the future might what the future might hold.

Gatwick-based, Patrick Sullivan.

excellence, patient care and leadership.

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “I am extremely proud of every single award

James Loudon, attended as

winner. The long service, clinical

the Queen’s representative

skill, bravery and commitment

to present the Queen’s Long

shown by everyone represents

Service and Good Conduct

just a small percentage of the

medals, while staff were also

amazing work which goes on

recognised for 20, 30 and 40

day-in, day-out, across our

years’ NHS service. Between

region. Across the awards we

them, staff were incredibly

see the importance of the work of

recognised for more than 900

our volunteers, members of the

years’ service.

public, and staff in all areas of the Trust. Well done and thank you

A popular award recipient was

to everyone who goes about this

eight-year-old Poppy Parkinson

work every day for the benefit of

from Hastings who picked

our patients.”

Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SQ Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1SQ

Free Free to to register register at at www.ehaat.org www.ehaat.org Headline Sponsors Headline Sponsors

Venue Sponsor Venue Sponsor

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Deputy Lieutenant of Kent,

65 For all your equipment needs visit: www.ambulanceservicesuppliers.com

NEWSLINE EMAS

Deer EMAS…Thank you for saving my life A Lorry driver from Beverley, East Yorkshire has been reunited with the ambulance, fire and coastguard crews who saved his life after he swerved to miss a deer and became trapped in his 26 tonne lorry for over 4 hours.

Pete Bennett, 57, was transporting frozen chicken in his long goods vehicle through Market Rasen when he was suddenly faced with a deer in the road. After swerving to miss the animal, Pete’s lorry ended up in a ditch. Due to the

Simon Topham, from Lincolnshire

taker Joe Hemming, Paramedics

Integrated Voluntary Emergency

Chris Cole, Paul Harding-

Services, Lincolnshire Fire and

Hubbard, Dr Simon Topham, Fire

Rescue and HM Coastguard.

Station Officers Dan Marsland and Andy Higgins from Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue

Fire and Rescue and Pilot Dave

supported with their Urban Search

Preston from HM Coastguard at

and Rescue team to access Pete.

Lincoln Ambulance Station.

All crews worked together for over 4 hours to release Pete from the

Pete and Beverley also presented

vehicle as safely as possible after

EMAS, LIVES, Lincolnshire

Dr Simon Topham advised Pete’s

Fire and Rescue and the HM

condition could have taken a

Coastguard with a donation for

sudden turn for the worse.

their charitable funds.

Dr Topham said: “I remember

Pete said: “I’m very grateful for

thinking that Pete could go into

being able to meet everybody

cardiac arrest at any minute and

today and say a personal thank

we needed to get him out as

you to the team who saved my

quickly as possible. I was also

life, they were amazing. I had a lot

concerned that we may need to

of gaps in my memory and today

amputate Pete’s leg at the scene.”

I have been able to fill in parts which will help with my recovery.”

angle of his lorry his mobile phone

Due to the nature of Pete’s

slid down, but thankfully was

injuries he was taken to Hull

Wife Beverley added: “I am so

close enough for him to grab it

Royal Infirmary Hospital by HM

thankful to all the staff for helping

and call 999.

Coastguard’s helicopter, flown by

my husband, it meant a lot to

Pilot Dave Preston, where he later

be able to celebrate our 25 th

Emergency call taker Joe

received surgery for his injuries,

wedding anniversary together.”

Hemming was able to locate

including fractures in his ribs, leg

Pete and send help. Minutes later

and foot.

Paramedic Chris Cole was on

Paramedic Paul Harding-Hubbard said: “The best thank you is

scene, followed by Paramedic

Today Pete and wife Beverley

seeing you standing here today

Paul Harding-Hubbard, Doctor

have been reunited with 999 call

talking to us and enjoying life.”

SWAST

Retired nurse praises new SWASFT defibrillator after husband death A retired NHS nurse has said that a new South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) defibrillator will provide a potentially lifesaving “legacy” to her husband who tragically died in a Cornish seaside town.

Graham Anthony, 71, had a cardiac arrest during a visit to Readymoney Cove in Fowey with his wife in October 2017.

Emergency services personnel – including Specialist SWASFT Paramedic Paul Kimberley – carried out treatment on Graham from Callington near Liskeard, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The defibrillator, which is registered with SWASFT, was officially commissioned during a special ceremony at Readymoney on Thursday 15 February – during which Graham’s wife Angela gave a short address.

She said: “I want to thank those people who came to our aid, including two nurses on holiday who helped with CPR and passersby who helped Graham get out of his wheelchair. The paramedics, Coastguard, RNLI, Air Ambulance, the GP, and the Police were all magnificent. You all tried so hard to save him. Paul, the Specialist Paramedic, exhibited a special

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

degree of professionalism and compassion. My family and I are so grateful to you all.

“I am so grateful to the people of Fowey for their generosity, especially Victoria Clarke who Pete, wife Beverley with Dr Simon Topham, Paramedic Paul Harding-Hubbard, Paramedic Chris Cole and 999 call taker Joe Hemming

66 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

worked so hard to get this device implemented. I feel very honoured that you have done this for him.

NEWSLINE “Graham would’ve been so happy

to other people. It is a fitting

“So the fundraising campaign

But having a public access

that some good has come out of

tribute to him.”

resonated strongly with residents

defibrillator in place is another

and tourists. The response was

way of ensuring a quick response

Fowey was his favourite place in

Local shop owner, Victoria Clarke,

phenomenal – donations kept

to a cardiac arrest incident.”

the world.

spearheaded a campaign to raise

coming in, and we reached the

£1,600 for a public defibrillator

target very quickly.

his death. This is a legacy to him.

Since the Readymoney defibrillator was installed in

“I hope this defibrillator is

beside the sandy beach. She also

never needed. But if there is an

paid for the device to be installed

“It was desperately sad that

January, funds have been raised

emergency this could save a life,

on the wall by her café.

Graham lost his life, but having

for another device at Fowey

a defibrillator on site provides

Gallants sailing club.

and that’s what matters the most.”

Victoria said: “It was a tragic event

hope that should such an incident

A defibrillator is a device that gives

to happen. Although there were

occur in the future, loss of life

A cardiac arrest occurs when the

a high energy electric shock to

several public access defibrillators

could potentially be avoided.”

heart suddenly stops pumping

the heart through the chest wall to

in Fowey, none of them were

someone who is in cardiac arrest.

sufficiently close enough to be of

Local charity Coast Medic

in the UK around 30,000 people

assistance on that day.

installed the defibrillator and

are treated for a cardiac arrest

registered it with SWASFT.

outside of hospital.

Paul Kimberley said: “From a

blood around the body. Each year

tragedy has come this legacy

“The local community in Fowey

in memory of Graham’s life.

was really shocked by what

Founder Luke Tudor, who is a

Only around 1 in 10 people

Readymoney Cove was his

happened. Readymoney is an

SWASFT paramedic, said: “There

survive to return home, but public

favourite place in the world. This

iconic place that is important to a

are many remote locations in

access defibrillators can make a

life-saving piece of equipment will

lot of people. It’s more than just

Cornwall, which are challenging

critical difference to the chances

reduce the risk of this happening

a beach.

for ambulances to reach quickly.

of survival.

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

Angela Anthony and Victoria Clarke holding the new SWASFT defibrillator with SWASFT Specialist Paramedic Paul Kimberley (in green) and others

67 Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Newsline? Please contact us and let us know.

NEWSLINE NWAS

Paramedic lands top ambulance role driving forward emergency care in Cheshire

my skills and really shape the

can be. He’s going to make an

future of the ambulance service.

excellent addition to the team.”

“The role will involve supporting

Nick also has years of experience

a team of advanced paramedics

working for North West Air

and also working with other NHS

Ambulance and has a MSc in

Trusts and partner organisations

Advanced Practice. He’s also due

to implement changes in the

to start PHd study in September

way that we respond to patients

to further expand his knowledge.

Emergency patients in Cheshire

to help keep us up there at the

are benefitting from even

cutting edge of pre-hospital care.

Although the role involves a lot of leadership and learning

more expert clinical skills as Paramedic, Nick Sutcliffe steps

“I’m really looking forward to

opportunities, Nick will still be

up to take on a new challenge as

getting stuck in!”

working alongside colleagues on ambulances, cars and helicopters

Consultant Paramedic for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS)

The ambulance service has

promoting expert practice and top

making him the top ambulance

increased their consultant

notch patient care.

clinician in the county.

paramedics from four to six meaning that there is now one

Consultant paramedics are

focused on each North West

extremely highly trained and

county and one on clinical

support advanced paramedics

research with Nick taking up the

in specialist pre-hospital care

post in Cheshire.

meaning that seriously ill patients

Attention all paramedics - what is going on?

A sponsorship agreement

can receive the best possible

Chief Consultant Paramedic

allowed us to offer 20 FREE

treatment before arriving at

for NWAS, Mike Jackson, said:

PLACES on our Harrogate

hospital.

“It’s been nine years since we

March 15 Paramedic and

introduced the role of consultant

Resuscitation Conferences and

Nick, 44, from Preston joined

paramedic to the ambulance

yet in spite of this offer which

the ambulance service in 1999,

service and our patients have

included lunch / Tea / Coffee etc

qualifying as a paramedic in 2001

really benefitted from the

there was little interest !!!!

before moving on to work in staff

specialised learning that each one

training from 2004 until he was

brings to the organisation which is

To assist us in deciding whether

promoted to become one of the

why we have decided to expand

or not to run future conferences

first advanced paramedics for

them further.

it would be helpful to know the

NWAS in 2010.

reasons why, as cost obviously “Nick has years of varied

was not an issue.

Nick said: “I absolutely love my

experience as a Paramedic and

job as a paramedic and really

has already proved himself as an

Were any of the following the

excited to move this onto the next

excellent clinician who’s really keen

reasons for lack of interest ?

level where I can further advance

the help make NWAS the best we 1/ The Harrogate location did not suit 2/ The presentations were not of interest 3/ The weather

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

4/ Lack of available time 5/ I am no longer interested in attending conferences.

Please forward your replies which will be treated as confidential to Consultant Paramedic, Nick Sutcliffe gears up for his new role

info@mediapublishingcompany. com

68 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

YAS

Paramedic’s random act of kindness A paramedic from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has gone beyond the call of duty to help one of her patients.

Leilah Nolan and her crewmate, Tom Thackray-Collier, were called to a homeless man who was seen wandering around in a gown after discharging himself from hospital in Leeds.

All of his clothes had been cut off whilst he received hospital treatment.

After establishing that he did not need any further treatment, Leilah decided to go to a local charity shop and buy the man some warm clothes - with money out of her own pocket.

Leilah said: “The man we helped was freezing cold. He desperately needed some warm clothing, and as he was homeless with no money, Tom and I felt it would be nice to buy him something warm.

“We went into the British Heart Foundation charity shop and found a T-shirt, warm jumper and coat, which we thought would be suitable for him, and we were happy to buy them for him.

“When we took the clothes back to him, he was so happy and even did a little dance. He was shocked that someone did that for him and said he didn’t know what to say.

“Whilst we were with him, a lady brought him a hot chocolate and another man brought him a sandwich. For whatever reason, this man was living on the streets and had no money for food or clothes and he needed help.

“As a paramedic, we aren’t always needed to help people medically, however, it is nice when we can help people in other ways.

“I hope it encourages others to do random acts of kindness. I know if it had been any of my other colleagues who attended to this man that they would have done the same for him. We are all very caring and compassionate towards our patients and treat people with the dignity and respect that they deserve.”

NEWSLINE SWAST

Young paramedics taste life on emergency frontline The next generation of paramedics were given a taste of emergency frontline work during two highly successful events run

by South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) Around 300 aspiring clinicians attended the ‘Be a Better Paramedic’ Student Conference and the ‘Become a Paramedic Taster Day for A Level students where they were shown how to respond to medical emergencies.

Paramedics face critical incidents every day to save lives and to protect our communities.

Those who attended the events in Bristol were taught how to deal with various situations, ranging from a minor head injury to a major live incident.

SWASFT University Liaison Officer, Jennings Mitchell, who was the main organiser, said: “We wanted to give the students and young people a real flavour of what it’s like to be a SWASFT paramedic.

We also wanted to showcase our clinical and educational excellence – and why we’re regarded as one of the best trusts in the country to work for.

The students and young people had the opportunity to meet the professional paramedics, and to view a range of ambulance vehicles and specialist equipment.

Adrian South, SWASFT Clinical Director, said: “We wanted the events to be as interactive as possible, and to show the breath of paramedic practice. We had sessions on a variety of topics

intended to improve the clinical abilities of future paramedics.”

Both events took place at the University of West of England (UWE). The Student Conference built on the success of previous events in 2016 and 2017 for those studying towards a Paramedic Science degree. Meanwhile the Taster Day was the first of its kind run by SWASFT.

“We are really pleased with how the events went, and the feedback has been very positive. There was a vibrant atmosphere and positive energy throughout, which is really encouraging for the future.”

The Critical Care Team led a masterclass demonstrating how they would treat a patient with a traumatic brain injury.

The Hazardous Area Response Team acted-out a scenario in which a vehicle had driven down a High Street and collided with pedestrians, causing serious and fatal injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injury Masterclass by the Critical Care Team

Powerful solutions for EMS care

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A surgeon must always rely on his or her own clinical judgement when deciding which treatments and procedures to use with patients. For verifying availability of Stryker products in your area please contact your Stryker representative. Copyright © 2017 Stryker. The products shown above are CE marked. Stryker Corporation or its divisions or other corporate affiliated entities own, use or have applied for the following trademarks or Service marks: Stryker, Power-PRO XT, XPS, Power-LOAD. ©2017 Physio-Control, Inc. All names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective Specifications are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available worldwide. Check the manufacturers’ Declarations of Compliance for a list of products and accessories authorised for use within the EU.

69 For all your equipment needs visit: www.ambulanceservicesuppliers.com

NEWSLINE heartfelt want to save his little life

such a good recovery and that

have been reunited with the driver

meant that we get more precious

Ian and Katy are also doing well

whose life they saved.

time with Ralph. I don’t think there

provides a sense of achievement,

will ever be a way to properly

especially due to the emotive

Tony Timbrell, 58, from Bath,

express my gratitude to them.”

nature of the job.”

suffered a cardiac arrest at the

reunited with the ambulance

Katy, Ralph and his dad, Ian,

Ian and Katy said that they were

whilst he was driving home from

crew who saved his life after he

visited Yorkshire Ambulance

previously unaware of the dangers

playing football.

suffered a cardiac arrest.

Service Trust Headquarters to

of uncut grapes. Since the

personally thank their heroes.

incident, they have told as many

SWASFT Operations Officer

friends and family as possible to

Andy Richardson – together

YAS

Toddler meets ambulance heroes

wheel of his Mercedes Estate

A toddler from Leeds has been

Two-year-old Ralph Bavill choked on a grape and, despite mum

Wendy, Andy and Andrew were

ensure that grapes are always

with Bath residents Ryan Jordan

Katy’s efforts to dislodge it, he

thrilled to be reunited with the

sliced lengthways before being

and Susan Baio – treated the

stopped breathing.

family and they even gave Ralph

given to children.

unconscious Tony at the scene

SWAST

The group met-up at Bath

a toy ambulance. He also enjoyed Paramedic Wendy Durkin,

looking around a real ambulance

Emergency Medical Technician

and, when it was time to leave, he

Andy Towers and Clinical

gave each of the crew a big hug

Supervisor Andrew Hughes

and a ‘high five’.

rushed to the scene and resuscitated Ralph, before taking

Andrew said: “It was great seeing

him to Leeds General Infirmary.

Ralph again, especially due to

He spent two nights in hospital

such a positive outcome. Whilst

Cardiac arrest survivor, Tony, reunited with lifesaving team

to keep him alive.

Ambulance Station on Friday 9 for the first time since the incident in December 2012.

Tony said: “I am in awe of Andy, Ryan and Susan for saving me.

They helped me unconditionally, and

and has since made a full

attending patients who are

They came to the aid of a

recovery.

choking is not uncommon, to be

stranger who was unconscious

without them I wouldn’t be here. It is

involved in an active choking and

and alone inside his locked car

fantastic to be able to meet-up with

Katy said: “The ambulance staff

resuscitation with a child is not a

in the middle lane of a busy city

them. They are absolute heroes.”

saved my son’s life. It’s a simple

regular occurrence.

junction.

“I’m really proud of the team for

And now a South Western

was travelling to meet a friend for

providing excellent care during

Ambulance Service NHS

dinner when he saw the stationary

“Their skill, speed,

this distressing incident. With the

Foundation Trust (SWASFT)

vehicle angled across two lanes

professionalism and a genuinely

added fact that Ralph has had

paramedic and two bystanders

of Pines Way.

Self-employed builder, Ryan, 39,

yet extraordinary fact that has forever changed all of our lives.

He rushed over to find paint company sales manager, Tony, collapsed inside the vehicle with the engine still running.

“I knew he was in trouble,” Ryan said. “He was unconscious with saliva coming out of his mouth.

Some people were walking and driving past, but I wanted to do something for him. He was fighting for his life.”

Ryan dialed 999 and spoke to AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

an SWASFT Emergency Medical Assistant who provided vital medical advice over the phone, including CPR instructions.

Andy arrived quickly and forced entry to the car by smashing the rear passenger window with an oxygen bottle. Tony was then dragged out onto the ground.

70 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE Ryan was joined by Susan who

“I never expected to see him

carried out chest compressions

again though. So I was totally

on Tony together, while Andy

elated when Tony contacted

provided advanced life support.

me. It shows just how much difference people can make

With the help of local police

doing chest compressions

officers, the trio managed to

together.”

get return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) before an

Tony, who is married with three

ambulance arrived.

adult children, was taken to hospital and placed in an

Former nursery owner, Susan,

induced coma for three days.

57, said: “I saw the car and

He went on to make a good

thought something wasn’t

recovery.

right. We were his only chance of survival. It seemed so

Ryan said: “No family wants to

unlikely he would come back

go through a tragedy just before

to consciousness. But we

Christmas. I could never have

kept going, because we were

walked away. So I just got on

determined to keep him alive.

with it and played my part. I was

I remember thinking ‘oxygen

so pleased to hear Tony was

in, pump it around’. Then I saw

alive. The outcome could have

some movement in his lips.

been so different.”

Only 8% of the UK population survive an ‘out of hospital’ cardiac arrest, but the chances of survival significantly increase when people step in and take action.

Andy added: “Tony is living proof of the huge benefit of doing CPR. You don’t have to be highly skilled or professionally trained to do it. You just need to get stuck in and have a go.”

Tony and Andy meet-up every year at Christmas for a meal, and Tony gives gifts to Andy to express his continued gratitude.

Andy has also led a masterclass for Tony’s football team to teach them CPR. A photo message tweeted by Andy on Christmas Day of him

with Tony, received more than 10,000 views from locations including Canada and Australia.

Andy posted: “This is Tony, 5 years ago this month I intubated, cannulated and defibbed him. With the help of some bystanders and very helpful police we got ROSC. An ambulance arrived and we took him to ED. In over 20 years of service he is probably my greatest achievement!”

Tony later posted: “Just popped down to Bath Ambulance station to meet my hero paramedic.”

He also said: “Having a cardiac arrest has helped me to put everything into perspective. You never know what could happen this afternoon or tomorrow.”

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

71 Life Connections - The Affordable CPD Provider: www.lifeconnections.uk.com

NEWSLINE He said: “The Cabinet Office

the floor hoping someone might

use many of the advances in

Student invents bestyet fall alarm

need to know for sure that people

come, they should be reassured

electronics and computing.

want sophisticated personal

that someone will definitely come

alarms, that they’d choose one

and help them.”

A Portsmouth student inspired

in their family. I am hoping lots of

Hassan’s presented his device

detect a fall, calculate how severe

people will say they agree it’s a

at the Care Innovation Challenge

it is and, if needed, automatically

good idea.”

competition which saw him

contact carers or loved ones

selected from a highly competitive

and emergency services with the

Called Tumble Alert, the alarm

first round to be able to go

person’s precise location.

is sophisticated enough to give

forward to present to the Cabinet

elderly people who live alone and

Office.

by the worry of seeing his mother fall over when she was unwell has invented a gadget thought to be the most advanced personal alarm ever.

for themselves or for someone

satellite device which together

who are the most susceptible to

Hassan Zaidi, a computing student at the University of Portsmouth, has now been asked to present his ingenious gadget to the Cabinet Office next month.

If they like what they see, his device could win funding and

three people aged 65 or older will Talking about what inspired him

fall a year, costing the NHS an

happens, someone will be on their

to design the alarm, he said: “My

estimated £4.6m a day.

way to help.

mother has suffered several heart attacks, and the last time it was only

Anyone willing to vouch for the

Hassan said: “Falling over

by luck I was there at home and

concept of Tumble Alert can either

shouldn’t take away anyone’s

found her on the floor. It terrified

go to Hassan’s website: or let him

freedom, but research has shown

me, the thought that something can

know via Facebook:

people’s confidence and makes many decide to give up their

Hassan is now hoping people with

Age UK estimate up to one in

falls reassurance that if the worst

time and again that it steals

support.

His system is a necklace and

independence.

an elderly relative or those who are susceptible to falls will help

“The main driving force behind

him win over the Cabinet Office by

developing Tumble Alert was that

proving proof of concept.

no one should be left alone on

happen to someone you love and not being around. I kept thinking

Tumbler Alert

what if I hadn’t been there, what if

www.tumblealert.com

she was alone.

Care challenge https:// “Shortly after, an elderly family

careinnovationchallenge.com/

friend fell in her kitchen and she lay on the floor for two hours until

Twitter: @TumbleAlert

her husband came home.

People can fill in form here: “This cannot be the way things

http://tumblealert.com/453-2/

go, this needs to change.”

Or via FB: https://www.

He said existing personal alarms

facebook.com/Tumble-

were ‘old technology’ and don’t

Alert-1835440786753402/

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

PRO M VE A 2 B

W I T H

D I G N I T Y

72 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

IN PERSON News

London’s Air Ambulance Appoints Guide Dogs’ Louise Robertshaw as Director of MarComms London’s Air Ambulance charity have announced the appointment of Louise Robertshaw as the organisation’s new Director of Marketing and Communications.

Louise joins London’s Air Ambulance from Guide Dogs, where she spent nine years as Head of Communications and Campaigns, developing the marcomms function and leading its brand strategy, as well as instigating a charity wide digital first strategy.

inspiring and truly life-saving cause at a key

most recently as Chief Nurse across a

time in the charity’s development. We have

number of Kent clinical commissioning

ambitious plans to double income over the

groups. She has also been a specialist

next five years and brand growth is a vital part

advisor to the CQC in relation to

of the overall strategy to drive donations.”

safeguarding and paediatric services.

Chief Executive Officer of London’s Air

Bethan previously worked for BMI

Ambulance Jonathan Jenkins said;

Healthcare, where she held the positions of Ward Sister, Deputy Director of Nursing,

“The charity is incredibly excited to welcome

Regional Director of Nursing and, latterly,

Louise to its team. She has a track record

Chief Executive of three hospitals in

of delivering organisation wide strategic

London.

leadership and in her last role helped substantially increase fundraising income

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie

using her marketing and communications

said: “I am delighted that we have

expertise. We are looking forward to working

appointed Bethan to this important position

with Louise and supporting her in achieving

on our Executive Team. I know SECAmb

similar at London’s Air Ambulance.

will benefit greatly from her skills and experience. On behalf of everyone at the

London’s Air Ambulance have revamped their marketing and communications functions, bringing the two teams together under one directorate for the first time. The Director of Marketing and Communications is a brand new role designed to focus on strategy and take the charity forward on its ambitious aims over the next three years.

“We are currently planning for the future, notably with a major goal of doubling income, to ensure that we can achieve our mission of providing our patients with the world’s most innovative and effective pre-hospital care. The revamped Marcomms team, and Louise’s appointment, will help us achieve this goal.”

London’s Air Ambulance is the charity that delivers a 24/7 advanced trauma team to

Louise Robertshaw said;

London’s most critically injured. It treats on

“I am really excited to be joining such an

average five people in London each day, performing medical interventions at the

Trust I’d like to formally welcome her and I look forward to working closely with her.

“I’d also like to thank Steve Lennox for the dedication and hard work her has shown while filling this position on an interim basis.

I know that he will continue to be a huge asset for the Trust in the coming months.”

Bethan said: “I am delighted to have been appointed and I am looking forward to joining SECAmb and meeting and working with everyone over the next few months.”

roadside which are normally only found in a hospital emergency department. The service costs £10million per year, the majority of which has to be found through fundraising.

SECAMB News

Trust appoints new Executive Director of Nursing & Quality South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director of Nursing & Quality.

Bethan Haskins will officially join the Trust on 1 April. Bethan fills the role carried out on an interim basis by Steve Lennox, who will be remaining with the Trust for a number of months to provide additional capacity in the directorate.

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

Following an extensive recruitment process,

Bethan, who lives in Sevenoaks, Kent, has a broad range of experience and worked

73 For all your equipment needs visit: www.ambulanceservicesuppliers.com

IN PERSON SECAMB News

Trust appoints two new independent Non-Executive Directors South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new independent Non-Executive Directors.

Laurie McMahon who lives in Faversham, Kent and Adrian Twyning from Danehill, near Haywards Heath, West Sussex will initially serve a three-year term of office running until February 2021.

SECAmb’s Nominations Committee

Delivery at NHS East Coast Kent. He also

And there was an emotional reunion for the

served as Army Legal Officer for the British

Team of the Year – a group of staff from across

Army between 2006-2009 and as Solicitor

the region – which celebrated alongside the

and Associate with law firm, Taylor Wessing

15-year-old boy whose life they saved after

between 2001-2005.

he suffered a cardiac arrest. Charlie Thurston, from Forest Row, East Sussex, attended the

Adrian said: “I’m delighted to be joining

ceremony with his parents having made an

SECAmb and looking forward to working

amazing recovery following his collapse.

with everyone to make it a world-class organisation.”

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “I was very proud to join our staff and volunteers

SECAmb Chairman Richard Foster said:

to celebrate their success. These awards

“I am pleased that Laurie and Adrian have

showcase the long service, clinical skill, bravery

joined the SECAmb Board and I am sure their

and commitment which takes place across our

experience and backgrounds will bring huge

region every day. It is vital we celebrate and

benefits to the Trust. On behalf of everyone I’d

reward achievement and the award winners

like to welcome them both and look forward to

represent just a small percentage of the

working closely with them very soon.”

amazing work I know goes on day-in, day-out within SECAmb. Well done and thank you to all

recommended that the Trust’s Council of

our staff and volunteers for everything they do

Governors make the appointment following

SECAMB News

a decision by an interview panel including

Ambulance staff and volunteer achievements celebrated

for our patients and each other.”

The achievements of South East Coast

Sokulski, Operational Team Leader, Ashford,

After starting his NHS career in Wales, Laurie

Ambulance Service (SECAmb) staff and

Kent; Lauren Morris, Emergency Care Support

spent much of the 80s as a Senior Fellow at

volunteers have been celebrated at the

Worker, Ashford, Kent; Pete Owen, Critical

the King’s Fund College. In 1989 he co-

second of the Trust’s annual awards

Care Paramedic, Ashford, Kent; Gareth Harris

founded the Office for Public Management

ceremonies.

and Alex Bourne, Ambulance Technicians,

Trust governors. They each bring a wealth of experience including organisational development, change management and public engagement.

Chief Executive Commendations Above and beyond the call of duty – Jacek

UK Specialist Ambulance Service – For their

which through organizational and leadership development supported those working in the

The ceremony, for the west of SECAmb’s

quick-thinking and actions which thwarted

public sector improve the quality, efficiency

region, was held on Thursday 8 March at

an attempted robbery at the Trust’s Ashford

and accessibility of their services.

Woodlands Park Hotel near Cobham, Surrey.

Make Ready Centre and led to the conviction

He is the co-founder and director of the

Staff and volunteers were recognised for long

Realisation Collaborative, which specialises in

service and Chief Executive’s Commendations

helping large, multi-stakeholder organisations

were awarded across a range of categories

Above and beyond the call of duty – Alan

manage strategic change. He is also

including clinical excellence, patient care

Deakin, Student Paramedic, Brighton – For his

Honorary Visiting Professor in Strategy and

and leadership. Vice Lord Lieutenant of

work in ensuring better support and treatment

Organisational Design at Cass Business

Surrey, Bill Biddell, attended as the Queen’s

for homeless people in Brighton. Alan has

School in London.

representative to present the Queen’s Long

been working tirelessly, joining up with other

Service and Good Conduct medals, while staff

agencies and crews to improve the service we

Laurie said: “It is rare to find an organisation

were also recognised for 20 and 30 years’

provide to his vulnerable group of people.

as large as SECamb that is so focused on

NHS service. Between them, staff celebrated

making positive change happen. I am really

for more than 800 years’ service.

of a group who had been stealing medical equipment across Kent.

Outstanding Patient Care – Kirk Collison, Emergency Medical Advisor, Crawley EOC –

proud to have become part of it.”

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

Volunteers receiving awards included Fleet

For his calmness and professionalism despite

Adrian’s career has covered the energy, retail

and Church Crookham Community First

his own recent personal tragedy in providing

and health sectors. He is the Director of White

Responder Alan Smart who has responded to

excellent care and advice to a woman whose

Goods for DixonsCarphone Plc and was

more than 2,000 emergencies since becoming

baby had been born at home prematurely and

previously Head of UK Field Operations at

a CFR in 2013.

not breathing.

Centrica Plc. Employee of the Year went to West Sussex

Leadership – Tom Pullen, Specialist

Prior to this he gained NHS experience as

Operations Manager Andy Pattison, for his

Paramedic and IBIS Manager, Crawley – For

Associate Director of Operations at Brighton

hard work developing a trauma management

his role in championing the Trust’s IBIS system

and Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust and as

scheme which provides peer-to-peer support to

both internally and externally and driving

Associate Director of Performance and

staff potentially at risk of post-traumatic stress.

forward innovation in developing patient care.

74 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

IN PERSON Leadership – Tim Magson, Paramedic

Team of the Year – Helen Flynn, Horley;

and HART Training Manager, Crawley –

Claire Brewer, Horley; Cheryl Laflain,

For his commitment to his role including

Horley; Nicole LeCroisette, Dorking;

Jennifer Bleach, Gatwick MRC

the development of a Hazardous Area

Jonathan Fisher, Dartford; Charlotte Davis,

Kate Buche, Polegate

Response Team (HART) training course

Coxheath EOC; Sam Taylor, Charlie Leahy,

which is now seen as a benchmark for other ambulance services to follow.

Leadership – Angela Rayner – Head of Inclusion and Wellbeing, Crawley – For her efforts working tirelessly to improve the wellbeing provision for staff across SECAmb

KMSS Air Ambulance; Jess Garland, KMSS Air Ambulance; Tony Hudson, Consultant, St George’s Hospital – For their team work

20 years NHS Long Service medals

Michelle Moore, Tangmere Michelle Thompson, Crawley EOC Richard Orme, Chertsey Susie Thum, Gatwick MRC Vera Stocker, Gatwick MRC

and expert treatment to save the life of a 15-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac

30 years NHS Long Service Award:

arrest at home. The team work delivered

by developing a wellbeing strategy and the

from the moment the 999 call was made, at

Debbie Maynard, Crawley ECO

establishment of the Trust’s Wellbeing Hub.

the scene and also at hospital, ensured the

Desmond Eveleigh, Gatwick MRC

young man was able to spend Christmas Voluntary and Community Service – Alan

with his family and has a great future.

Smart, Community First Responder, Fleet and Church Crookham – For his dedication

Queen’s Ambulance Service medals for

to his role as a CFR. Since becoming a CFR

Long Service & Good conduct (20 years)

in 2013, Alan has responded to some 2,000

were presented to:

emergencies and has been involved in a number of successful resuscitations. During a hot spell last summer, Alan went the extra mile keeping a stock of cold drinks in his car to hand out to ambulance crews.

Employee of the Year – Andrew Pattison,

Jane Lupton, Polegate John Reed, Redhill Katrina Vickery, Farnborough Mark Lilley, Worthing Peter Hogg, Crawley EOC Peter Vallance, Epsom Phil Marsh, Gatwick MRC Russell Kempton, Worthing

David Lovett, Gatwick MRC

Sue Lawson, Retired, Brighton

Eileen Smith, Godalming

Tim Gorringe, Lewes/Crawley HQ

Hazel Farlow, Godalming Jonathan Keenes, Farnborough Kevin Wheat, Gatwick MRC

Volunteer’s 10 years Long Service Award Mark Townsend, CFR, Aylesham, Kent

Operations Manager, West Sussex – For his

Lesley Stewart, Redhill

hard work and commitment to developing

Paula McKeough-Lea, Gatwick MRC

a trauma management scheme in SECAmb

Katie McNeil, Haywards Heath

which provides peer-to-peer support to staff

Stephen Offer, Tangmere

Tessa Weaver, CFR, Godalming

potentially at risk of post-traumatic stress.

Zena Heywood, Chertsey

Craig Chitty, CFR, Effingham

Paul Berry, CFR, Billingshurst Paula Davis, CFR, Horsham Heather Kingdon, CFR, Partridge Green

AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

75 Do you have anything you would like to add or include? Please contact us and let us know.

IN PERSON around his community, and he makes a real

EMAs give vital lifesaving medical advice,

Community First Responder Mike wins Unsung Hero Award

difference to everyone he treats.

including CPR instructions and other first

and thanked by a patient, friend or relative of

The Unsung Hero Awards were created to

A South Western Ambulance Service NHS

somebody he has treated.”

celebrate the hard work of NHS non-medical

SWASFT News

Foundation Trust (SWASFT) volunteer has won a national award for going above and

aid help, to callers so they can help patients “He is unable to walk down the high street

during an emergency.

of the area he lives without being stopped

staff members.

CFRs are trained volunteers who support their

beyond the call of duty.

local community by attending emergency calls

The awards were presented during a

on behalf of SWASFT while an ambulance is

ceremony at The Principal Hotel in Manchester

Community First Responder (CFR) Mike Kemp

on its way.

City Centre on Friday 23 February.

was given the Volunteer of the Year accolade at the Unsung Hero Awards 2018.

They respond to particular types of medical

Mike has covered the Liskeard and Looe area

patient to receive immediate lifesaving care.

of Cornwall for 15 years. He has attended

emergencies where it is essential for the These include conditions such as cardiac

more than 3,000 incidents, including over 200

arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties,

cardiac arrests. Mike was also a member of St

unconscious patients, fitting and stroke.

Ambulance Chief Officer Appointed Ali Marquis has been appointed as the new Chief Officer for the St John Ambulance &

John’s Ambulance from age 11 for more than 50 years.

News

There are almost 1,000 CFRs who volunteer

Rescue Service.

for SWASFT, covering hundreds of locations Mike said: “I’m delighted to have won this

across the South West.

Mrs Marquis, who was formally the Deputy Chief Officer, took up her new position at the

award. It’s fantastic for CFRs, who do some much great work, and for the Trust as a whole

Mike was one of four SWASFT employees

beginning of this month. She had been acting-

to be recognised in this way. I couldn’t do what

and volunteers – as well as many other

up as Chief Officer since the retirement of Jon

I do without the help of the other volunteers –

non-clinical NHS staff – who were officially

Beausire in August 2017. Mrs Marquis is the first

and our superb 999 Control Hub team.

recognised acknowledged at the event on

female Chief Ambulance Officer in Guernsey.

Friday.

Mrs Marquis said “I am delighted and

“It’s such a privilege to volunteer in this way and know you’re helping people in the

CFRs Anna Smith and Craig Holmes were also

humbled, this is a great responsibility and an

community when they are most in need. I’m

shortlisted for the Volunteer of the Year award.

amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to serving the community and working with the

going to continue being a CFR for as long as Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Team

committed and dedicated women and men

Leader, Harriet La Trobe, was shortlisted for

of the Service as we develop our range of

Rich Buckley, Acting Responder Manager for

the ‘Life Saver’ accolade – after stepping-in

pre-hospital care over the next few years in

SWASFT, said: “Mike has been instrumental in

to provide vital life support to an injured driver

support of the new Health Model. I would also

saving the lives of numerous patients in and

from a serious road traffic accident.

like to thank my predecessor and the Board of

I’m able to do so.”

St John, who have mentored and supported me along the way”.

Mrs Marquis joined the ambulance service in 2006, following a successful career as a civil servant and human resource professional.

She was originally appointed as a senior HR manager with responsibility for organisational development and progressed through the years to Assistant Chief Officer then most AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

recently to Deputy Chief Officer. In the last 3 years she has been responsible for the oversight of all operational and clinical activities of the Service as well as being a Director for St John Training Services.

During her time as a civil servant she worked for the Housing, Social Security and Health Departments, rising to become the Assistant Director of HR for what was then the Health

76 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

IN PERSON and Social Services Department. She was also

treatment to our patients, often going over and

the operational control centre as a shift control

a member on the Management Board for the

above what is required of them. I am proud to

manager. Previous to his ambulance journey,

Women’s Refuge, is a Chartered Member of

be a part of this unique organisation and look

Derek even fought fires as a part time fireman!

the Institute of Personnel Development, holds

forward to leading the service as it develops in

the Chartered Management Institute Certificate

the future.”

in Strategic Leadership and Management and

After a number of years as an operational manager in Oldham and Rochdale, Derek

is a certified national ambulance service Gold

Steve Le Page, Chair of the Board of St John

progressed to become General Manager,

Commander.

Ambulance & Rescue Service said “Ali Marquis

Operations Director, Area Director in Cumbria

is the first female Chief Officer of the Service,

and Lancashire, Director of Emergency

Mrs Marquis is among a growing number of

she is a proven leader and will be a great

Services and became Chief Executive in 2016.

senior emergency service officers nationally

influence in shaping the Service as it faces

who have not come through the traditional

the challenges of increasing demand and the

Still registered today as a Paramedic, Derek

operational service ranks and also of only

provision of higher levels of pre-hospital clinical

received the Queen’s Ambulance Medal

three women to lead an ambulance service in

care. She also takes charge at a time of change

(QAM) in the New Year’s Honours list in 2015.

the British Isles. She said “Whilst I first joined

for the emergency ambulance service as we

the ambulance service in an HR management

look forward to securing a new contract with

NWAS Chair, Wyn Dignan comments: “Derek

role I am delighted with the way my career has

HSC for 2019 onwards. This will lead to the

was immensely proud to be appointed as

progressed into leading the operational and

Service being developed under the new Health

Chief Executive and has put his heart and

clinical activities of the organisation. This new

Model as a key player in HSC’s ‘Partnership of

soul into supporting staff and patients across

role demands good communication skills and

Purpose’. I, my Board and the Commandery of

the North West. He is held in high regard by

I think my years as a HR professional at Health

St John are delighted to have appointed such

all parts of the health sector and particularly

and Social Services and my more recent

a capable Chief Officer and we are confident

across the ambulance sector and will be sorely

operational responsibilities have helped me

that she will continue to build on the excellent

missed by us all.

tremendously. I enjoy working with the medical

leadership of the Service, over many years by

profession and the experience I have gained

Jon Beausire up until his recent retirement.”

“I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to him for a long and devoted

through my time with the service and with HSSD, has stood me in good stead for this

Under a contract with the States of Guernsey

service, and wish him well in all his future

new role which involves dealing with a wide

St John responds each year to over 4,000

endeavours.”

variety of people.

emergency calls, and transfers as well a similar number of patients who need to go for

Derek lives in Bolton with his wife Joanne, has

The team here is a fantastic one, our strategy

scheduled diagnosis and treatment. St John

four grown up children and two grandchildren.

is clear and the employees and volunteers are

continues to provide a marine ambulance

A lifelong supporter of Bolton Wanderers, he is

committed and professional. They all genuinely

service, inshore rescue and volunteer

also a registered bee keeper.

care about the work they do and that care

community responders. As a not for profit

extends to the way they provide the medical

organisation providing Guernsey’s only

Derek retires from NWAS on 30 June 2018.

ambulance service, it receives approximately 70% of its funding from the States, raising the rest required to meet the cost of running the service from a subscription scheme, user charges and donations.

NWAS News

NWAS Chief Executive announces retirement Derek Cartwright QAM, Chief Executive of North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, AMBULANCE UK - APRIL

has announced his retirement after more than 30 years in the ambulance service.

Before taking on the Chief Executive role, Derek’s lengthy career saw him working in many areas of the organisation, from his first position in the patient transport service in 1986, to joining the emergency service in Ali Marquis, Chief Ambulance Officer

1988 as one of Greater Manchester’s first cohort of paramedics, and then moving into

NWAS Chief Executive, Derek Cartwright to retire after 30 years in the ambulance service

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AUK_August_AUK_August_2013 11/10/2013 10:53 Page 254

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