Ambulance UK - June 2018

Volume 33 No. 3

June 2018

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS 84

EDITOR’S COMMENT

86

FEATURES

86 Pre-hospital advanced airway management in children: a challenge that training can handle

Ambulance UK This issue edited by: Sam English c/o Media Publishing Company 48 High Street SWANLEY BR8 8BQ ADVERTISING: Terry Gardner, Brenda Pickering

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

EDITOR’S COMMENT I write this on a glorious bank holiday weekend. The sun is out, along with the tourists, and I get a chance to reflect on the past week. Performance is starting to improve; hospital queues are a little better; and there is a sense that we have got through the worst of it. Having just about survived the horrors of last winter, with the record-breaking queues at some Emergency Departments, and the consequences that brings to our patients waiting for a response, it is all too easy to take a sigh of relief as things become marginally better, and forget the pressures that have just gone.

“What is essential is that we keep moving forward with our ideas, and developing them to cope with the everincreasing demands of the outof-hospital arena”

The summer months should allow us time to learn the lessons of previous years, and start making plans for what we can anticipate next winter. This edition has some great examples of innovative working, such as the multi-agency response vehicles in Wales, and the Save a Life App being introduced in Yorkshire.

The summer months are the ideal time to test and evaluate these initiatives; to see whether they really add something to the service. Not everything will. It is difficult to let go of a project that you have been close to, and admit that it isn’t working as you would have liked. That is natural. However, some things seem like a good idea in principle, but under real scrutiny they don’t have the effect that was anticipated. There is nothing wrong with this. As one of my close colleagues, Adrian, pointed out to me this week, you rarely learn when things are going right. It often takes a failure to drive innovation. What is essential is that we keep moving forward with our ideas, and developing them to cope with the ever-increasing demands of the out-of-hospital arena. We need to make hay whilst the sun shines, because as sure as eggs is eggs, the demand will increase again, and we don’t want to be looking back asking why we didn’t make changes when we had the opportunity.

But in the meantime, the evening sun is calling. I hope you get a chance to enjoy some of it this summer.

Sam English, Co-Editor Ambulance UK

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

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

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T E L E M AT I C S

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FEATURE

PRE-HOSPITAL ADVANCED AIRWAY MANAGEMENT IN CHILDREN: A CHALLENGE THAT TRAINING CAN HANDLE Joanna B. Watterson1,2*, Cliff Reid1,3, Brian J. Burns1,3 and Luke Regan4 See related research by Tarpgaard et al., https://sjtrem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13049-015-0140-0 Reproduced with permission from the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

Abstract: We respond to the Tarpgaard et al. article reporting on pre-hospital

the following results: 100, 91 and 14%, respectively. We propose training

endotracheal intubation (PHETI) success and complications by

and operating protocols we believe contribute to this relative success in

Danish critical care teams including critical care anaesthetists.

paediatric PHETI.

We compare the authors’ results with previously published results from our service’s experience with PHETI in a similar patient population, also with physician and paramedic medical teams. From 25 children <16

Key words:

years of age, the Danish study reports overall success, and first-pass success, and complication rates of 96, 75 and 20%, respectively.

Paediatric intubation, Out-of-hospital paediatric intubation, Training,

A recently published study of 82 patients that we completed revealed

PHETI

To the editor, Tarpgaard et al. published a prospective descriptive study designed to assess pre-hosptial paediatric endotracheal intubation success by critical care anaesthetists [1]. We appreciate the authors’ recognition of the importance of this issue and the need for more research in this area.

To this end, we applaud their publishing of success and complication rates for this rare but definitive procedure. However, we reject the authors’ suggestion that paediatric patients represent a substantial advanced airway management challenge. We present data to support our argument that, given a training environment characterized by structured simulation and use of standard operating procedures, paediatric advanced airway management is no more challenging than adult advanced airway management in the out-of-hospital environment.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

86

The 2015 Danish study reported an overall success rate of 96% (24/25), a first pass success-rate of 75% (18/24) and a complication rate of 20% (5/25). In a forthcoming 2017 study in Annals of Emergency Medicine, we reported on the same end points in a similar but larger (n = 82) study population [2]. Overall success rate was 100% (82/82), first-look success rate was 91% (75/82) and complication rate per attempt was 14% (13/90).

The patient populations and systematic factors of these two studies are comparable in many ways, especially scarcity of paediatric PHETI as a potential obstacle to proficiency, indication for advanced airway management, medications used for Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI), age range of patients, and definitions of complications. Furthermore, the study designs were similar, with near-identical primary and secondary outcomes, and both were potentially subject to errors due to * 1 2

low population size, as well as registration and recall bias. Tarpgaard et al. acknowledge that the subgroup of patients <2 may have been sicker than their older counterparts. Similarly, our study reported a higher frequency of cardiac and respiratory arrest in our youngest patients.

However, there are some differences between the two studies worth noting. Tarpgaard et al. report on a younger population, with the majority of their patients <2 years of age. Our patient population reflected a higher percentage with trauma, and a lower percentage with pre-existing disease. Another key difference is the exclusion of interhospital missions by their study and inclusion in ours, in which interhospital missions represented 24% of the total. Additionally, paramedics in our service routinely perform intubation, whereas in the Danish study, Emergency Medical Technician team members never intubate [3]. The physicians in our study included not only anaesthetists, but also emergency physicians.

One issue in comparing the results of these studies directly is that our study does not directly compare paediatric and all-population PHETI success. However, we previously published a study on difficult intubation factors that offers success metrics for all PHETI that can be compared [4]. Unlike the Danish study, we did not find a lower first pass success rate in paediatric patients (Table (​ Table1).1). The lower success and higher complication rates in the adult study are likely reflective of improved training and greater protocolization of ETI in our service in recent years, rather than age-related differences in performance.

We believe this in light of trends in yet-unpublished data we use to track airway management performance.

Correspondence: Joanna.Watterson@nyumc.org Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (GSA-HEMS), New South Wales Ambulance, Sydney, NSW, Australia New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Full list of author information is available at the end of the article

FEATURE Table 1 Comparison of paediatric and all-population PHETI success Article

Tarpgaard et al. [1]

Tarpgaard et al. [1]

Burns, Watterson et al. [2]

Burns, Habig et al. [4]

Age

Paediatric <16

All

Paediatric <16

All

N

25

735

82

443

Study Period

2/2011–11/2012

2/2011–11/2012

1/2010–4/2015

9/2009–9/2013

Overall success rate

96%

99.7%

100%

98.9%

First-attempt success rate

75%

77.6%

91%

84.0%

Complication Rate

20%

13.9%

14%

26.2%

While the adult and paediatric studies from our service have different study periods and are not directly comparable, we believe that our results demonstrate that paediatric intubation need not be considered a substantial challenge. High overall and first-attempt success, as well as low complication rate, are achievable. It is worth noting that complication rates remained lower even though our definition of a critical complication, desaturation/hypoxia, was more stringent, at oxygen saturation of <93%, than that of Tarpgaard et al., at <90%.

Ours is not the only service that has recently documented paediatric PHETI success. Schmidt et al. retrospectively reviewed records of 225 patients <17 and found a first-attempt success rate of 95.3% and an overall success rate of 98.6% [5]. Eich et al. designed a prospective observation study of 52 patients <15, documenting 85% first-attempt success rate and 98% overall success [6].

Acknowledgements None.

Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable.

Consent for publication Not applicable.

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

Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Author details 1 Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (GSAHEMS), New South Wales Ambulance, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 2New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. 3Discipline of Emergency Medicine, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. 4Emergency Department, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Scotland, UK. References 1. Tarpgaard M, Hansen TM, Rognås L. Anaesthetist-provided prehospital advanced airway management in children: a descriptive study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2015;23:61.

2. Burns BJ, Watterson JB, Ware S, Regan L, Reid C. Analysis of out-ofhospital pediatric intubation by an Australian helicopter emergency medical service. Ann Emerg Med. 2017. Epub 2017 April 29.

3. Rognås L, Troels MH, Kirkegaard H, Tønnesen E. Pre-hospital advanced airway management by experienced anaesthesiologists: a prospective descriptive study. Scand J Resusc Emerg Med. 2013;21:58.

4. Burns B, Habig K, Eason H, Ware S. Difficult intubation factors in prehospital rapid sequence intubation by an Australian helicopter emergency medical service. Air Med J. 2016;35:28–32.

5. Schmidt AR, Ulrich L, Seifert B, Albrecht R, Spahn DR, Stein P. Ease and difficulty of pre-hospital airway management in 425 paediatric patients treated by a helicopter emergency medical service: a retrospective analysis. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2016;24:22.

Funding None.

6. Eich C, Roessler M, Nemeth M, Russo SG, Heuer JF, Timmermann A. Characteristics and outcome of prehospital paediatric tracheal intubation attended by anaesthesia-trained emergency physicians.

Resuscitation. 2009;80(12):1371–7.

Availability of data and materials Not applicable.

7. Kerrey BT, Rinderknecht A, Mittiga M. High risk, low frequency: Optimizing performance of emergency intubation for children. Ann Emerg Med. 2017. Epub 2017 July 24.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

There are a number of factors we believe contribute to our relative success in PHETI in general. These include mandatory use of the service Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), RSI manual and challenge-response checklist for pre-hospital RSI. These materials are routinely integrated into training of service clinicians before and during employment. All aspects of prehosptial RSI are standardized and drilled in training, including a teambased approach which involves both the physician and paramedic in the intubation process, specific pharmacological agents and dosages, patient positioning to optimize view on laryngoscopy, use of boguie, and routine ‘thirty second drills’ used to improve sub-optimal glottic visualization. For paediatric patients, clinicians are taught to use paediatric reference cards providing drug dosing, tube sizing and insertion depth based on patient weight or age. We believe that sufficient training and preparation can make airway management challenges feasible, even in the complex prehospital environment. This is evidenced by our finding that, despite the youngest patients being substantially sicker than their older counterparts, PHETI success was not decreased in this subgroup as it was in the Tarpgaard et al. study. Further details on GSA-HEMS training and materials are available in the forthcoming study described above [2]. Additionally, an Annals editorial in response to this same article, written by clinicians at a major American children’s hospital, summarizes some key aspects of the GSA-HEMS approach to optimising performance and safety of paediatric intubation [7].

Authors’ contributions CR conceived this letter. JW drafted the letter. BB and LR provided revisions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Life Connec

Aylesbury Event - Thu 6th September 2018 The G Paramedic Conference Programme Time

Presentation

9.00 - 9.30

Registration

9.30 - 10.00

Tea / Coffee

Intergrating Service Users & Carers 10.00 - 10.30 Into Undergraduate Paramedic Education 10.30 - 11.00

Impact Brain Apnoea & Head Injuries

11.00 - 11.30

Advanced Airway Management

11.30 - 12.00

Tea / Coffee Exhibition

Using Simulation as 12.00 - 12.30 a Learning, Teaching & Assessment Tool 12.30 - 13.00

Burns - Timing is Everything

Speaker

Position

Around 200 delegates registered to attend each of our Harrogate and Bristol multi-conference/workshop events and we are hoping for a similar turnout in Aylesbury.

In addition to our Paramedic & Resuscitation conferences, separate conferences will also be taking place for First Responders and First Aid Trainers, both have excellent presentations in place that include: Why Trauma Patients Die (Professor Sir Keith Porter), The Alternative Role of the CFR (James Crawley), The Changing Face of First Aid (Dr Mark Forrest), First Aid...The Need for Effective Teaching & Learning (Rob Shaloe) and First Class First Aid...Enhancing Care at the Point of Immediate Need (Paul Jones).

For full events details, please visit: www.lifeconnections.uk.com

Miriam Perry

Senior Lecturer

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.

Amy Kyle

Amy Chan-Dominy

Paediatric Consultant

Dr Natasha Taylor

Principal Lecturer

Kristina Stiles

Clinical Nurse Specialist

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch, Exhibition

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

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

Only 50 Places are available on each of our Paramedic and Resuscitation Conferences at a cost of ÂŁ30pp to include VAT, lunch/tea/cof combined rate of just ÂŁ42 to include VAT, lunch, etc. To view all programmes and to secure your delegate place please visit: www.lifec

A further Conference is planned later in th

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

ctions 2018

Gateway Conference Centre, Aylesbury HP19 8FF Delegate feedback received from our Harrogate and Bristol events 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 Aylesbury 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 Stoke-onTrent (October 25th).

We look forward to welcoming you to Life Connections 2018.

Resuscitation Conference Programme Time

Presentation

Speaker

Position

Amy Chan-Dominy

Paediatric Consultant

Jonathan Leung

HEMS Pre-Hospital Registrar

Mike Davis

Keele University

Joanne Mildenhall

Paramedic Team Leader

Ken Spearpoint

Principal Lecturer

12.00 - 12.30 Registration

12.30 - 14.00 Lunch/Exhibition

What Doies Adult 14.00 - 14.30 Congenital Heart Disease Mean?

Ultrasound Application 14.30 - 15.00 for Traumatic Cardiac Arrest 15.00 - 15.30

Simulation Challenging Reality

15.30 - 16.00 Tea/Coffee/Exhibition

16.00 - 16.30

Dealing with Distressing Incidents

16.30 - 17.00

Application of Educational Theory

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

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

ffee and free parking. Delegates can attend both our morning Paramedic Conference and afternoon Resuscitation Conference for a connections.uk.com or call the organisers on: 01322 660434

he year for Stoke-on-Trent (October 25th)

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

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NEWSLINE LAA

Saharan superheroes raise £90,000 to keep London’s lifesaving charity flying London’s Air Ambulance, the charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London, has welcomed

She ran the race alongside Dr Tom Konig, the doctor who treated her that day, and Capt. Neil Jeffers, the pilot who flew her to hospital.

Reflecting on the race, Chloe said; “It’s been a dream for a long time to take part in the Marathon des Sables – and normally when I mentioned that to people they told me it wasn’t a good idea – which

a team back from the Sahara

made me all the more determined.

who took part in the Marathon

There were incredibly hard

des Sables ultra-marathon. The

aspects to the challenge, not least

£90,000 raised is enough to treat

the tiredness and hunger, but

53 people in London.

London’s Air Ambulance inspired me to keep going during the race

The team completed an epic

and finish – without this charity I

256km, self-sustained run across

wouldn’t be alive.”

the desert to raise crucial funds for the life-saving service to

The team completed the race in

continue serving London. The

a total time of 610 hours and 13

relentless challenge has been

seconds. Their fastest runner was

called ‘the toughest footrace on

paramedic Charlie Henderson,

earth’ and was described by Sir

who finished the race in an

Ranulph Fiennes as the hardest

incredible 34 hours, 4 minutes

thing he has ever done.

and 53 seconds, finishing 71st out of 777 men. In addition, both

London’s Air Ambulance’s team

Chloe and Dr Claire Park finished

comprised of 14 runners who

in the top 50 out of 159 women.

represented all sides of the charity, with doctors, paramedics, pilots,

There is no underestimating a

fire crew, the CEO and supporters

challenge of this size, and the

all putting on their running shoes

team endured severe blisters,

in order to undertake the massive

dehydration and even a late-

challenge. One team member, Dr

night sandstorm. This year’s

Chloe Baker, is a former patient

‘long stage’ stood at 86.2km

of the charity having been treated

long, leaving entrants running

in 2007 after sustaining critical

day and night for up to 35

injuries in a road traffic accident.

hours. Unfortunately, this stage

saw Marie LeBrec, the sister of one of the charity’s former patients, forced to withdraw after completing over 120km of the race.

London’s Air Ambulance CEO and teammate Jonathan Jenkins said; “Even though she did not complete the race, Marie has accomplished something that most people would think was impossible. Not only that, she’s done it while raising money to help our service treat those who need us most. I think I speak for everyone when I say just how lucky we are to have had her running with us.”

On arrival back in London, the team found out that they raised a massive £85,000 for the charity. With each mission costing £1700, this means that the team have raised enough to be there for 53 patients in need of urgent trauma care in the capital.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

90 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

Responding to the news Jonathan said; “This is an absolutely incredible amount. We all knew how much goodwill there is towards us in London, but this goes above and beyond anything that we expected.

This was the toughest challenge I have ever undertaken, but our suffering is nothing compared to what our patients go through. It was the knowledge that we were doing it for them that kept us going.”

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

It treats on average five people in London each day, performing medical interventions at the roadside which are normally only found in a hospital emergency department. The service costs £10 million per year, the majority of which has to be found through fundraising.

NEWSLINE

30 years as a leader in the design & build of A&E Ambulances & still innovating So whats new?

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AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

Be part of our new vehicle launch Emergency Services Show 19th & 20th September Stand G27 T:03300 130 130 E: sales@ohvc.co.uk W: www.ohvc.co.uk

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

NEWSLINE NWAS

How the North West Ambulance Service is transforming patient care While demand on ambulance services in the UK is increasing year-on-year, providing the best possible patient care remains the top priority for those working in the service. That’s why the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) is introducing a number of initiatives designed to improve patient care and manage demand.

Mark Newton, Assistant Director of Transformation at NWAS, explains more about their plans for the future.

case at NWAS - our patients are

have otherwise transported that

our number one priority – which is

patient is still available to attend a

why we’re looking at how we can

life-threatening emergency.

develop our services to make sure we’re providing the right care, at

We’re also doing more to equip

the right time, in the right place.

our crews with the support, skills and systems required to provide

Our Transforming Patient Care

more people with the right care

programme was officially

once they are on scene – this is

launched last September

known as ‘see and treat’. Often a

and covers a number of

paramedic crew will arrive to find

different initiatives and service

that although a patient is unwell,

developments that are all aimed

they don’t need to be taken for

at improving care for patients.

hospital treatment. There are a number of initiatives underway to

“More than just flashing blue

support those crews to be able to

lights”

do more ‘see and treat’ of patients,

Many people still believe

including: rolling out enhanced

that dialling 999 will mean an

triage systems and extra training;

ambulance arrives in minutes to

making even more clinical support

take a patient to hospital. While this

available to help with decision

is a vital part of our role when there

making on scene; and the building

is a lifethreatening emergency, the

of better links with other healthcare

ambulance service is much more

providers and third sector services

than just flashing blue lights and a

in our local area to ensure we can

speedy route to A&E.

refer patients to the right service to meet their needs.

In fact, the majority of 999 calls we

Mark Newton, Assistant Director of Transformation at North West Ambulance Service.

receive are not for life-threatening

A trial is coming soon where we

emergencies and we’re putting

will introduce an ‘Urgent Care

even more measures in place

Practitioner’ role. These are

to make sure we can support

clinicians, mainly paramedics

patients closer to home if they do

and nurses, who are dedicated

not need to go to hospital.

to responding to calls where the patient could potentially benefit

Community Specialist Paramedic Richard Peters and Suzanne Harrison, Manager of Holme Manor Residential Home in Lancashire with the Nursing and Residential Home Triage Tool.

Suzanne comments: The triage tool is fantastic and really helping to improve our service delivery.

There has definitely been a decrease in 999 calls since we started using it; I feel all homes should get involved. The tool has been invaluable to staff who now feel they have clear guidance to make the correct call, ensuring each resident receives the correct care for their needs.

As a result of these changes, the quality of patient care has improved significantly.

For example, we’re introducing

from support on scene, in vehicles

enhanced clinical roles into our

equipped appropriately for ‘see

NHS 111 service and Emergency

and treat’. This is an exciting

Operations Centres (EOCs) where

development and we’re looking

999 calls are managed. We’re

forward to measuring the impact

piloting the use of paramedics,

of having a more clinically diverse

we’re receiving more calls and

general nurses, mental health

and flexible workforce.

responding to more incidents.

nurses, pharmacists and even

At NWAS, we’ve recognised that

GPs in the EOC to work alongside

It’s all about making sure the

we have to change the way we

and offer extra support to the

right resource is responding to an

work to respond to the increasing

Emergency Medical Dispatchers

incident. If it’s an emergency, life-

demand and ensure we can

(EMDs) who take the calls. In

threatening situation, we want to

continue to provide safe and high

some cases, a clinician can call a

make sure we have ambulances

quality patient care into the future.

patient back and offer specialist

available to get there as quickly

advice or make a referral onto a

as possible. To do this, we need

If you ask anyone working

different health service within the

to make the most of other parts of

within the emergency services,

community, preventing them from

the health service to respond to

particularly those on the frontline

having to go to hospital. This is

less urgent calls.

and primary care services.

of service delivery, about the most

known as a ‘hear and treat’ and

important part of their job, I’m

is beneficial to the patient who

Working in partnership

We have a team looking at

confident they would talk about

is receiving the right care closer

Much of what we’re doing under

improving patient pathways

providing the best response to

to home, but also means an

our Transforming Patient Care

across the North West, which

the public. That’s certainly the

ambulance resource that may

programme incorporates better

involves working closely with other

Along with other emergency services and most parts of the NHS, the ambulance service has been getting busier –

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

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

“The tool has been invaluable to the seven senior staff, including myself, who received training in how to use it from Community Specialist Paramedic Richard Peters. Following training we all feel more confident and supported as we now have clear guidance to make exactly the correct call, something we can easily pass on to other members of staff too.” partnership working, particularly with local hospitals, community

NEWSLINE healthcare providers in the area to

We’re still relatively early on in our

Service struggles to deal with the

make sure the right services are

Transforming Patient Care journey

demand. It was reported earlier

accessible for patients who don’t

and some of what we’re working

this year that police and fire

need to go to hospital but require

on is completely new to the

services had been called upon to

some level of support.

organisation so we’re constantly

help out with certain patients.

evaluating the schemes to learn We’ve also done a lot of

what can be improved and how

The Scottish Conservatives

work already with other care

successful elements can be

previously campaigned for

professionals to help them make

applied more widely. As improving

measures such as recovery centres

better decisions about using the

the quality of patient care is our

for people who had drunk too much

ambulance service.

main driver, I am delighted to be

at weekends and during big events

working closely with our Director

to take the strain off ambulances

With nursing and residential

of Quality, Improvement and

and accident and emergency

homes, for example, we’ve

Innovation, Maxine Power, to make

departments. Scottish Conservative

sure quality improvement methods

public health spokeswoman Annie

are factored into our entire

Wells said it had become clear

programme, no matter how small

people who had drunk too much

the change, so we can monitor

alcohol were putting an immense

how we’re making a difference.

and unnecessary strain on the

developed a triage tool that staff can use if a resident is unwell.

Based on the person’s symptoms, the tool will guide nursing home

Patient Transport Service team member, Stephen Henty, giving patient Graham Kilmartin information about the seasonal flu vaccination.

staff to the most appropriate care option such as a GP, 111 or 999.

An NWAS team has visited more than 200 care homes to deliver training to staff on the tool and has found that it has reduced calls to 999 by up to 50% from some care homes, whose employees are much more confident in making judgements about which health service to contact for the right care for their residents.

Making every contact count As well as making changes to allow us to better manage calls that come into the service, the ambulance service has a role to play in health promotion and prevention, helping to keep people healthy.

Our Patient Transport Service (PTS) carries out more than 1.5 million patient journeys every year, supporting patients across Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cumbria, to

campaign, with many useful tips on how to keep healthy over the colder months and where to turn if you’re feeling unwell. Most recently, we teamed up with Age UK to share advice on how to live healthily and happily for longer.

Feedback from patients has been

ambulance service.“The SNP This is a long-term change,

Government needs to ensure

rather than a quick fix, but we’re

ambulance staff are sufficiently

committed to making sure that,

resourced to deal with current

even at times of high demand, we

challenges and regrettably that

can provide every patient with the

includes alcohol,” she said.“We

best possible outcome, now and

need to start discussing measures

in the future.

that could take the pressure off paramedics, including the

positive so far and we’re currently undertaking a patient experience exercise to measure whether this is a scheme they’ve found useful.

We’ve also introduced a new

SAS

Paramedics deal with 50 alcohol cases daily

concern raising process for our

possible role of temporary units in towns and cities to deal with those who’ve consumed too much, meaning they wouldn’t need to go to A&E or trouble the ambulance service.”

PTS crews. Now, if they spot

Ambulance crews were forced

anything at all that causes them a

to attend more than 15,000

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour

concern about a patient’s health

emergencies last year where

shadow cabinet secretary for

and wellbeing, or think they might

alcohol was to blame.

health, said: “It is clear Scotland needs to radically change its

need some extra support at home, It’s even easier for them to

Figures obtained by the Scottish

relationship with alcohol, but

escalate that concern. We have a

Conservatives reveal the number

we should also recognise there

team that will make contact with

of incidents where drink was an

are serious health problems

the patient and refer them on to

“additional factor” have increased

linked to poverty and inequality

an appropriate local health or care

from 2016. In total, there have

around Scotland.” A Scottish

service if required.

been 53,141 alcohol-related

Government spokeswoman said:

incidents in the past three years

“Scottish Ambulance Service

get to and from non-emergency Looking ahead to the future

– the equivalent of nearly 50 a

staffing has increased by nearly

identified that these journeys were

Technology is a key part of our

day. The Freedom of Information

24 per cent since 2006 and we

a great opportunity to be sharing

service developments and it’s really

response showed Glasgow had

have increased the ambulance

health advice with a large number

important we’re keeping up with

the highest number last year, with

service budget by 46 per cent,

of patients.

digital advances. We are dedicated

a total of 3783. That figure was

to £237 million, while we are

to looking at digital solutions that will

followed by Edinburgh with 1,674

committed to training a further

In the last few months, PTS crews

make it easier to share information

and North Lanarkshire with 1,279.

1,000 paramedics by 2021.“We

have handed out more than

between our own services internally,

The exact number is likely to be

have taken a number of actions to

50,000 health information leaflets

but also with other parts of the

higher as paramedics often do not

tackle alcohol misuse, including

across the North West about the

NHS to ensure we have the right

specifically record if alcohol was

pressing ahead with minimum unit

flu vaccination and the national

information to hand to help us

one of the causes. The figures

pricing and we will be refreshing

NHS England ‘Stay well this winter’

deliver the best care to patients.

come as the Scottish Ambulance

our alcohol strategy shortly.”

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

medical appointments. We

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

NEWSLINE SWAST

Mum thanks paramedics after emergency baby born A grateful patient from St Austell has written to the paramedics of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to thank them for helping to safely deliver her baby boy in the back of an emergency ambulance.

Rebecca Welch, 30 and now a proud mum of 4, was so impressed by the crew that she now wants to meet up with them and say thanks in person with her new baby boy, Grayson; “The crew were amazing and treated me with dignity and respect throughout the whole labour. They were very professional, asking me questions and asking my permission throughout.”

Rebecca’s sister helped when she called 999 as the contractions started to come on quickly– little did she know that she would be giving birth in an ambulance less than an hour later.

Rebecca said: “I was feeling very anxious and scared before

“I had cannulas put in, my blood

Contact Centres (CCCs) in

who work in Llangunnor, and call

pressure went low, and I was

Llanfairfechan, Llangunnor and

handler Danielle Burrows from

asked by the paramedics to lie on

Cwmbran travelled to Las Vegas

Vantage Point House in Cwmbran.

my left side.”

on April 23 2018.

“After a few minutes in the

It comes as all three of the

the Welsh Ambulance Service’s

ambulance, my waters broke

Trust’s 999 control rooms have

and I gave birth to my son. Lizzie

Charitable Funds Bursary

successfully been awarded

delivered my son whilst talking to

Centre of Excellence status by

Scheme, which aims to help

me throughout.”

the International Academies of

The visit has been funded by

Emergency Dispatch.

Paramedic, Lizzie Watts said: “We did a few checks and then started

This accomplishment will be

our journey to the hospital. About

celebrated at the organisation’s

5 minutes into the journey, the

annual Navigator Conference

woman’s contractions intensified,

for police, fire and medical

I asked my crew mate to stop so

dispatchers, which is being held

I could check how things were

at the city’s ARIA Resort.

progressing, and then realised very quickly we would not be

It recognises high standards of

delivering at the hospital.”

operating the Medical Priority Dispatch System, which is used

anxious.”

Paramedic, Lizzie Watts arrived in an ambulance with her emergency care assistant, Darren Williams. Shortly after, paramedic Steve Puckey arrived in a rapid response vehicle.

professionally.

Stephen added: “This conference is a once-in-a-career opportunity for those attending to share and celebrate Wales’ success in improving the quality of our emergency call taking services on a global stage.

“They will represent their colleagues as international ambassadors and also be able

“We quickly prepared a delivery

by call handlers and all staff who

pack and then coached Rebecca

receive, process and dispatch

to learn from others to further

through 2-3 intense pushes and

help to patients in Wales.

improve the services we provide.”

then her baby boy was delivered.”

There are currently more than “After a quick check and a rub

3,000 emergency medical

down, baby was handed to mum

dispatch centres that use the

and we continued on our way

system worldwide, and only 250

to hospital. Great team effort

currently hold this accolade.

although I think mum did all the work really.”

Stephen Clinton, the Trust’s Assistant Director of Operations

Rebecca wanted to thank

for CCCs, said: “Every day staff in

Paramedics Steve and Lizzie for

our three 999 centres save lives

their support throughout the birth

through the advice that they give

of her baby boy.

to callers and their attention to detail in getting help to patients

the crew arrived. After the crew arrived I felt so relieved, a lot less

staff develop personally and

when they need it.

WAS

Welsh Ambulance Service control room staff to fly across the pond to be recognised for excellence

“We are proud to be the first country worldwide which has achieved three Centres of Excellence simultaneously.”

The conference is a threeday educational event, where

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

the latest developments are Rebecca said: “The paramedics

Ambulance control room

discussed and examples of best

came in and introduced

staff are set to fly across the

practice are presented.

themselves, they asked me a few

pond to be recognised for

questions then Lizzie passed me

their achievements in front

Those travelling from Wales will be

the gas and air.”

of colleagues from round the

Utilisation Manager Gill Pleming

globe.

and call handler Codie Williams based in Llanfairfechan, MPDS

“Lizzie then helped me to get my trousers on and helped me to

Five employees from the Welsh

Facilitator Michelle Perry and

walk to the ambulance.”

Ambulance Service’s Clinical

call handler Debbie Goldsmith,

94 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

“Every day staff in our three 999 centres save lives through the advice that they give to callers and their attention to detail in getting help to patients when they need it.”

NEWSLINE

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2018 EVENTS BASICS Scotland

12th & 13th June (Telford)

7th & 8th September

Bristol Paramedic Conference*

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21st June

19th & 20th September (N.E.C.)

Aylesbury Paramedic Conference*

Stoke-on-Trent Paramedic Conference*

6th September

25th October

*Life Connections

Come and see us at any of these events to ďŹ nd out more about corpuls3

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AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

NAPFM

95

NEWSLINE SWASFT

Mum meets paramedics after life-threatening asthma attack A mum has thanked South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) for saving her life after she had a severe asthma attack which led to a cardiac arrest.

Marie Flint-Fewkes, 28, had major breathing difficulties at her home in Paignton on 16 December. Her condition was so serious that her

without a daughter. I’m so grateful

She said: “There was sheer panic.

“Her recovery was amazing, and it

to the paramedics for coming to

I’ve had asthma for most of my life,

has been fantastic to meet her. It

my house, supporting my family,

but it’s never been that bad before.

is occasions like this that remind

and saving my life.”

It was a life or death situation.

us all of why we do what we do.”

Without everyone’s help, and Husband Sean initially called 999,

especially the CPR, I wouldn’t be

because Marie was struggling

here. Now I’m considering training

to breathe. Minutes later her skin

to become a paramedic myself.”

turned blue, she lost consciousness and stopped breathing.

SWASFT Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Alex Hawkes, told relatives how to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an effort to keep her alive.

SWAFT Paramedics Sam

heart stopped beating.

Jarman and Hannah Guest,

Family members dialled 999

as well as Emergency Care

Student Paramedic Lucy Kelly,

and began to do vital chest

Assistants Simon Slade and

compressions before SWASFT

Gemma Southcott treated Marie.

paramedics arrived.

They managed to get her heart beating again – and she regained

At a special event in Torquay Marie

consciousness.

Asthma is a common lung condition that can cause

SWAST

SWAST and Media Publishing create a unique event

breathing difficulties. Around 5.4

A collaboration between Media

million people in the UK have the

Publishing (the publishers of

disease, and an average of three

Ambulance UK) and SWAST

people die from it every day.

resulted in a unique multiconference/workshop event

Paramedic Sam Jarman said: “Mrs

taking place in Bristol on June

Flint-Fewkes represents a great

21 for the benefit of SWAST

example of how prompt, good

members and personnel from

quality treatment can save lives.

other NHS areas.

“Her asthma attack was about

Those who attended the

as serious as it could have been.

Paramedic, Resuscitation,

Thankfully the 999 Control Hub

First Responder and First Aid

staff quickly recognised it was

Conferences were given the

life-threatening, resulting in an

opportunity to hear a number of

effective response.

topical presentations including:

met the crews who saved her.

Dealing with Distressing Incidents, Marie was driven by ambulance

“We worked as a team to provide

Paramedics & End of Life Care,

She said: “Without the help of the

to Torbay Hospital where she

quality CPR, airway management,

Advanced Airway Management,

ambulance service my husband

remained for three days. She

and special medications to help

Sepsis - Time Critical Treatment

would be without a wife, my son

made a fantastic recovery, and

reverse her condition and open

in the Acute Setting, Decision

without a mum, and my mother

returned home for Christmas.

her airways.

Making in Cardiac Arrest, Assessing & Assisting the Fallen Patient, Why Trauma Patients Die, The Alternative Role of the CFR, The Changing Face of First Aid, Deteriorating Patient Could it be Sepsis?, plus many more. The event also included a morning Trauma Workshop and an afternoon Airway Management Workshop, both run by Jamie Todd of Pre-Hospital Care Consultancy Limited and a third morning/ afternoon Workshop entitled Seven Ways to Die in Cold Water which was run by Paul Savage OBE.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

The event formed part of the regional Life Connections concept, with further one day events being planned for Aylesbury on September 6 and Stoke-on-Trent on October 25.

For further details of forthcoming events please visit: www.lifeconnections.uk.com

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

NEWSLINE WAS

Welsh paramedic highlights plight of Rohingya refugees after flying out to help them

severe injuries and are deeply

There were also patients suffering

“Alongside the geographical

traumatised, after widespread

secondary trauma injuries

barriers to healthcare, many

media coverage brought their

sustained in camp, chronic health

people can’t leave their tents for

struggles to global attention.

conditions, exacerbated by

a variety of reasons; some due

restricted access to healthcare in

to the disfiguring injuries inflicted

Burma, and general illnesses.

upon them in Myanmar, which

Tom said: “The first thing which

means they don’t want to be seen

strikes you when you get there is

in public.

just how many people are living in

While half the team treated

these camps. If you climb to the

patients throughout the day in a

A paramedic has highlighted the

top of a hill the sea of tents goes

makeshift clinical area, the other

“That’s not to mention those

plight of people affected by the

on as far as the eye can see.

half delivered a four-day training

bearing heavy psychological

course to a group of 30 Rohingya

scars from the violence, which

“I was with a small team of

volunteers, consisting of wound

makes them unwilling to leave the

Australian paramedics and

care, first aid, CPR and stretcher

familiarity and relative comfort of

Tom McLay, who works for the Welsh

nurses, called the Backpacker

building.

their shelter.

Ambulance Service in Llanrwst,

Medics Disaster Response Group,

shared his experiences after seeing

and we had two main aims.

On completion, the groups of

“Since leaving, we receive daily

five became first responders for

updates from the first responder

world’s fastest growing refugee crisis after flying out to help them.

first-hand the distressing conditions facing hundreds of thousands of

“Those were to provide medical

their block and are being paid a

teams through a larger aid

Rohingya people fleeing violence

aid throughout the camp and

competitive salary for a six month

agency, and we’re told they’re

and persecution.

also to train a group of Rohingya

period thanks to fundraising

very busy and that their work is

volunteers to act as a network

efforts.

held in high regard.

More than 700,000 refugees have

of first responders, similar to the

arrived from Myanmar’s Rakhine

ones we have in Wales, in outlying

Tom said: “The experience I had

“It’s definitely something that I’d

State (Burma) to Bangladesh’s

areas of the camp.

in Bangladesh definitely put the

do again and I’m grateful for the

problems I face in my life into

support of the Welsh Ambulance

south-eastern districts since August 2017 to escape a military

“New arrivals are sent to the far

perspective and taught me to be

Service in allowing me to take up

offensive being waged against

south western edge of the camp

thankful for what I’ve got.

this opportunity.”

them at home.

and could face a 5km walk through difficult terrain to a road to then be

Tom, who lives in Betws y Coed,

transported to hospital, hence the

spent 18 days in the Cox’s Bazar

need for mobile medical teams.”

area as part of team of volunteer medics treating those living in

The medics grouped the people

overcrowded camps, which lack

they were treating into four main

clean water and sanitation.

categories, including primary trauma patients, suffering injuries

He said he was inspired to assist

as a result of violence in Myanmar

the refugees, many of whom have

or on route to Bangladesh.

A 2 B

W I T H

D I G N I T Y

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

PRO M VE Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Tom McLay, who is based at Llanrwst Ambulance Station, in one of the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar

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

NEWSLINE EMAS

EMAS crowned World Champions at competition in Copenhagen A team of experienced paramedics are ‘elated’ after being crowned world champions at a medical competition held in Copenhagen.

Ricky Harrison, from Derbyshire; Ross Ludford, from Leicestershire; Rosie Sears, from

day, it is our bread and butter, so

services in the world are able to

The eight week trial, which ran

Northamptonshire; and James

we just pretended it was a real job

enter the competition.

between December and February

Harness, from Lincolnshire; went

and did the best we could for the

head to head with ambulance

people who were injured.”

crews from Denmark, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Switzerland and Sweden at the Emergency Services European Championship.

Not only did the EMAS team win the overall trophy to be named EMS2018 Champions, but they became double winners as they were chosen as ‘audience favourites’ as well.

They were the only British team to make it into the final of EMS2018 and had to face the challenging scenario of a road traffic collision between a car and a bicycle, involving five patients with serious injuries such as gunshot wounds.

Ricky, 27, from Swadlincote, explained that the four paramedics had only met twice in training before the competition, but that they worked quickly and seamlessly to help the ‘patients’ who needed them.

on particularly busy evenings, Details about each of the

mainly at weekends, comprised

members of staff:

of a Senior Paramedic, a Police

EMAS was one of just two NHS

Sergeant and a Watch Manager

ambulance trusts in the UK to

Ricky Harrison, 27, from

and responded to 999 calls from

qualify for one of the 12 spots

Swadlincote, Derbyshire,

all three services.

at the European EMS2018

Paramedic and Clinical

Championship, with the Scottish

Operations Manager

Ambulance Service taking the

Nick Sutcliffe, Consultant Paramedic for NWAS, who

Ross Ludford, 26, Market

oversees the project from an

Harborough, Leicestershire,

ambulance prospective said: “For

In the preliminary round, the

Paramedic and Clinical

us, the idea of the collaboration is

EMAS team had to deal with two

Operations Manager

not only to work together with our

other place.

intense scenarios – a man who

emergency services colleagues

had been electrocuted and fallen

Rosie Sears, 28, Kettering,

but if a patient is able to be

from a ladder, and a young child

Northamptonshire, Paramedic

treated at scene and doesn’t need

who had gone into cardiac arrest.

Their excellent clinical skills

to hospital, it reduces the need for James Harness, 33, Louth,

an ambulance to attend, freeing

Lincolnshire, Paramedic

up vital resources.

NWAS

“So far we’ve been really happy

secured them a place in the final against just two other teams – both from Denmark.

The final involved the team dealing with a much more complex scenario – surrounded by an audience of 1,400

Emergency services join up to create super team

with the success of the scheme and hope to run it again on key dates throughout the year.” 90% of incidents attended by the multiagency vehicle were able to

clinicians, under spotlights in

People ringing 999 in East

be resolved at scene without the

the centre of an arena and being

Lancashire and asking for the

need for hospital transportation.

scrutinised by judges.

help they require have been finding themselves getting

He said: “We are elated. Our hard AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

work has paid off and we are so

As the team have won the

a response from all three

happy to have won; although it is

overall competition, they have

emergency services at once.

still a bit of a shock.

been invited to attend the

This is because colleagues from

conference next year and EMAS

North West Ambulance Service,

“It’s amazing to think that six weeks

is guaranteed a place in the

Lancashire Fire and Rescue

ago we didn’t know each other, but

EMS2019 Championship.

Service and Lancashire Police have teamed up to create a

we worked really well as a team.

WAS

Welsh Ambulance Service and Gwent Police win joint award for innovative partnership

The EMS2018 Championship

multi-agency vehicle meaning

“Dealing with emergency

is part of a three-day medical

that all three services can work

A groundbreaking emergency

scenarios is what we do every

conference and all ambulance

closely together.

services partnership is

98 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

TESTED

NEWSLINE

celebrating success after

There were also two awards

winning an award.

for paramedic Chris, who spearheaded the initiative after

The Joint Response Unit

witnessing a similar operation

(JRU), operated by the Welsh

involving London Ambulance

Ambulance Service and Gwent

Service and the Metropolitan

Police, was one of the finalists

Police.

ADVANCED AMBULANCE SEATING

for the Working Together Award at the iESE Public Service

Under the scheme, the team in

Transformation Awards 2018.

a specially marked vehicle carry out shifts covering the Aneurin

The team made the cut after the

Bevan Health Board area,

shortlist was whittled down from

self-selecting appropriate 999

28 UK entries demonstrating

incidents via remote access to

innovation in public services, and

calls coming into local control

took home the bronze award.

rooms.

The JRU sees a Paramedic

For patients who don’t require

and a Special Constable

hospital treatment this enables

attending incidents together,

ambulance crews who would

such as assaults and road traffic

normally attend to respond to

collisions, to provide medical

members of the public facing

assistance and free up their

potentially life-threatening

colleagues to help others.

emergencies elsewhere, while police officers can also move on

Welsh Ambulance Service JRU

to other cases when appropriate.

Project Lead Chris Hughes said he was delighted with the

Currently the team works three

accolade, which was presented

12-hour shifts per week on a

to both services at a glittering

Friday, Saturday and Sunday,

ceremony held at Church House

when the emergency services

in London

often experience their highest demand.

He said: “I’m really proud of the whole team and what they’re

Each member of the Special

doing.

Constabulary team has been

M1 SEATS APPROVED TO LATEST R44.04 CHILD SEAT STANDARDS

given additional training by the “What was originally a three

Welsh Ambulance Service so

month pilot has now become

they can assist paramedics with

an integral part of our weekend

medical incidents.

cover in Gwent and is also being trialled in other areas,

Richard Lee, the Welsh

including Neath Port Talbot and

Ambulance Service’s Director of

Pembrokeshire.

Operations, said: “The JRU is a fantastic example of partnership

“I’m really grateful for everyone’s

work and I’m really pleased that

efforts. It’s become like a family

the team’s efforts have been

and close network between the

recognised in this way.

Contact us for further information and brochures

what makes it work.”

“This initiative demonstrates an innovative, prudent and effective

Their excellent work was also

approach to delivering services

recognised at Gwent Police’s

to patients.

annual awards, where the team of five paramedics and

“It’s also benefiting both blue

ten Special Constables were

light services by increasing the

awarded the Commandant’s Cup

availability of frontline ambulance

for Joint Working.

teams and police officers.”

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

two emergency services, which is

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

NEWSLINE WAS

Newport woman who performed CPR on husband thanks Welsh Ambulance Service team for saving his life

restore the 61-year-old’s heart

was first admitted, Lisa and Claire

at the local leisure centre as

rhythm.

came into intensive care when

part of the cardiac rehabilitation

they were coming off shift to see

programme.

They were then supported by

how he was doing.

colleagues Mike Cashman and

“I will never be able to put into “They came on the ward once

words, or truly able to express

or twice to get an update and

my thanks and gratitude to the

Emergency Medical Technician

a couple of months later I had

wonderful paramedics who

Claire, who has been with the

cause to call the service again.

brought my husband back and

Kate Jones in a second ambulance.

A Newport woman who

ambulance service for 14 years,

performed CPR on her husband

said: “When we first got there

“It just came out of the blue. He’d

where the incredible A&E staff,

after he stopped breathing has

Sarah was doing CPR and

been fine the day before, but the

intensive care consultants and

thanked the ‘angels in green’

obviously quite distressed.

following morning woke up and

doctors and nurses worked their

had a high temperature and was

magic.

who saved his life.

got him swiftly to the Royal Gwent,

“We carried on doing CPR straight

shaking uncontrollably. He had all

Sarah Lightbody was getting

away and actually got a rhythm

the indicators of sepsis.

ready for work at her home in

back after we shocked Yule twice.

“Imagine my surprise when both

Rogerstone one morning, when she noticed her husband Yule was

“The second crew helped us

Claire and Lisa appeared at the

snoring unusually loudly in bed.

get him down the stairs and into

door for a second time. As soon

the ambulance, it wasn’t a long

as they came in I knew he was in

journey to hospital.

safe hands, they truly are angels

After checking on him, she soon

in green.”

realised he had gone into cardiac arrest and dialled 999.

“I was driving and Sarah was in the front with me, so I was trying

Fortunately Yule, who has four

Sarah, who work as a security

to reassure her because she was

children from a previous marriage

operations manager, was then

absolutely beside herself, as you

and four grandchildren, only

talked through performing CPR

can imagine.”

spent a few days in hospital and recovered after taking antibiotics.

by Welsh Ambulance Service call handler Lucy Fisher before an

The former sergeant major was

ambulance arrived.

taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital,

He’s now home undergoing both

where he was immediately moved

cardiac and neurological therapy,

She said: “I called 999 and spoke

to the resuscitation area, before

after sustaining a brain injury as a

to the call handler, who gave me

being admitted to the intensive

result of losing oxygen to the brain

advice. It was quite frightening

care unit.

during his cardiac arrest.

couldn’t get him on the floor. He

Yule spent three months in hospital

However Sarah, who met Yule 17

had no previous history or warning.

in total, including ten days in

years ago when he retired from the

intensive care and a further ten in

army to become a facilities manager,

the high dependency unit.

said his short term memory is

as he was a dead weight, so I

“They encouraged me to get the

beginning to improve and he’s able

sheet under him and pull it towards

from the Gwent Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Team as well, they’ve been absolutely phenomenal.”

Claire, who’s based at Bassaleg Ambulance Station said: “Sarah was very thankful and appreciated everything we did, she’s a lovely lady.

“Whenever we went to see Yule, she would explain who we were and was very appreciative. She also took a couple of pictures of us with him.

“We went out to him again when he had an infection. We recognised the address straight away, but fortunately he wasn’t as ill the second time.”

Calls where a patient is

to go out and meet friends.

unconscious and has stopped

artery, as well as having a stent

She said: “We have good days and

RED under the Welsh Ambulance

fitted to improve the flow of blood

bad days. Yule’s short term memory

round his heart.

was badly affected, but he’s slowly

model, the Trust aims to get to at

getting better and remembering

least 65 per cent of these calls in less than eight minutes.

the edge of the bed to try and get

He underwent an angioplasty

him onto the floor, so I did that and

procedure to widen an obstructed

performed CPR for a few minutes.

“I was still in my dressing gown

“We get a lot of support

when the ambulance crew arrived AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

and they encouraged me to get

Yule and Sarah, who have been

things he did the day before,

dressed and make sure our dog

married for 11 years, were reunited

whereas before he couldn’t.

was safe so the second crew

with Lisa and Claire as they made

could come in.”

several visits to check on him.

breathing, are categorised as Service’s new clinical response

The Trust is also measured on “He’s never had any difficulty

whether the patient’s heart is

remembering people though, he

restarted following resuscitation

Ambulance crew Lisa

It wasn’t the last time they’d meet

knows who we all are, which is

(this is called a return of

Challingsworth and Claire Snow

either, as the crew were called to

quite nice. He remembers all his

spontaneous circulation or ROSC)

arrived within three minutes

their house again approximately a

grandchildren and their ages.

for cardiac arrest patients as part

of Sarah’s call and continued

month after he was discharged.

performing CPR, before delivering two shocks with a defibrillator to

Sarah said: “A few days after he

of the Emergency Ambulance “He goes out with his friends for

Service Committee’s Ambulance

a pint and goes up to the gym

Quality Indicators.

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

NEWSLINE Director of Operations Richard

vehicle was able to help us provide

In what the team describe as

Ray and Dee were delighted

Lee said: “Every second counts

a fast and efficient response to a

a textbook resuscitation, first

to thank the team in person at

number of incidents where people

to arrive at the scene was

SECAmb’s Crawley Make Ready

were in need of assistance.

paramedic Lauren Cox in less

Centre.

when somebody is in cardiac arrest and Sarah’s actions in

than four minutes. This followed

dialling 999 and beginning CPR in what would have been a very distressing situation for her, was the first step that led to her husband’s life being saved.

“It was then thanks to our call handler, allocator, ambulance crews and hospital staff that Yule was able to make it through and we send him our heartfelt best wishes for his ongoing recovery.”

“It had the added benefit in

the vital 999 call made by Dee

Grandfather of 10, Ray said: “Quite

many cases of allowing officers

who followed the instructions

simply, without them I wouldn’t

to continue with their regular

of Emergency Medical Advisor

be here today. They should all be

Charlotte Rance.

very proud of themselves. It’s a

duties keeping people safe in Inverness city centre where they might otherwise be tied up for an extended period.”

The jointly crewed vehicle will now be available on the final Saturday of the month throughout the year, as well as on additional days

SAS

Inverness joint 999 response car trial extended Police officers and paramedics in Inverness are to continue attending incidents in a joint response vehicle.

It follows a trial over the festive period when a patrol car was deployed in this way on three of the busiest nights.

The car was dispatched to

around the festive period.

Scottish Ambulance Service area manager Steven Gorman added: “Time is of the essence in lifethreatening incidents and these

ambulance vehicles to attend.

Both police and ambulance services say valuable time was saved.

Over three nights, the vehicle attended 21 incidents. Most required no further back-up.

It was estimated that 13 hours of police time was saved, and eight

an outstanding job and it’s been

about treating Ray including

brilliant to meet everyone.

delivering the first shocks to attempt to return his heart to a

Dee said: “We really wanted to say

normal rhythm.

thank you. They were all amazing.

Charlotte the call taker was lovely

Lauren was backed up by

but I think I was a little bit short

colleagues Paul Harris and Nigel

with her on the phone as I was

Martin shortly before Critical Care

in a bit of a panic so I’d like to

Paramedic Richard Brandon

apologise for that. They were with

arrived at the scene.

us so quickly and just got on with everything so calmly and quickly.”

The team continued to provide expert care and called in for

Paramedic Lauren Cox said:

further support from SECAmb’s

“It was lovely to meet with

Crawley-based Hazardous Area

Ray and Dee in much better

Response Team (HART) to assist

circumstances. It was a real team

“Working in partnership with Police

in safely getting Ray down a tight

effort which gave Ray the very

Scotland in this way has helped

staircase to the ambulance in a

best chance of survival. On behalf

saved valuable time, freeing

horizontal position.

of everyone involved I’d like to

results illustrate the benefits for patients and both of our services.

up both police and ambulance

wish him and his family all the very

resources, and we’re delighted

Ray was then taken to East Surrey

that this new approach to patient-

Hospital in Redhill where he was

centred care is continuing.”

further stabilised before being

Ray added: “I’ll be forever grateful.

transferred to St George’s Hospital

And thanks to the SECAmb team

in Tooting. There he underwent

and everyone who treated me in

surgery to clear a number of blocked

hospital I’m still around to watch the

stents he had had fitted previously.

next series of Game of Thrones!”

calls which would normally have required both police and

huge thank you from us. They did Lauren and her crewmate set

SECAMB

Cardiac arrest survivor shocked eight times by lifesaving ambulance team

best for the future.”

A Horley man who was shocked with a defibrillator eight times by the attending ambulance crew when he suffered a

‘Fast and efficient’

reunited with some of his life-

cardiac arrest was recently saving team.

Police Scotland Sgt Nick MacRae said: “We are pleased to be able

Ray Shore, 65, and his wife

to continue to work in partnership

Dee, met with South East Coast

with our colleagues in the Scottish

Ambulance Service (SECAmb)

Ambulance Service on this initiative.

staff to thank them for their efforts

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

hours of ambulance crew time.

on the morning of his collapse on “The deployment of the joint

10 February 2018.

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

NEWSLINE SWAST

Grandfather reunited with lifesaver A grandfather has been reunited with a teaching assistant who saved his life – because of a last-minute supermarket trip to buy cake.

Martin Hyde, 71 from Trowbridge, had a cardiac arrest in the street when he was out with his wife in November 2017.

His heart had stopped beating, and his chances of survival of slim.

But teaching assistant, Michael Hunt, stepped-in and performed CPR to keep Martin alive.

During a special event on Thursday 29 March, Martin expressed his gratitude to Michael and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) crew who saved his life.

Martin said: “It’s amazing that I’m here today. It feels like I was gone,

and then came back. The right people showed up to keep me alive, including strangers in the street. I’ll be eternally grateful to everyone. I’m a lucky boy.

really make things any worse. So I rolled him onto his back and started CPR. He made a gargling sound, but I carried on doing chest compressions until the first paramedic arrived.”

“I’d encourage anyone to act as quickly as possible in a cardiac arrest situation, and do chest compressions. Don’t be afraid to step in, and pump fast and hard to the beat of Stayin’ Alive. CPR kept me alive.”

Richard Tilsley, a SWASFT Operations Officer, treated Martin with the assistance of Paramedic Simon Cocks. Between them, they managed to get his heart beating again.

Martin had just been discharged from hospital after undergoing heart surgery. It was the first time he had been out since returning home.

Paramedic duo, Danielle Askey and Wilf Griffin, then used a stretcher to move Martin from the pavement into a helicopter.

Michael had recently completed a First Aid course, during which he learned how to do CPR. He was on the way to visiting his mum.

Martin was airlifted to Bristol Royal Infirmary where he remained in intensive care for several days.

Martin has gone on to make a fantastic recovery.

Michael said: “I decided to go to the supermarket to buy marzipan stollen, because it’s a family favourite. That’s when I saw Martin lying on the ground.”

Meanwhile, Michael eventually got to the supermarket to buy his snack, and then travelled to see his mother.

“Martin looked in a very bad state.

He wasn’t breathing, and his face was purple. I knew that I couldn’t

Michael said: “I did what I could for Martin, but it didn’t think it was too promising. So I was over

the moon when I heard he was alive and home for Christmas. It’s remarkable.

A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body.

Some 30,000 people are treated for cardiac arrests in the UK every year. Only around 1 in 10 patients return home alive, but the chances of survival increase significantly when CPR is administered early.

Richard said: “As Mr Hyde’s case demonstrates, the sooner that basic life support and a defibrillator can be provided to someone in cardiac arrest the better their chance of survival.

“I am delighted that he has made such a good recovery and would like to thank him for formally acknowledging the work of everyone involved.

“The more people equipped with the knowledge and confidence to administer CPR and the more defibrillators there are available, the more people we can save.”

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

“It’s amazing that I’m here today. It feels like I was gone, and then came back. The right people showed up to keep me alive, including strangers in the street. I’ll be eternally grateful to everyone. I’m a lucky boy.”

102 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE WAS

Welsh Ambulance Service contact centre staff recognised for excellence at Las Vegas conference Ambulance control room staff are celebrating success after being recognised in front of colleagues from round the globe.

Five staff members from the Welsh Ambulance Service’s three Clinical Contact Centres recently travelled to Las Vegas for the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch’s annual Navigator Conference.

The Welsh contingent were there to be commended after the Trust’s regional emergency call centres in Cwmbran, Llanfairfechan and Llangunnor were awarded Centre of Excellence status.

The accolade recognises the highest standards of triaging calls using the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), used by call handlers and all staff who

Gill said: “It was such a proud

The conference also saw

moment to be representing

discussions surrounding the latest

the Welsh Ambulance Service

technological developments and

as we were recognised for

examples of best practice.

being reaccredited at all three emergency call centres in Wales.

“The learning and the networking was fantastic and we definitely took lots of gold nuggets of information back with us.

“There was also a very emotional and powerful opening presentation, where the centre manager involved in responding to the Las Vegas attack spoke and we remembered those who lost their lives.

“It really brought the impact of these incidents home and how well the services worked together

The visit was funded by the Welsh Ambulance Service’s bursary scheme, which aims to help staff develop personally and professionally.

Gill said: “This was all about recognising our staff, including our call handlers, who were chosen to attend in recognition of their excellent work.

“They all thought it was absolutely amazing and the presentations by some of the call handlers from around the globe were truly

“It really brought the impact of these incidents home and how well the services worked together to help people.”

to help people.”

inspiring.

There are currently more than

“Looking into the future, we heard

3,000 emergency medical

about the possibility of people

dispatch centres that use the

being able to make an emergency

“It was also confirmation that we

MPDS system worldwide, and

call from an app and other ideas

are ahead of the game on some

only 250 have achieved Centre of

such as call takers working from

things, including how we register

Excellence status to date.

home.

defibrillators on our systems.”

Do you want to work as a Paramedic Practitioner in Surrey?

Location: East Molesey, Thames Ditton and Woking Salary: Competitive salary

receive, process and dispatch

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a large, friendly and forward thinking practice.

help to patients in Wales.

This is a full or part time position.

The three-day educational event

We are looking for a competent Paramedic Practitioner to join our urgent care team who is looking to apply their skills in a General Practice setting.

also included an emotional presentation from those involved in co-ordinating the response to the mass shooting outside the city’s Mandalay Bay Casino in October, where 58 people tragically lost their lives.

Wales were Utilisation Manager Gill Pleming and call handler Codie Williams based in Llanfairfechan, MPDS Facilitator Michelle Perry and call handler Debbie Goldsmith, who work in Llangunnor, and call handler Danielle Burrows from Vantage Point House in Cwmbran.

You should be HCPC registered and hold one of the following qualifications BTECH Level 4, BSc, DipHE, FdSc or have achieved the IHCD Paramedic Award.

It would be advantageous to have completed modules in the following: Minor Illness, Minor injuries, Drugs and therapeutics, Clinical thinking and reasoning.

This role would suit candidates interested in moving into primary care and wishing to develop their skills working in a multi-disciplinary team.

We are a large GP Practice operating over three sites (East Molesey, Thames Ditton and Woking) in Surrey. We already have an established team of Advanced Nurse Practitioners and a Paramedic and would like an additional Paramedic Practitioner to join our medical team who would support the work of the urgent care team and also undertake home visits.

Please send your CV and covering letter to carole.tyrrell@nhs.net or post to Carole Tyrrell, Glenlyn Medical Centre, 115 Molesey Park Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0JX.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

Those who travelled from

You are already an experienced Paramedic able to deal with the challenges of the role and looking for a change of environment. We can offer broad experience with more family friendly hours and career progression within a supportive multi-disciplinary team structure.

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

NEWSLINE YAS

Yorkshire Ambulance Service Launches Life-Saving App: Does Your Community Have A Defibrillator?

A cardiac arrest occurs when a

has been verified by Yorkshire

The reunion followed a warming

person’s heart stops pumping

Ambulance Service and the date

thank you letter sent by the

blood around their body and to

of verification included so users

Alexandra with a photo of her

their brain. The earlier a patient

can see when it was last checked.

and her family together on their

can receive CPR and a shock

first holiday abroad in Lanzarotte,

from a defibrillator, the greater

An AED and its secure storage

their chance of survival.

cabinet cost around £1,400. The

following her recovery.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Alexandra had collapsed after

Curtis Randle, from

Charity provides part-funding

feeling unwell when at home with

Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Knaresborough, was walking

grants for the kit, along with

her three children, then aged 2,

(YAS) NHS Trust is launching a

through the Market Place when

various other organisations

5 and 8. Husband Stuart arrived

life-saving app which maps all

he suffered a cardiac arrest

including the British Heart

home from work and soon

the 1,288 automated external

in May 2016. By coincidence,

Foundation.

realised something wasn’t right

defibrillators (AEDs) across the

it happened right next to the

county.

town’s very first public access

If you would like to consider

the phone to Emergency Medical

defibrillator.

buying an AED for your

Advisor Katie Stringer, Alexandra,

community, contact:

became unresponsive and Katie

The Save a Life app tells you

and decided to call 999. While on

the location of your nearest AED

An off-duty Community First

and provides cardiopulmonary

Responder and off-duty GP came

resuscitation (CPR) guidance in

to his rescue, closely followed

uk - East Yorkshire and North

Ambulance crews were

the event of someone suffering a

by another Community First

Yorkshire (East of the A1)

dispatched as Stuart began

cardiac arrest.

Responder and ambulance crews.

The app is designed to make

Curtis said: “The defibrillator

members of the public aware

undoubtedly saved my life and

of their nearest AED, as well as

I’m so grateful that it was there

highlighting communities which

when I needed it. My family and

don’t have a life-saving device.

I are now constantly looking out for defibrillators so that we know

Paul Stevens, Head of Community

exactly where they are.

Resilience at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “There has been a

“I’m really pleased that the app

staggering increase in the number

has been launched, because

of AEDs across Yorkshire; four

it’s so important that people

years ago there were 100 and

are made aware of defibrillators

today there are 1,288. This app

and how they really can make a

plots all the AEDs so members

difference.”

of the public can familiarise themselves with the location of

The Save a Life app, which is

their nearest device.

iOS and Android compatible and free to download, was originally

recognised agonal breathing.

• warren.bostock@yas.nhs.

• emma.scott@yas.nhs.uk -

CPR under Katie’s instruction

South Yorkshire, Calderdale,

before Paramedic Sue Barnett

Kirklees and Wakefield area

and Ambulance Technician

• dave.jones@yas.nhs.uk Airedale, Bradford, Leeds and Craven area (West of the A1 in North Yorkshire).

If you know about an AED which is not included in the Save a Life app, contact aed@yas.nhs.uk

SECAMB

Life-saving ambulance team reunited with cardiac arrest survivor

Jean-Pierre Ball arrived at the scene in a little over four minutes and took over the resuscitation.

Further support arrived in the form of volunteer Community First Responder Jasmine Hughes and Paramedic Laura Walker before the air ambulance team of Dr Matt Miller and Critical Care Paramedic Simon Goodwin joined their colleagues at the scene.

By this point Alexandra had been resuscitated but needed to be placed in an induced coma by the air ambulance team so they could treat her more easily.

“We also hope that communities

developed for South Central

which don’t have the life-saving kit

Ambulance Service by its partner,

A Burgess Hill woman has been

Her expert treatment continued

will consider purchasing one via

O2, and uses GPS functionality to

reunited with the ambulance

at Royal Sussex County Hospital

the various funding streams which

show the location of the nearest

team who helped save her life

where she was fitted with a stent that

are available.

defibrillator from wherever the

when she suffered a cardiac

evening. However, Alexandra was

user is in Yorkshire.

arrest.

far from out of the woods as she suffered two further cardiac arrests

“However, the app should not be AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

used in an emergency. In the event

As well as storing the details of

Mum-of-three, Alexandra Watts,

and underwent further emergency

of someone suffering a cardiac

the 1,288 AEDs across Yorkshire,

38, who has made an amazing

surgery while her family were told to

arrest, you should still call 999 and

the app contains videos which

recovery which has seen her

be prepared for the worst.

will then be told the location of your

demonstrate how to carry out CPR

complete two charity 5K runs, was

nearest AED and the code needed

on adults, children and infants,

joined by her husband Stuart at

Over a three-week period,

to access it. We would encourage

along with a myth-buster section

Burgess Hill Ambulance Station

however, and following further

members of the public to proactively

that dispels the most commonly

recently. There, the couple were

procedures as well as a transfer

use the app to locate their nearest

held misconceptions about the

able to thank the ambulance team

to Harefield Hospital in London,

AED so that they can be prepared

risks of attempting CPR. The

who came to her aid in on the

Alexandra’s condition improved

for an emergency situation.”

location of each AED on the map

evening of 25 February 2016.

and she came out of her coma.

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

NEWSLINE “I remember being so pleased to

Alexandra and her family have

recognise people when I came

now completed two Harefield

round,” said Alexandra, who

5K runs raising money for a new

has fully recovered and had an

ICU for Harefield Hospital – the

internal defibrillator fitted.

first just seven months after her

“At first I was convinced that I had

Four things in one pack, one less thing to think about

cardiac arrest.

been in a car crash. I’m just really thankful for everything everyone did. I’m having ongoing checkups but in essence I can do pretty much everything I want to.”

Alexandra had opted to take voluntary redundancy from her civil service job just weeks before her cardiac arrest. With Stuart also choosing to do the same, the couple admit they went a little bit mad in 2017, travelling the world and enjoying new experiences with their children.

“We had a really good year and wanted to give the kids some good memories after everything that had happened, said Alexandra.”

Stuart added: “I can’t really put into words how grateful we are.

It’s been amazing to see everyone again and say thank you faceto-face. I’d also like to thank our family and friends who have been so supportive and helpful.”

Critical Care Paramedic Simon Goodwin said: “This was a real team effort right from the moment Stuart started CPR under Katie’s instruction. The team did a fantastic job getting Alexandra’s heart started again before I arrived at the scene with Matt. We were then able to provide critical care support en route to Brighton so that Alexandra had the best care in hospital.”

Paramedic Sue added: “It was lovely meeting with Alexandra and Stuart. It’s very rare for patients to make such a full recovery and I’m delighted to have met with her to wish her and her family well. I’m very

www.i-gel.com

Quality, innovation and choice

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

chance of survival following expert

“This was a real team effort right from the moment Stuart started CPR under Katie’s instruction.

The team did a fantastic job getting Alexandra’s heart started again before I arrived at the scene with Matt. We were then able to provide critical care support en route to Brighton so that Alexandra had the best chance of survival following expert care in hospital.”

proud of everything everyone did.”

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

NEWSLINE Violent attacks on ambulance workers rocket by 34% in just four years, GMB study shows

ambulance workers averaged more

cent) were aware of attacks on

sight, brain damage, loss of

than eight (8.2) every single day.

their colleagues.

consciousness and asphyxiation.

Examples of violent attacks

The union’s survey of over 500

GMB is supporting new legislation

reported by GMB members

ambulance staff across the UK

that faced its final House of

include: being bitten, stabbed,

found that:

Commons votes on Friday 27 April

having blood spat at them by intravenous drug users, having

2018. The Assaults on Emergency • 21 per cent of ambulance staff

Workers (Offences) Bill would

bones broken, attempts to hit

had to take sick leave due to

introduce a new offence of common

Ambulance staff bitten, stabbed

them with cars, and racist and

violent assaults

assault against an emergency

and have blood spat at them

sexual abuse.

• 37 per cent have considered

worker and require courts to treat

leaving their job due to the

attacks on emergency workers as

threat of violence

an aggravating factor for sentencing

in barrage of more than 14,000 physical assaults since 2012.

The union revealed the shocking figures ahead of a crunch vote

The number of violent attacks

by MPs on tougher sentences for

on ambulance workers in the UK

attacks on emergency workers

increased by 34 per cent between

this week.

2012/13 and 2016/17, a major

• Almost half (48 per cent) said

purpose.

the support offered by their employer was ‘inadequate’

However, sexual assaults are not currently covered by the Bill.

Reports of violent assaults against

GMB’s investigation reveals that

investigation by GMB, the union for

GMB carried out a Freedom of

health workers to the Health and

reported sexual assaults and

ambulance workers, has revealed.

Information Act survey of employers

Safety Executive increased by 20

other sexually abusive incidents

after national reporting of physical

per cent between 2012/13 and

increased by 211 per cent

A total of 14,441 physical assaults

assaults was ended when NHS

2016/17, the investigation found.

between 2012/13 and 2016/17. [4]

were recorded against ambulance

Protect was abolished last year.

To be reported to the HSE, an

workers between 2012/13 and January 2018.

In 2016/17, recorded attacks on

attack must result in seven days

One Trust – South West

A total of 72 per cent of ambulance

or more off work, or a ‘specified’

Ambulance Service – provided a

workers have been attacked while

injury which may include:

detailed breakdown of criminal

on duty, and almost all (94 per

fractures, amputation, loss of

outcomes. Just one custodial

Powerful solutions for EMS care

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

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106 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE sentence was reported out of the 294 reported physical assaults between 2016/17 and 2017/18.

Kevin Brandstatter, GMB NHS National Officer, said: “No one should be told that facing violence is just ‘part of the job’.

The number of attacks faced by ambulance workers as they try to save lives is beyond unacceptable.

“Our members do their jobs with complete professionalism - but everyone has their breaking point.

“As lone working becomes more common and cuts to services bite, ambulance workers are increasingly vulnerable to violence in the line of duty.

“Changing the law will be an important first step as current sentences aren’t providing an adequate deterrent.

“MPs must back emergency workers by backing this crucial legislation on Friday and widening its scope to include sexual

assaults.“The best laws will only be effective if they are enforced.

Ambulance workers are there when the public need them.

SECAMB

Emergency Operations Centre and HQ officially opened by The Countess of Wessex HRH The Countess of Wessex was welcomed by ambulance service staff in the Crawley sunshine as she attended South East Coast Ambulance Service to officially open the Trust’s new Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and HQ on Manor Royal in Crawley.

Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Mrs Susan Pyper, The Countess was given a tour of the EOC where she met and spoke with emergency medical advisors, dispatchers and clinicians on 8 May 2018.

The Trust also welcomed The Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Brian Quinn, Chief Executive of Crawley Borough Council, Natalie BrahmaPearl and Crawley MP, Henry Smith.

Staff began moving into the new building in May 2017 with staff from the Trust’s former EOC in Lewes the first to relocate. EOC colleagues from the Trust’s former site in Banstead in Surrey moved to the new building in September.

The moves provided greater capacity across two EOCs and ensured SECAmb is better placed to manage current and future demand. It also meant support services were brought under one roof for the first time since the formation of SECAmb in 2006 with the merger of Kent, Surrey and Sussex ambulance services.

The centre, with SECAmb’s other EOC in Coxheath, Kent, typically handles some 2,500 calls every day. The new EOC is home to some 250 staff with a further 250 support staff based on the floor above.

999 calls are answered by emergency medical advisors non-geographically across the Trust’s two EOCs. Ambulances are dispatched locally from each EOC. A team of clinicians are also on hand in each EOC to provide advice and support to patients and colleagues.

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “We were delighted to be joined by the Countess and local civic guests for what was a real celebration of the dedicated staff who work in this new premises. The day gave us an opportunity to pay tribute to all those who contribute to making this building a reality and I’d like to thank the Countess and everyone for coming to meet staff and see the amazing work they do day-in, day-out. Without them, of course, this is just another building. With them, and their dedication and professionalism, we are a service which saves lives and helps people every day.”

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

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

NEWSLINE communities’, published today,

Report reveals majority of people want to help in an emergency in their area but don’t know how – until now

reveals that almost nine in ten

The British Red Cross and

The British Red Cross, in

Aviva launch campaign to

partnership with Aviva, is calling

sign up 10,000 volunteers to

on people across the UK to

support in local emergencies

sign up to a new scheme called

people (88%) say that if an

flames. I thought ‘I’m not sure • More than nine in ten

alive’. The British Red Cross got

community they would want

experienced a major

me sat down, checked all my

to get involved, yet more than

emergency helped or had

vital signs, and made sure I was

half (53%) of people would

wanted to help

alright. If I had been away from

not know what to do if a disaster struck.

• Two thirds of people (66%) who had been involved in a major emergency felt there was more their community could have done to help if they knew how • Last year’s events in London and Manchester have

to an emergency every four

network of people ready to help

heightened our awareness

hours in the UK - from fires,

in a local emergency.

of crisis response in the UK.

to extreme weather conditions

More than half of people

and flooding, to national

The scheme hopes to recruit

(53%) feel it’s more likely

emergencies including acts

10,000 community reserve

that their community could

of terror

volunteers across the UK by the

be vulnerable to a major

end of 2019. It takes just ten

incident in the future

the UK have witnessed or experienced a large-scale emergency such as fire and flooding • The drive to sign up 10,000

minutes to sign up at redcross.org.uk/reserves The volunteers don’t need any specialist skills and will be called in if crisis strikes in their

volunteers comes after

area. It’s quick and easy to

the British Red Cross

sign up online and community

experienced one of its

reserve volunteers will be

busiest years since WWII

contacted by text if there is an

in 2017, assisting 9,265

emergency in their community

people in more than 1,500

they could help with. They will

emergencies across the UK

undertake vital practical jobs

in 2017

like packing food parcels,

• Almost nine in ten people (88%) say that if an emergency happened in their community they would want to get involved, yet more than half (53%) of people would not know what to do if a disaster struck.

I’m going to make it out of this

emergency happened in their

to help create a national

• One in five (21%) people in

second I was engulfed in

people (93%) who had

community reserve volunteers, • British Red Cross responds

The findings showed that:

blowing up airbeds for rest centres and filling sandbags in times of flooding.

The call for people to sign up comes after the British Red Cross experienced one of the busiest years since WWII, assisting 9,300 people in

• The most prepared areas were coastal locations,

their help I’d potentially have had much more serious injuries.

“In the aftermath of the crash the British Red Cross did a lot to help the emergency personnel on the scene and people in the community can help with in those extreme circumstances. I think the community reserve volunteer initiative is a really great idea because not everyone has the time to volunteer on a weekly or monthly basis but people do want to get involved when something major happens. It’s something that I’ll be proud to help the Red Cross with.”

where three in ten (30%) people had experienced

Simon Lewis, Head of Crisis

an emergency and 66% of

Response at the British Red

people feel their community is

Cross, said:

prepared to cope with one “The British Red Cross The research also highlighted

responds to a UK emergency

that people want to help, but

every four hours.

don’t always know how. More than nine in ten (94%) of

“Last year we faced a huge

people feel it’s important to

number of major emergencies

know how they can help in

like those in London and

an emergency to help speed

Manchester. They brought

up the recovery. The biggest

tragedy to so many people,

reasons that would hold

but we witnessed remarkable

people back from helping in an

acts of kindness and saw that

emergency were not knowing

people really want to give

how they could help (27%)

practical help when crisis hits.

and feeling like they didn’t have the right skills (19%).

“The findings of our report with Aviva show that despite this

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

more than 1,500 emergencies

Thomas Milburn, 26, signed

desire to help, people often

across the UK in 2017,

up as a community reserve

don’t know how best to assist or

the British Red Cross and

including terror attacks in

volunteer after being assisted

worry they don’t have the right

Aviva shows that the majority

London and Manchester, and

by British Red Cross volunteers

skills to get involved.

of people in the UK want to

the Grenfell Tower fire.

when he was badly burnt in the

A new report published by

help if disaster strikes in their community but would not know

As part of the report published

what to do.1

today, the British Red Cross and

Shoreham Air Show disaster.

“By creating a national taskforce

He said:

of community reserve volunteers we want to put local people

Aviva surveyed more than 4,000

“I looked up into the sky and

at the heart of emergency

The report, ‘When Crisis Hits:

UK adults about how prepared

this plane was coming straight

response, to help communities

mobilising kindness in our

they are for a local emergency.

towards me. The next split

rebuild and recover faster.

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

NEWSLINE “Everyone has a role to play when

your availability when you are

the ‘Golden Nugget’ presentations

excellent performance in relation

disaster strikes, even the smallest

contacted.

which will be judged for the award.

to successful placement of the

difference. It’s quick and easy to

To learn more about the British

During the period between

is a credit to skill and dedication

sign up online community reserve

Red Cross’ Community Reserve

November 2012 and April 2017 pre-

of the cohort.”

volunteers, you don’t need

Volunteer scheme with Aviva and

hospital surgical cricothyroidotomy

specialist skills and we need your

how to sign up, visit:

was performed on a total of 36

Following evaluation, the overall

help now more than ever.”

redcross.org.uk/reserves

occasions by NWAS advanced and

finding demonstrates that surgical

consultant paramedics. Medical

cricothyroidotomy produces

cardiac arrest accounted for 18

highly favourable success

emergency airway. This success

act of kindness can make a huge

Graham Brogden, Head of

1. The findings come from a

Property Technical Claims at Aviva

nationally representative

(50%) and traumatic cardiac arrest

rates when compared with

UK, said:

online survey of 4,000 adults

for 12 (33%) of interventions. The

other national and international

conducted by Opinium, 9th-

remaining 6 (17%) interventions

professional groups undertaking

13th March 2018.

were performed on patients with

the intervention within the pre-

traumatic and disruptive major

cardiac output at the time of the

hospital environment. Moving

events can be to communities.

intervention.

forward, the trust will ensure

“At Aviva we understand how

Our own claims teams are often among the first on the ground when incidents occur and we see first-hand how important it can be for communities to pull together in times of crisis.

NWAS

NWAS brings surgical cricothyroidotomy to paramedic practice The North West Ambulance Service’s advanced and

“That’s why we’re proud to be launching the community reserve

consultant paramedics are performing a procedure

volunteer programme as part of

previously restricted to the

our ongoing partnership with the

remit of doctors. Surgical

British Red Cross. By recruiting 10,000 volunteers across the

cricothyroidotomy was introduced into the scope of

UK, we hope to support the vital

practice of NWAS’ advanced

work of emergency responders

and consultant paramedics in

and the British Red Cross teams

2011 as an emergency airway

in helping communities manage

management intervention for

the unexpected, as well as help

otherwise unmanageable patient

prevent or limit the damage

airways resulting from traumatic

caused.

or medical aetiologies.

A recent service evaluation

programme is the latest initiative

demonstrated a favourable

in our three-year partnership

success rate when compared

with the British Red Cross to

to other professional groups

help make communities stronger

undertaking the procedure and

and safer. Sadly not every

provided valuable insight for the

emergency can be prevented, but

Trust’s governance and assurance

by equipping volunteers with the

processes. The service evaluation

skills they need, we can help bring

was completed by Consultant

neighbours together to make the

Paramedic Steve Bell and is

difference they want to should the

believed to be the first published

worst happen.”

British paramedic cohort of

the procedure providing both

for pre-hospital surgical

increased assurance as well as

cricothyroidotomy, defined as the

enhanced data capture for future

provision of adequate ventilation

review and evaluation.

via surgical cricothyroidotomy with confirmation of tube position

To find out more about Steve

using end tidal carbon dioxide

Bell’s award nomination

capnography, was 97% (n =

please visit

35). There were no reported complications or adverse

https://www.

incidents as a result of attempts of

collegeofparamedics.co.uk/

surgical cricothyroidotomy during

events/steve-bell

the evaluation period.

To book a place at the College of Mike Jackson, Chief Consultant

Paramedics’ National Conference

Paramedic had the following

2018 please visit

to say “the innovative work undertaken by our advanced

https://www.

and consultant paramedics

collegeofparamedics.

in performing surgical

co.uk/events/national-

cricothyroidotomy demonstrates

conference-2018-1

peer reviewed evidence on the To be a community reserve

technique.

volunteer you don’t need specialist skills to make a

Steve’s work has been nominated

difference and simple acts

for a British Paramedic Journal

of kindness can make big

award at the upcoming College of

difference. Any necessary training

Paramedics’ National Conference

will be given at the scene of

2018 on 9th – 10th May. He will

the crisis and you can confirm

be presenting his work as part of

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

“The community reserve volunteer

enhanced governance around The overall success rate

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

NEWSLINE During a special event at

Izabela said: “We thought

saved my life. A huge ‘thank you’

Bournemouth Ambulance Station,

something was wrong. I ran over

to everyone involved. Words

Kevin thanked the ‘A Team’ of

and found Kevin not breathing

cannot describe how grateful I am

bystanders, SWASFT paramedics

inside the car. We were desperate

to you all.”

and hospital staff.

to help him.”

Kevin said: “Without their skill,

A SWASFT Emergency Medical

hear Kevin was alive, and it’s been

hard work and dedication, I would

Dispatcher in the 999 Control

brilliant to meet him. It shows how

A retired aviation director who

almost certainly not be alive today.

Hub provided crucial medical

much difference people can make

had a cardiac arrest at the wheel

To say ‘thank you’ is not nearly

instructions over the phone,

if they are prepared to help in an

has been reunited with South

enough. They really were an ‘A

including CPR directives, which

emergency. I’d encourage anyone

Western Ambulance Service

Team’ of lifesavers, and my family

gave Kevin a fighting chance of

to do CPR.”

NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT)

and I will be eternally grateful.”

survival.

Dramatic video footage from

The bystanders pulled Kevin

and act quickly to save lives in an

Kevin’s car dashcam shows the

out of his car, and began to

emergency situation.

extraordinary episode, which he

do chest compressions before

has no recollection of.

SWASFT crews arrived. The crews

Martyn Box, the SWASFT

moved Kevin into an ambulance

Operations Officer who was in

Kevin drove normally through the

where they continued CPR and

charge on the night, said:

city streets, before experiencing

undertook defibrillation, which got

serious breathing difficulties.

his heart beating again.

SWAST

Airlines boss meets lifesaving paramedics after cardiac arrest

paramedics and members of the public who saved his life.

Kevin Steele, 66, was driving home through Bournemouth after watching a Premier League football match in November 2017 when his heart suddenly stopped beating.

The former airlines chief executive was unconscious and without oxygen for five minutes. He had a very slim chance of survival.

Izabela said: “I was so happy to

Paramedics urge people to step in

His vehicle slowed to a halt on

“Everything went according to the Chain of Survival for Kevin.

Wellington Road, and remained

Kevin was taken to Royal

He had early access to the

stationary for several minutes.

Bournemouth Hospital Intensive

emergency response system,

Care Unit, where he was put into

early CPR and defibrillation, and

A male passer-by eventually spotted

a coma and given 24/7 care. He

paramedics were on the scene

the lifeless Kevin and dialled 999.

has gone on to make a fantastic

quickly. Then he received further

recovery.

treatment in hospital. His survival

But various passers-by and paramedics treated Kevin at the

Polish trio Izabela & Peter

scene and on the way to hospital

Fiszbach and Greg Erdmann also

Kevin said: “It’s been amazing

– to keep him alive.

stopped at the scene.

to meet the people who literally

was a multidisciplinary team effort.

“I am delighted that he has made such a good recovery, and it’s been fantastic to meet him.

“As Kevin’s case shows, the more people equipped with the knowledge and confidence to administer CPR and the more defibrillators there are available, the more people we can save.”

A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body.

Some 30,000 people are treated for cardiac arrests in the UK every year.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

Just 9% survive an out-ofhospital arrest, but their chances increase significantly when CPR is administered early.

If you suspect someone is having Left to right: SWASFT Operations Officer, Martyn Box; SWASFT Paramedic, Jason Brown; Greg Erdmann; Kevin and Paula Steele; Izabela & Peter Fiszbach; SWASFT Emergency Care Assistant, Dave Cooke.

110 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

a cardiac arrest - dial 999, begin CPR, and use a defibrillator if one is available.

NEWSLINE Bluelight UK When Bluelight UK Ltd first opened in 2003 there were a

(drivers with HGV license) many

for stretchered patients of all sizes

As there is currently a shortage

of the private ambulance services

and wheelchairs. Details will be

of good quality used HDU

saw a cost saving in adding B

available soon.

ambulances, Bluelight UK

license vehicles to their fleets.

The second project is a 3.5 tonne

continues to order new vehicles built to HDU specifications. If

With the limitations a van

box body Renault Master A&E

conversion under 3.5 tonnes brings

Baus AT conversion which can

ambulances for the public sector.

it is essential to make the vehicle as

be uprated to 3.9 tonnes GVW.

a quality product for your clients

The used vehicle market was

lightweight and robust as possible

Built on a chassis platform this

from a company with a proven

buoyant with many new private

as well providing a comfortable

lightweight conversion will provide

track record, contact

ambulance services coming

environment for the patient. It is just

the extra space required the

on board. At the turn of the

sales@bluelightuk.co.uk for

as important to provide good, clean

increasing needs of a modern

millennium most of the services

more information or call the

open space for the crew, after all

ambulance service.

were able to use C1 category

this is their office.

office on 01942 888800

handful of converters, building

vehicles as most of the staff were

you are interested in providing

Both projects will

ex-NHS Trust and the preferred

Bluelight UK and Renault Trucks

be covered by

choice was the 5 cylinder

have been developing concepts

Renault Trucks

Mercedes Sprinter modular

over the past few years and are

3 year 100,000

box ambulance, built by UVM,

pleased to bring two new vehicles

mile warranty

MacNeillie or Wilker. Non-C1

to the market later this year. The

and covered by

vehicles (van conversions) were

first project is a multi-purpose

“out-of-hours”

in use by St John Ambulance and

van conversion using an “all-new

services which is

Red Cross.

design” for patient transport

essential for any

movements. This vehicle will

operator needing

With the emission charges coming

ultimately converted in Belfast with

to maximise the

into force, the cost of new vehicles

partners Gray & Adams and will

use of their new

and the increased cost of labour

offer an array of layouts to cater

assets.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

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

NEWSLINE WMAS

Excellence in the community awards

of kindness and bravery and it is

delivered, which together with

travelling. There he was reunited

very humbling.

the CPR, ensured Ben’s heart

with Ethan’s mum Georgia, who

had been successfully restarted

had been taken to hospital with a

“You are doing the things that

before the first ambulance crew

police escort.

really count in society and we’ve

arrived. However, Ben was still

An awards ceremony to honour

heard many heartwarming stories

in an agitated state as more

Ethan had been sedated but

members of the public from

this evening about things you

resources arrived on scene,

within 48 hours was out of his

across the West Midlands

have achieved to help people in

including Ian Jones and Karen

induced coma and sitting up in

who have gone beyond the

their hour of need. I just want to

Baker on the Midlands Air

bed talking! I’m thrilled to say

call of duty to help save lives

say thank you very much indeed

Ambulance from Staffordshire,

that Ethan has gone on to make

and support the work of West

for what you do, you are all

just minutes after the initial 999

a full recovery after a rare genetic

Midlands Ambulance Service’s

wonderful people.”

call.

narrowing of the left coronary

WMAS Chairman, Sir Graham

Karen and Ian administered

The event, sponsored by Zoll,

Meldrum, added: “This is a very

sedative drugs but unfortunately

Growers United, Cardiac Science

special event that allows us to

the medication did not have the

and WEL Medical, took place at

recognise some very special

desired effected.

the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley

people.

artery had been operated on.

5,000 staff has taken place.

St John Ambulance Curtis Molloy, Thomas Strachan

Further support arrived in the

Hill on March 15th, recognising the efforts of Community First

“The time that people give

shape of Dr Paul Dias on the

In April last year a large fire at

Responders, St John Ambulance,

in volunteering can never be

Midlands Air Ambulance from

a care home in Tamworth led

other emergency services and

underestimated, even more so as

Cosford who anaesthetised Ben

to 25 residents having to be

other voluntary organisations,

we live in a society now, where

in order to stabilise his condition

evacuated and rehoused. Curtis

businesses and individuals.

people just don’t have free time.

before he was airlifted to Royal

Molloy and Thomas Strachan

Stoke University Hospital.

were the first two St John

Addressing the audience, West

“Here with us tonight, we have

Thankfully, Ben went on to make

volunteers to step forward and

Midlands Ambulance Service

a group of people who are

a full recovery.

they helped to assist residents

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh

prepared to give up their free

said: “Our volunteers do a great

time, and give it to the people

job, saving lives across the West

in the communities in which we

Midlands every single day, and I

serve. “We can never repay you

Charlie Braid, Maggie

aforementioned winter weather

want to say a big thank you to all

for that, but I would just like to

Setterfield, Stuart Askew

and are always prepared to help,

of you for your efforts.

thank you all for what you do on

“Every single volunteer plays a

even with cases that are not in

efforts are truly appreciated.

Hereford in a games lesson

Award Citations:

relocated. They also volunteered their time to assist in the

Charlie Braid was at school in

their locality.

as part of his work experience

Public and Other Emergency

when 15-year-old Ethan Askew

Services:

suddenly collapsed in a cardiac

that it is and I am immensely proud of all of you for the effort

Air Ambulance Award:

a daily basis, year after year, your key role in making West Midlands Ambulance Service the success

from the home in being

Air Ambulance Award:

arrest. Help arrived first in the

Sarah Cooper

shape of receptionist Maggie

you put in.

Claire Howatt, Thomas

Setterfield who started doing

Partners PC Stacie Ferran and

“There is an absolute

Merrimen, Marc Cutler,

chest compressions. At the

PC Stefan Wolkowicz were both

determination within the Trust

Aidan Brown, Matthew Harris

same time Ethan’s father Stuart,

off duty and out enjoying a meal

to improve further, and our

(Drayton Manor), Josh Briggs

who also works at the school,

with their daughter in August

volunteers will play an essential

(Drayton Manor)

arrived to the sight of his son

2017 when they were alerted to a

having CPR.

fellow diner who had suffered a

role in making sure that can happen.

cardiac arrest.

A 999 call was made from

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

Drayton Manor Park employee

While Stuart helped Maggie by

High Sheriff of the West

Josh Briggs after he found his

providing rescue breaths, he

Stacie and Stefan acted quickly

Midlands, John Hudson OBE,

17-year-old colleague Ben Culfe

remembered the school’s new

and immediately began CPR

who helped present some of the

in cardiac arrest.

defibrillator. It had just delivered

whilst another bystander went

two shocks when the ambulance

to fetch a defibrillator. Thanks

awards on the evening, said: “It is a great honour to be here this

With excellent support from

arrived and the crew took over;

to their quick-thinking, a ROSC

evening and it has inspired me to

the call taker, another Drayton

shortly after they discovered a

was achieved on arrival of the

want to learn first aid, at the very

Manor employee – Matthew

pulse and CPR was ceased.

ambulance crew and the patient

least!

Harris - commenced CPR whilst

Ethan was moved on to the

was conveyed to hospital having

“There is so much expertise in

a second colleague fetched a

air ambulance and flown to

been given the very best chance

the room tonight, so many acts

defibrillator. Two shocks were

Bristol Hospital with Stuart also

of survival.

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

NEWSLINE Bridgnorth district as a CFR for

spent over 1,500 hours booked

The company soon went

12 years. Throughout that time

on call and attended 236

from pre-ambulance work to

Gareth Williams and Daniel

his incredible time commitment

emergency calls.

full design and construction

Moffat

and clinical ability has meant

Public Commendation:

of vehicles. The business

that when a CFR is sent to a 999

In addition, he is an Area

continued to quickly expand

A serious RTC on the A5 in

call in the Bridgnorth District, it

Co-Ordinator for FastAid

and in 1997 relocated to larger

South Staffordshire saw a car

will usually be answered by him

which involves mentoring,

premises on Larsen Road,

set on fire, with the driver still

first. He has attended multiple

encouraging and supporting

Goole, where the production

inside. Daniel Moffat and Gareth

cardiac arrests where his efforts

six team members. As a result

facility remains today.

Williams were the first two

to speed up the chain of survival

of this, FastAid provided over

people on scene and without

have resulted in many ROSCs.

2,500 hours of on call cover

The company continued to

for WMAS in 2017, attending

experience further growth and the site on Larsen Road

a fire extinguisher to help, had no choice but to force the door

Martin provides fantastic

more than 350 emergency

open with any tools they could

assistance and service to WMAS

calls. Ben is an extremely

find and their bare hands, to

and the community would be

proactive member of the

drag the unresponsive woman

much worse off without his

group and also supports his

out. Once clear of the car they

support and education he

Community Response Manager

quickly moved her as far away

provides as a CFR. As a retired

by providing HeartStart

as possible before the arrival

firefighter, Martin has dedicated

courses in and around the

of ambulance staff, by which

his entire life to helping others,

region. Whenever the group

time the car was well ablaze.

The Merit Doctor who attended

acquires new transport, Ben Community First Responders

the scene was clear that Daniel

has the skills to modify, equip and complete the necessary

and Gareth’s actions saved the

Fay Cooper, Rugeley and

adaptations to the highest

woman’s life that day, so we

District CFRs

standard whilst also attending

now ask them to step forward

training sessions when there is

to be presented with their

Fay Cooper is the founding

commendations.

member of Rugeley and District CFRs having actively recruited

a new intake of students.

was increased in size with the addition of two production lines built onto the back of the original building taking the manufacturing facility up to 60,000 sq. ft.

Soon after, O&H moved into the Mobility market and production began of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles which was shortly followed by expansion into the Welfare vehicle market.

Whether your goals are

as a charity.

O&H Vehicle Conversions

Over the years, Fay has

For 30 years, O&H Vehicle

provided a constant level of

Conversions has grown to

Robert Whissel and his wife

responding hours, arranged

become a leader in the design

Sheila were walking home

fund-raising events, actively

and build of high quality

from the newsagents in Barnt

engaged the group within

A&E Ambulances, Patient

Green last March when Robert

the community and helped to

Transport Service vehicles,

unexpectedly collapsed and

raise its profile – even during

Welfare vans and Wheelchair

fell to the pavement. With no

maternity leave!

Accessible Vehicles.

was obviously an alarming

Without Fay’s initial hard work

This 30th anniversary year, we

situation which later turned out

and continued efforts behind

are celebrating past success

to be caused by a complete

the scenes, the group would not

and looking towards the future.

heart blockage.

be in the strong position it finds

We want to take you back to

itself in today, so please step

where it started and show you

O&H will find it and make it

Luckily for Robert, bystanders

forward to receive an award in

where we’re heading.

happen.

Craig Nicholas and Mandy

recognition of your efforts.

O&H was started at Goole docks

To mark our 30th year in

back in 1988 as O&H Facilities.

business, we’re pleased to

With seven staff, the business

announce we are launching a

began by bringing Renault vans

new product into the market

off the ships and completing the

place. Be one of the first to see

CFR Ben East has shown a truly

pre-ambulance electrical work,

it by visiting us on Stand G27 at

exceptional dedication to his

rear suspension and the fitting of

the Emergency Services Show

Community, to West Midlands

ramps before the vehicles were

19th – 20th September 2018.

Ambulance Service and to his

dispatched to second converters

charity – FastAid. Last year, Ben

for the coachwork.

Public Commendation:

volunteers and set the group up

Craig Nicholls and Mandy Banham

previous cardiac history, this

quickly to deliver vital first aid

CFR Volunteer of the Year

and CPR. Robert has now gone on to make a full recovery.

Community First Responders Martin Hill, Bridgnorth CFR Martin Hill has served

Ben East, FastAid CFR

workforce, reducing your environmental footprint or controlling whole life costs, from its small beginnings to the striving business it is today, O&H continue to develop innovative products that help customers to achieve their objectives whilst consistently delivering on the brand that was established all those years ago.

At O&H Vehicle Conversions excellence is expected and if there’s a way to do it better,

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

Banham were nearby and acted

increasing the safety of your

www.ohvc.co.uk

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

NEWSLINE YAS

Yorkshire Ambulance Service staff win national awards Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) is celebrating after two members of staff won awards for their outstanding contribution.

Dave Hill, Fleet Ancillary Services Manager, and Alistair Gunn, Planning and Development Manager, were both honoured at the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives’ Ambulance Leadership Forum.

Dave, who leads the 160-strong Ancillary Services team, received the Support Services award in recognition of his efforts at the helm of the department which cleans vehicles, equipment and premises. Ancillary staff work hard to ensure that patients are treated in clean and infection-free environments.

Described as “incredibly driven” with a calm, dedicated and caring approach, Dave has encouraged

Alistair Gunn at Ambulance Leadership Forum

his team to strive for the best

support from all our attending

promoting good practice around

and embrace learning and

staff, plus total strangers offering

diversity and inclusion. He is chair

development opportunities. More

me support and congratulations.

of both the YAS Lesbian, Gay,

than 80% of staff have achieved

This award was totally unexpected

Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)

their NVQ Level 2 Cleaning and

and it’s not something which I ever

Network and National Ambulance

Support Services Certificate.

thought about winning. I always try to help and support whoever I can,

Dave, from Sprotbrough near

whenever I can, as I look at YAS as

Doncaster, said: “I am so

being one big team.”

honoured to receive this award. It was a fantastic evening with great

Alistair has been recognised for

LGBT Network.

He has worked hard to raise the profile of LGBT issues by improving the information and support which is available to LGBT employees. His work has also enabled ambulance services across the UK to understand and respond to the needs of LGBT patients. Alistair is described as “passionate and full of humility”.

Alistair, who lives in Doncaster, said: “Over the past three years, the National Ambulance LGBT Network has grown and is now reaching out to more and more people. It has been down to the determination of those involved to make this happen and, for

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

me, there’s nothing like getting a group of people together and harnessing their energy to develop the network and influence cultural change in the ambulance service. I am very proud of the fact we now have an established organisation, and to receive an Dave Hill at Ambulance Leadership Forum

114 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

award for my part in this is really the icing on the cake!”

IN PERSON finance office and during this time she enrolled

WAA News

Dr Maria proud to be working with Wiltshire Air Ambulance

at night school to study A levels to enable her

Experienced Pre-hospital Emergency

After graduating from University College,

Care Doctor Maria Smith is delighted to

London, as a doctor in 1999 she worked in

be working in her home county training

various hospitals, including the John Radcliffe

Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s Paramedics.

Maria was born and brought up in Wiltshire and in her role as the Base Doctor at Wiltshire Air Ambulance she oversees Clinical Governance, trains the service’s Paramedics to develop their critical care skills and undertakes operational shifts on the helicopter and Rapid Response Car.

to get into medical school to train to become a doctor.

at Oxford.

She has worked in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) since 2007 and previously worked at Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and London Air Ambulance.

In 2009 she became a consultant and her full-time job is as an Accident & Emergency

Since joining Wiltshire Air Ambulance in her part-time role last year Maria, who has a home in Melksham and relatives living in the county,

Maria, 48, said working on air ambulances gives her a unique insight when treating patients.

Consultant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge. This also involves her working with Magpas Air Ambulance.

“I like seeing patients early and trying to make a difference early,” she said. “There’s something very different about seeing patients where incidents happened and understanding how they happened. The air ambulance world is really good at training to ensure the safety of crews and governance and I take that back into my hospital work.”

David Philpott, Chief Executive at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “Experienced clinicians like Maria are few and far between and we count it a great privilege to have her as our Base Doctor. Her roots in this county means she has become deeply embedded in our team and we look forward to many years of partnership working with her.”

said: “I’m really proud to be working with Wiltshire Air Ambulance and I’m very lucky to be doing a job that I really enjoy. For me, it’s about wanting every patient to get the care you would want your mum or dad to get.

“Wiltshire Air Ambulance is a great team, from the pilots and paramedics to the charity staff.

It’s such a well supported charity and we couldn’t do what we do without the support of the public who fundraise for it. The new airbase at Semington is really exciting and it will be nice for the crew and charity team to be on the same site.

“The paramedics are all outstanding. They are really good people and are very keen to learn and develop their skills to benefit patients.

Their specialist skills mean they can assist their land ambulance colleagues by giving prehospital blood transfusions, additional drugs and other interventions to patients who are critically ill or injured.”

Maria was born at Bradford-on-Avon Maternity Hospital and was brought up in Atworth, where she attended the village junior school.

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

At the age of 11 she joined St John Ambulance and attended groups in Atworth, Melksham and Devizes before she became the divisional superintendent for Devizes, a voluntary role.

When she left St Mark’s School, Bath, Maria wanted to become a paramedic but at that time applicants had to be aged 21. Instead she worked at Chippenham College in the

Dr Maria Smith, Base Doctor at Wiltshire Air Ambulance

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

IN PERSON SECAMB News

Trust formally appoints Interim Chair South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s (SECAmb) Council of Governors has formally appointed Deputy Chair Graham Colbert to the position of Interim Chair.

Graham, who will serve as Interim Chair until a substantive appointment is made by the Council of Governors, has taken on the role following the resignation of former Chair Richard Foster. Richard stood down having been advised that he will need to undergo major surgery in the near future.

Graham is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Genomics England (a company set up by the Department of Health to carry out a programme of 100,000 whole genome sequences). He has extensive experience in growing businesses in both developed and emerging markets and he is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie said: “I’d like to thank Graham for agreeing to serve as our Interim Chair. Having served as a non-executive director since 2012 and as our Deputy Chair, he has the skills and experience required as we continue our period of improvement.”

Graham said: “I’d like to thank Richard Foster

for his hard work over the last 12 months and

Royal Navy flying scholarship, before joining the

wish him all the very best for his upcoming

Royal Navy for 19 years. The final ten years of his

surgery. I look forward to further supporting

military service were in the Fleet Air Arm flying the

SECAmb as the Council of Governors

EH101 Merlin all round the world on operations.

complete the process of making a substantive

Rob was the first Royal Navy pilot to go through

appointment.”

ab-initio training for the Merlin helicopter.

WAA News

Pilot Rob rejoins Wiltshire Air Ambulance

Rob knew all of the pilots and many of the paramedics at Wiltshire Air Ambulance before he re-joined in February as a full-time pilot. He had not flown a Bell 429 helicopter before, but has been impressed with its features.

Experienced helicopter pilot Rob Backus says he is delighted to have rejoined

“It’s more hi-tech and modern, particularly with

Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

electronic screens. It’s also a fast helicopter, it’s smooth and has sufficient space in the

Rob flew the MD902 Explorer for three years

back for the patient and paramedics. It’s a very

when the charity was sharing the helicopter

clearly laid out aircraft and I like the display in

with Wiltshire Police. When the joint helicopter

the cockpit,” he said.

contract came to an end in December 2014, Rob moved into Search and Rescue with Bristow Helicopters flying the Sikorsky 92 all

Wiltshire Air Ambulance has to raise £3.25 million a year to keep flying and saving lives and Rob

round the UK.

is full of admiration for everyone who fundraises

Wiltshire Air Ambulance is now a stand-alone

fundraising and administrative team.

air ambulance and with the charity’s imminent move to its new airbase at Semington, near Melksham, Rob says he has joined at an exciting time in the charity’s development.

Rob, 44, said: “It’s great to be back. I leapt at the opportunity to rejoin Wiltshire Air Ambulance in our brand new purpose-built airbase, flying the latest generation helicopter and working alongside first class paramedics saving lives day and night.”

Rob was at the new airbase when the building

for the charity, supported by the hard-working

He said: “Everyone who donates or fundraises for us makes a huge difference. Any donation, however small, helps to keep us flying and saving lives.”

A keen sports enthusiast, Rob is going to be fundraising for Wiltshire Air Ambulance by running the Bath Half Marathon in 2019, postponed from this year due to snowy conditions. He has also uploaded a photo for the heli mosaic which will be created at the new airbase.

was officially handed over to the charity last month and joined colleagues in watching Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s Bell 429 helicopter flying in and landing on the helipad for the first time.

He said: “Watching our helicopter fly in and land at the new airbase was a really special moment. The building looks absolutely fantastic and I think working there will make the charity more efficient, as the operational AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

staff and the charity staff will both be there, and it will be a more welcoming facility for our supporters and patients to visit.”

Rob, who lives in Penselwood, Somerset, and is married with two daughters, has been a helicopter pilot for 19 years and has flown 3,400 hours.

He began flying at the age of 17 thanks to a

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

IN PERSON SECAMB News

WAS News

Trust chairman stepping down

Trust bids farewell to Chair Mick Giannasi

South East Coast Ambulance Service

The Welsh Ambulance Service has bid a

NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb)

fond farewell to its Chair of four and a half

Chairman Richard Foster has taken the

years.

our health board partners to build on the solid foundations which we have created and deliver the fundamental change which is necessary at a system level for the improvements we have made to be

decision to step down from his role with

sustained.

“I am sad to be leaving the Trust because there is more to do. However, I am heartened

Mick Giannasi will leave the organisation

by the fact that I am leaving it in very

when his fixed term appointment comes to

capable hands and the work which we have

an end.

started together will continue.”

undergo major surgery in the near future.

Mick was appointed as Chair of the Trust in

A recruitment process will be held to appoint

This, combined with the on-going demands

2013 following a distinguished career in the police service.

a substantive replacement in the autumn.

of his other commitments, means that he

immediate effect.

Richard, who joined SECAmb in April 2017, has been advised that he will need to

feels he is unable to devote the time that is necessary to the Trust during its continuing

He is now stepping down having

period of improvement.

successfully guided the Trust through a significant period of transformation.

Richard said: “I am tendering my resignation with deep regret. It has been a difficult decision but I feel it is the right decision for

Mick, who was recently awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for his

myself and for the Trust at this time.”

contribution to the NHS, said: “I originally

SECAmb Chief Executive Daren Mochrie

basis but ended up staying four years more,

said: “On behalf of the Trust, I would like to thank Richard for his contribution during the past 12 months and wish him well, both for his forthcoming surgery and for the future.”

Deputy Chairman, Graham Colbert, will take on the duties of the Chairman with immediate effect, until such time as the Council of Governors, which is responsible for appointing the Chairman, have followed due process and decided on future arrangements.

joined the Trust on a six-month temporary having become totally committed to the organisation, the essential role it plays and the fantastic people who work in it.

“During that time, the service has been transformed, developing into a more clinically-led and patient-focused organisation, delivering higher quality care for the people of Wales.

“I am proud to have played my part in delivering that change and, in particular, enabling our talented and incredibly committed clinicians, support staff and managers to begin to achieve their true potential.

“Although we have made a huge amount of progress, I recognise that there is still much

In the interim, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Vaughan Gething has asked current Vice-Chair, Martin Woodford, to step up into the Chair’s role.

Martin, who joined the service in 2014, has more than 30 years’ experience in the local government and healthcare environment.

He was Chief Executive of Powys Healthcare Trust prior to re-organisation, and more recently Chief Executive of the former Hereford Hospital Trust and its successor organisation Wye Valley NHS Trust.

Martin said: “Mick’s contribution to the service has been immeasurable and the whole Board is extremely grateful for his guidance throughout the last four years.

“The scale of transformation the organisation has undergone would not have been possible without his leadership, and my focus will be on maintaining that momentum.

“I look forward to taking the reins and feel privileged to be given this opportunity.”

to do to create the modern, fit for purpose

Chief Executive (Interim) Patsy Roseblade

ambulance service that we aspire to be for

added: “I would like to express my utmost

the people of Wales.

gratitude to Mick for his tireless work and

challenging and the pressures which the

“He has been instrumental in enabling us

organisation has faced have meant that we

to progress and to move on as a respected

have not always been able to provide the

clinically-led and quality driven service.

quality or timeliness of service that we would like to. The relentless pressure has also

“Meanwhile Martin’s extensive experience

taken its toll on our staff.

will now stand us in good stead during

AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

support during his time as Chair.

“This winter has been particularly

our next chapter as we continue to make “It is important that we now work with

improvements to the service we provide.”

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

IN PERSON NWAS News

NWAS paramedic lands top ambulance role driving foward emergency care Emergency patients in Merseyside are benefitting from even more expert clinical skills as Paramedic, John Collins steps up to take on a new challenge as Consultant Paramedic for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) making him the top ambulance clinician in the county.

Consultant paramedics are extremely highly trained and support advanced paramedics in specialist pre-hospital care meaning that seriously ill patients can receive the best possible treatment before arriving at hospital.

The ambulance service has increased

coached and supported dozens of student

their consultant paramedics from four to

paramedics.

six meaning that there is now one focused each North West county and one on clinical

Brian has been based at Worksop for the last

research with John taking up the post in

40 years and has saved the lives of hundreds

Merseyside.

of people across Nottinghamshire, but has now made the difficult decision to retire.

Chief Consultant Paramedic for NWAS, Mike Jackson, said: “It’s been nine years since we

He said: “After 42 years with the ambulance

introduced the role of consultant paramedic to

service, it hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m actually

the ambulance service and our patients have

retiring.

really benefitted from the specialised learning that each one brings to the organisation which

“I’m going to spend some time relaxing, work

is why we have decided to expand them

on my golf swing, and I’m looking forward to

further.

spending more time with my grandchildren.”

“John has years of varied experience as a

Close friends and colleagues gathered at

Paramedic and is really eager to drive forward

Worksop Ambulance Station this week to

the organisation. He’s going to make an

celebrate Brian’s long service and to wish him

excellent addition to the team.”

well for the future.

John also has years of experience working

Close friends and colleagues gathered at

for North West Air Ambulance and was even

Worksop Ambulance Station this week to

seconded as a Commander to the London

celebrate Brian’s long service and to wish him

Olympics and Paralympics for two months in

well for the future.

2012.

Keith Underwood, Ambulance Operations Giving advice to other people looking to work

Manager for Nottinghamshire, said that Brian

their way up the emergency care career ladder,

has been a vital member of the EMAS team

John said: “Set your personal standards high,

for a long time and a great ambassador for

both personal and clinical and you will be

the service.

recognised as a result.”

He said: “I feel privileged and honoured to Although the role involves a lot of leadership Consultant Paramedic, John Collins gears up for his new role

and learning opportunities, John will still be working alongside colleagues on ambulances,

“It has been an absolute pleasure and I was

cars and helicopters promoting expert practice

delighted to have been able to present him

and top notch patient care.

with his long service award.”

John, 46, from Broadgreen joined the ambulance service in 1994, qualifying as a paramedic in 1995 before moving on to work in staff training from 2004 until he was promoted to become one of the first advanced paramedics for NWAS in 2010.

John said: “The consultant paramedic job is a very varied role and as well as supporting my AMBULANCE UK - JUNE

team of advanced paramedics, I will also be

have worked with Brian.

EMAS News

Paramedic retires after caring for 100,000 patients A Nottingham paramedic who has cared for more than 100,000 patients in his 42 year career has retired to enjoy his golden years.

involved in working with other NHS Trusts and

Brian Wilkinson, 64, began working for the

partner organisations to implement changes

ambulance service as a Technician in 1976

in the way that we respond to patients to

from Retford Station, before moving to

help keep us up there at the cutting edge of

Worksop Station two years later.

prehospital care.

During his time with the service, he has been “The NHS is changing and it’s a really exciting

instrumental in having penicillin introduced

time to take on such a challenging role. I’m

onto ambulances to help save the lives

really looking forward to leading that change”.

of patients with meningitis, and he has

118 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

www.emergencyuk.com | Hall 5 | NEC | Birmingham | 19-20 September 2018 | www.emergencyuk.com | Hall 5 | NEC | Birmingham | 19-20 September

IN PERSON

Photographs © ESS

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Over 400 exhibitors, free CPD-accredited seminars and live product and rescue demonstrations. Hall 5, NEC, Birmingham. Wed 19 – Thu 20 September 2018.

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119

Does he need a trauma centre or the local hospital?

Twenty-year-old male in a motor vehicle accident. Airbag has deployed. Car has significant front-end damage.

Is he bleeding internally? Will he need a trauma centre?

These are some of the questions you need to answer on a suspected trauma call, as haemorrhage is the leading cause of death after injury.1 The new trauma parameters on the ZOLL X SeriesÂŽ help you accurately and quickly assess your patients so you can feel more confident in your treatment decisions.

Insight for informed decisions. www.zoll.com/uk/trauma-care Acosta JA, et al. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 1998;186(5):528-533.

1

Š2016 ZOLL Medical Corporation, Chelmsford, MA, USA. X Series and ZOLL are trademarks or registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

MCN IP 1601 0092-05