South Central Ambulance Service
NHS Foundation Trust
Foundation Times
Issue 23 Summer 2018
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Spotlight on Loretta Light 14
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Celebrating 70 years of the NHS in England
SCAS proud to be working with Armed Forces
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Keeping you and your family safe in water
Summer outdoor activities by age group
Issue 23 Summer 2018 If you would like to submit an article for Foundation Times please send it to getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk. Foundation Times is produced by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. Editor: Monica Moro Design: Nathan Shelton
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Issue 23 Summer 2018
WELCOME Welcome to the Summer 2018 bumper edition of Foundation Times. A lot has been happening since the last edition and we hope you find it an interesting and informative read. Your feedback is always welcome at getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk
FRONT COVER PHOTO opportunity If you are interested in photography and would like to see your image on the front cover of the next issue, please send it to us along with details of where it was taken to getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk
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ing for the 2017 governors elections will t on Tuesday 14 November and we would to take this opportunity to encourage you vote to make sure your voice is heard.
Spotlight on Loretta Light, Oxfordshire governor
GOVERNORS ELECTIONS 4
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I can take no credit for sharing my birthday year with the NHS but perhaps the experience of free healthcare as needed throughout my childhood had some effect on my choice of medicine as a career. I qualified in 1971 and have enjoyed working in hospitals, general practice and the community. The changes I have witnessed are extraordinary and the progress in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for patients is astonishing. When I qualified, the treatment for heart attacks was pain relief and bedrest not the amazing rapid response and intervention normal today.
Loretta qualified in medicine at Guy’s Hospital in 1971 and worked in London and Worcestershire before deciding on Paediatrics as a speciality after post graduate training at Warwick University. She became a Consultant Community Paediatrician in South Staffordshire with a particular interest in Social Paediatrics and was the lead for Child Protection. She particularly enjoyed the multidisciplinary nature of the role working closely with Social Services, Education, Police and many other agencies including the voluntary sector. She frequently appeared as an expert witness in family and criminal courts. Together with other experts at the Department of Health she was involved in producing the first guidelines for the Pre -Trial treatment of Child Witnesses.
What has not changed in 70 years is the quality of people who work in the NHS. Training and qualifications have advanced but the care, skills and humanity shown by clinical staff with all the support staff behind them is second to none. I have seen this myself most recently as a SCAS Public Governor in spending a busy shift with an ambulance crew and also sitting in at one of our call centres listening to calm, courteous, reassuring and extremely competent staff taking NHS 111 and 999 calls.
Loretta was also part of the Child and Family Psychiatric Team working with victims of Child Sexual Abuse after specialised training at Great Ormond Street Hospital. She also initiated a service to treat teenage alcoholics and drug users which was challenging but very necessary. During these years, she was heavily involved with the British Medical Association, chairing committees and representing community paediatric doctors as the speciality evolved. These experiences were useful in learning committee and negotiating skills as well as ensuring that she kept in touch with grass roots opinions through frequent visits and lectures to other parts of the country.
As a crucial part of the NHS, the ambulance service is often needed at crisis times for people and is a highly respected and valued portal into other parts of the NHS. SCAS demonstrates the very best of this in all its services and I am proud to be a Governor of the Trust. As we celebrate this anniversary whatever the challenges ahead, and there will be many, we can be sure that all those of us who make up the NHS will continue to support and care for our patients and their families to the very best of our abilities.
Earlier this year Loretta celebrated her 70th birthday and on the 5th of July she was invited to be the guest of honour at our Bicester HQ to celebrate NHS70. On the day Loretta said: “It is a very great honour to be asked to cut the cake to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday.
Happy Birthday NHS.” 5
South Central Ambulance Service
NHS Foundation Trust
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Royal Special 8
The Royal Wedding and various other key royal events saw a number of SCAS staff involved in the festivities either as medical cover or invitees. Here we give a quick round-up.
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SCAS NATIONAL SCAS’s medical cover at the Royal Wedding
Despite the huge number of people who were in Windsor we are pleased to report that medical teams only treated 133 people on the day and only 10 of those needed to continue their treatment elsewhere. We also set up many media interviews with members of our team and our social media feeds were kept updated thanks to the photos and information from our amazing staff on the ground.
Around 70 staff and volunteers from departments across SCAS were involved in supporting this very important day which was watched by millions across the world, with over 100,000 spectators descending on Windsor. Our amazing team were supported by St John Ambulance and British Red Cross. In total a massive medical team of nearly 200 were on hand in treatment centres specially set up for the day and at strategic points around the procession route to support the visitors and, of course, those who were working in Windsor, to make sure everyone had a great time.
Events like this require a lot of hard work and pre-planning from many departments to make sure people remain safe, and this couldn’t have happened without the dedication of many across SCAS. It was an amazing day for everyone and a massive thank you to all who were involved in ensuring that SCAS was able to provide an exemplary response.
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SCAS staff invited to the Royal Garden Party Neil Durrant, Acting Head of Operations for South Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire, and Caroline Edwards, Team Leader at Wexham Resource Centre were delighted to be nominated by SCAS to attend the first of this year’s Royal Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace, celebrating public service. Caroline joined Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service in 1999 and Neil joined in 2000 so with almost 40 years between them, this was a huge honour and privilege.
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SCAS staff invited to the Prince of Wales' 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration On 22 May SCAS staff were invited to the Prince of Wales’ 70th birthday patronage celebration. The Prince of Wales hosted a special Garden Party at Buckingham Palace celebrating the work and the achievements of 386 Patronages, 20 Military Associations and the emergency services in the UK. The event was attended by around 6,000 people from the various organisations, of which SCAS was one. Representing SCAS was Dave Cave (Operations), Rick Perry (NEPTS), Mark Rowell (NHS 111) and Gillian Hodgetts (Corporate). Attending the event alongside our amazing SCAS staff was the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cambridge and the newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
SCAS Hampshire Emergency Call Taker gets her invite to the queen’s garden party In May Emergency Call Taker Catrin Redman from Otterbourne Call Centre was invited to attend the Queen’s Garden Party. Catrin said “I was honoured to be invited to the Queen’s Garden Party in recognition of my work with the Women’s Refuge and the homeless in Portsmouth. It was a beautiful day and one I most certainly will never forget.” Catrin is pictured here with her daughter who attended with her.
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SCAS CCC (CLINICAL CO-ORDINATION CENTRE) EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEAD THE WAY IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TRAINING On 12 and 13 June the CCC Education and Development team attended a national forum hosted by NHS Digital in Birmingham. The team, who has been working hard trying to find new ways of delivering education which is more interactive and innovative, delivered a well-received presentation and workshop on New technologies in Education. A number of activities were set up for members of the forum to experience, including: • Microsoft Holo Lens Technology with virtual patient to demonstrate different healthcare conditions • Samsung VR (Virtual Reality), using the national resuscitation council lifesaving app, anatomy and physiology games • A new interactive video pack on breathing difficulties created in collaboration with the Education Department • Core modulation of virtual classrooms for NHS Pathways training which will enable students to train at home. The Forum was attended by national ambulance services and NHS 111 providers and supported by Microsoft Holo Lens, Pearson’s Healthcare and Samsung. These two days proved a fantastic opportunity for SCAS to demonstrate how education can be delivered in a completely new way. The team received amazing feedback from people who attended the forum who were impressed by the innovate ways that SCAS is looking at developing for the future.
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SCAS WIDE CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF THE NHS IN ENGLAND On 5 July 2018, trusts around England came together to celebrate 70 years since the launch of the NHS and the achievements of this service. SCAS kicked our celebrations off with an event at our Bicester HQ. A big thank you to our Oxfordshire Governor Loretta Light for being the guest of honour. Loretta celebrated a birthday earlier this year similar to the NHS’s own! Staff joined Loretta, Trust Chair Lena Samuels and Deputy Chief Executive James Underhay to mark the special birthday for the NHS and the amazing cakes brought in by staff were eaten and enjoyed. Meanwhile at the Clinical Co-ordination Centre in Otterbourne staff brought in some amazing cakes for everyone to enjoy and dressed down for the day with all proceeds going to the SCAS Charity. A member of staff brought in a beautiful cake which was raffled off for the dementia charity…and there was even a spot of singing… Members of the public also took the opportunity to commend SCAS staff for their jobs and some visited SCAS locations to deliver gifts in celebration of the amazing work everyone does. Proud members of staff across SCAS, including new staff in the NHS 111 South and NEPTS departments, also got involved and had their photo taken in celebration of this special day.
The South Central Ambulance (SCA) Charity exists to raise funds that will be used to support the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, but all the money raised by the South Central Ambulance Charity are used to fund services that are additional to the core NHS services that SCAS is funded to provide. SCA is an NHS Charity and like most NHS charities, the Trustee of the Charity is the Board of the South Central Ambulance Service Foundation Trust. To find out about volunteering, donating or fundraising, please go to http://sca-charity.org.uk/ or ring Charity Officer Marianne Hawke on 01869 364076.
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SCAS THAMES VALLEY Successful prosecution of Jamie Power at Aylesbury Crown Court In May, following a 12 month collaboration between SCAS, Thames Valley Police (TVP) and partners and numerous court hearings, nuisance caller Jamie Power was given a court order and suspended prison sentence. Between April 2014 and December 2017 Jamie Power and an associate from Aylesbury abused SCAS staff and services by making 332 emergency calls from their residence. Mr Power would make 999 and NHS 111 calls for the associate and the associate would make 999 and NHS 111 calls for Mr Power. Many of the incidents were given as life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest, with SCAS dispatching multiple resources, but when crews arrived they were not life-threatening incidents. Typically Mr Power and his associate would present as intoxicated, threatening, abusive and insulting towards Clinical Coordination Centre (CCC) staff and Operational crews. Latterly police were required to attend each incident with SCAS as Mr Power had threatened to harm crews with a knife. Frequent calls were for a number of reasons including concern for welfare, potentially traumatic injuries, medical concerns and cardiac arrest. These behaviours presented a significant impact on out Call Handlers, CCC Clinicians and our Operational Clinicians. The cost to SCAS for servicing this demand is in the region of ÂŁ50,000. The greatest impact of these behaviours is on our other patients and callers, who will have experienced delays in their calls being answered and triaged, or who have not received a timely ambulance response, as our crews were committed on scene with Mr Power or his associate. A considerable amount of time has been spent on this case, with SCAS writing impact statements, reviewing and collating demand activity to be used as evidence, meeting police and attending court. Mr Power was arrested and subsequently held on remand at HM Prison Woodhill in late December 2017.
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On 25 May 2018 at Aylesbury Crown Court he was sentenced to 20 months custodial, suspended for two years and was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) lasting four years. The CBO contains a number of prohibitions relevant to SCAS: • Not to call the emergency services except for a genuine emergency • Not to behave in a threatening, abusive or insulting way • Not to have in his possession a lighter or matches • To remain under the drink-drive limit as determined by the roadside breath test whilst in a public place. The CBO also requires Jamie to attend fortnightly alcohol treatment sessions. Judge Sheridan specified that any breaches of the CBO by Mr Power are to be referred back to Crown Court. He was made aware that the consequence of breach was likely to result in a further custodial term.
SCAS endorse Judge Sheridan’s statement that staff should be able to carry out their roles, without being subjected to violent, threatening, abusive or insulting behaviours from patients.
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During sentencing, Judge Sheridan requested that a message be passed to the emergency services: “Judge Sheridan extends his gratitude to all of you who have had to deal with Jamie Power over this period of time and to acknowledge all the hard and difficult work you do. He wanted it known that it is a great service that you provide and that you do a dangerous job risking your lives protecting and serving the public, and you should not be subjected to bullying and nuisance treatment in the execution of your duty. He extends to you his thanks.”
SCAS PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH ARMED FORCES Here at SCAS we pride ourselves on the levels of engagement we have with members of the Armed Forces and the increasing number of veterans and reservists amongst our staff. We proudly signed the Covenant in 2014, and continuing our journey in 2017 we received the Employer Recognition Schemes (ERS) Gold Award which demonstrates our support for the military. In May 2018 we were very excited to be invited to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. The overall purpose of this visit was to begin working on our campaign materials that was then throughout Armed Forces Week in June. The event was a great success and was attended by a number of people who work for SCAS but also have/had links with the Armed Forces including veterans, reservists, Co-Responders, cadet leaders, MOD Paramedics and our very own military champions. We were fairly fortunate with the weather and before the rain set in were able to gather together for a number of photos outside a Boeing C17 Globemaster plane. The day was a great opportunity to sit, talk and listen to people who have a connection with the forces, hearing people’s military experiences and passion for their time in service was really enlightening and we captured some great case studies for future use. We were delighted to be joined by our Chair Lena Samuels and a number of our Executive Directors. We signed our pledges to support the NHS Step into Health and the Government’s See Potential initiatives in 2017.
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The NHS Step into Health programme connects Trusts like ours directly to people within the armed forces community who are looking to embark upon a new career path when leaving the forces. This exciting programme has already made an impact on the whole of the NHS. The initiative has supported developing our understanding of the many transferable skills and cultural values that the armed forces personnel have to offer modern, innovative 24-7 healthcare organisations such as our own. We are pleased to say the recruitment of armed forces personnel into SCAS has been very successful. We have now designed a number of events specifically for the armed forces community. Our SCAS insight days have always proven to be hugely popular and this year will be joining Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police to hold the very first Emergency Services Insight Day in September 2018.
The See Potential campaign is designed to support people back into work. At SCAS we actively encourage applications from long-term unemployed, care leavers, single parents and veterans. We strive to see beyond people’s difficult or challenging lives and can unlock the potential to become a valuable member of our inclusive workforce. We are very proud to be able to continue our commitment to support any service leavers and the wider armed forces community. We are really looking forward to the future and hope to be able to expand our working relationship with the armed forces. If you would like to find out more about our recruitment events or opportunities available, please do get in contact on the details below: recruitment@scas.nhs.uk Or follow us on facebook.com/SCASJobs twitter.com/SCASJobs
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SCAS STAFF INVITED TO CELEBRATE IFTAR On 25 May Team Leaders Sue Martin, Michele Behan, Robert MacFarlan and Darren Thompson were invited to the Aylesbury Ghausia Mosque to celebrate Iftar with the local Asian community. Organiser Asad Mahmood said: “Thanks for attending the recent Community Iftar at Aylesbury Mosque. It was our honour to host you on this very special occasion. We are humbled by the spectacular turnout and once again are hugely appreciative of your support in making this an incredible success. We hope and pray that Aylesbury continues to enjoy the unity and cohesion that was on display last week!� You can find out more about this wonderful event on Aylesbury Mosques Facebook Page. (photo courtesy of Masud Photography)
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AWARD-WINNING LANDLORD SAVES CUSTOMER’S LIFE Archie Orr-Ewing, proprietor of the award-winning Swan Inn at Swinbrook, received a visit on 21 May from SCAS Paramedic, Ryan Scott. Ryan returned to the pub to present Archie with a special commendation following his life-saving intervention earlier in the month. Ryan was the first responder at The Swan Inn on 3 May when SCAS received a 999 call to say that a diner had started choking, then stopped breathing and gone into cardiac arrest. “On my arrival”, recalls Ryan, “the patient had a pulse and was breathing for herself. I was informed that with the patient turning blue and being unresponsive, Archie had carried out a Heimlich manoeuvre which cleared the blockage and allowed the lady to start breathing again. Without Archie’s actions, I am certain this incident would have had a very different outcome for the patient.” As the 999 call was a category 1 life-threatening emergency, an ambulance crew and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance helicopter soon arrived after Ryan. After assessment and treatment from the team, by the time the patient was on her way to hospital in the back of the ambulance, she was talking and improving with every minute. Archie and his wife Nicola have been successfully running The King’s Head in Bledington since 2000 and The Swan Inn since 2006. They had always ensured that they and all their staff were first aid trained and had regular refresher courses. Archie adds: “This was the first time in 18 years in the business that anything like this had happened in our pubs. It was a traumatic incident, and I can understand why some people might freeze in similar circumstances or be afraid they might make things worse. I hope this encourages more people to get first aid training because having that bit of knowledge certainly gave me the confidence to do something. I must say I was still very pleased to see Ryan when he arrived – and the whole response from the ambulance service on the day was fantastic!” Ryan presented Archie with a letter of commendation from Director of Operations at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Mark Ainsworth, thanking Archie for his assistance and adding: “It is encouraging to know that there are members of the public who are happy to assist and support my crews when situations such as this arrive.” The day after the incident, the customer was well enough to phone Archie and pass on her heartfelt gratitude personally. 21
SCAS staff receive commendation from High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Four members of staff from South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) were honoured to receive a special commendation from the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire on 5 June for the outstanding care and professionalism they displayed at the scene of a collision between two lorries and a minibus on the M1 in August 2017. The staff were recommended for the commendations by His Honour Judge Francis Sheridan who presided over the trial, conviction and sentencing of Ryszard Masierak and David Wagstaff – the drivers of the two HGVs involved in the accident that killed eight people in the minibus and seriously injured four others. Mark Begley, Head of Operations for Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale, was the ambulance service Incident Commander at the scene of the accident in the early hours of 26 August 2017. Mark was joined at the ceremony held at Aylesbury Crown Court by colleagues Amanda Joyce, Dr Neil Thomson and Simon Lukas. Mark said: “In the ambulance service, we do get sent to some very traumatic incidents but this collision was particularly challenging and probably the worst I have seen in my twenty one years’ service. Amanda, Neil, Simon and myself were part of a team of over 40 ambulance personnel – not just from SCAS but also colleagues from East of England and East Midlands Ambulance Services – who all displayed incredible care and professionalism in the most difficult circumstances. We accepted the High Sheriff’s Commendation on behalf of everyone in the ambulance service who attended this terrible and, most regrettably considering the devastating consequences, completely avoidable incident.” The commendations were presented by Professor Ruth Farwell CBE, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and cited how the staff “demonstrated service of the highest order by displaying outstanding care and professionalism when attending to critically injured people at the scene of a fatal collision. The award recognises the appreciation of the people of Buckinghamshire and the Judiciary of the County of Buckinghamshire.” The commendations were presented along with similar awards for staff from Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and key civilians who also attended the incident.
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KIND DONATION FROM STOKE POGES LANE MASJID The team from Wexham Resource Centre had a lovely visit from a group from the Stoke Poges Lane Masjid (Mosque) in Slough. The visitors dropped off some cupcakes and a fruit basket for Ramadan to thank all the ambulance staff for all their hard work and care they give to the Slough Muslim Community.
SCAS AND SAMARITANS WORKING TOGETHER SCAS is pleased to announce that a formal agreement has been made with the Samaritans to work together in supporting those people who call NHS 111 with emotional conditions and/or are feeling suicidal. From 12 June 2018 the current referrals to Samaritans from Hampshire has been extended to cover Thames Valley so NHS 111 can refer callers through to the Samaritans, either by providing the direct telephone number or by transferring the call straight through to the Samaritans (with patient consent). “Eligible callers” are those who present with agreed, defined symptom types and have been assessed by Pathways as low risk. This referral point is available 24/7. Samaritans offer anyone struggling to cope, the time and space to talk about what’s getting to them. They offer a listening ear and believe that callers are the experts in their own lives. As part of their strategy to reach out to groups at a high risk of suicide, it’s important that they are available to sections of the community who might not go directly to them. 24
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Building strong partnerships with like-minded organisations locally can only strengthen the service and the partners they work with. Samaritans’ vision is that fewer people die by suicide. They try to achieve this by: • Being available round the clock, every single day of the year to offer a listening ear for people who are having a difficult time. Callers don’t have to be suicidal to talk to Samaritans – they can talk before they get to this point. • Reaching out to high risk groups and communities to reduce the risk of suicide. • Working in partnership with other organisations, agencies and experts. • Influencing public policy and raising awareness of the challenges of reducing suicide. SCAS’ vision is towards excellence – saving lives and enabling people to get the care they need. SCAS will achieve this mission by: • Helping people access appropriate care by assessing individual needs and directing people to the most relevant service. • Dispatching emergency clinicians to treat people with life-threatening injuries or conditions and providing specialist care whilst transporting those people to the most appropriate healthcare facility. • Enabling people to stay safe and well in their own communities by providing mobile healthcare closer to home. • Supporting whole system healthcare by working with partner organisations to assess needs and plan care for local communities and individual needs. Every death from suicide has a far reaching consequences, and this represents an exciting opportunity to work together to reduce the number of such deaths.
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SCAS SURREY AND SUSSEX A patient transport ambulance hub could open on an Eastbourne industrial estate In Eastbourne we currently operate from the Hellingly Hospital campus but have applied to Eastbourne council to change the use of a property off Lottbridge Drove. The premises are at Unit 1 on the Whiteknight Business Park and is designated as office, storage and distribution space. The plan is to use the building as a passenger transport service hub which will employ 40 members of staff with a maximum of 25 people on duty per day, with shifts staggered throughout the day.
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SCAS HAMPSHIRE SCAS staff get involved in Basingstoke Fire Station Open Day In June SCAS staff attended the Basingstoke Fire Station Open Day. It was the first that Basingstoke Fire Station had held since the opening of their new station and approximately 6,000 people came along to have a look at what was on offer. SCAS was represented by crew members Gareth Stalley, Katie Collingwood, Greg Catlin, Kris Sapcote and Jenna Waite. They had the opportunity to show the public around the ambulance and also teach visitors vital CPR skills. In addition the team took part in a RTC demo with the fire service to showcase what our response would be in the event of a collision.
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Amy and Michael’s surprise baby delivery Special delivery! Time and tide - and babies - wait for no one, as Amy and Michael from North Harbour team in Portsmouth discovered a few weeks ago! The two crew members responded to a 999 call for a lady in labour when, enroute to hospital, they realised they weren’t going to get there in time and so had to pull over and deliver the baby girl in the back of their ambulance. Both Mum and daughter doing great - well done everyone!
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North Harbour Resource Centre welcomes visitors from Germany We recently welcomed two members of the Feuerwehr Duisburg (Duisburg Fire Service) who wanted to see how the Ambulance service in the UK works and the equipment we use. Duisburg is twined with Portsmouth with links to both cities going back many years. The Duisburg Fire Service run the Paramedic response from their stations and most paramedics are firefighters who move into the medical arena. Both enjoyed their time with us, looking at our ambulance and RRV (Rapid Response Vehicle) fleet, North Harbour Resource Centre and speaking to the paramedics and specialist paramedics on station. They were very impressed with the level of expertise and training we have and are keen to take ideas back to Germany with them.
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SCAS gets involved in major incident exercise at Southampton General Hospital In June Southampton General Hospital was transformed into a scene of terror and violence as a major incident exercise was played out by emergency services. The exercise comprising 150 participants involved personnel from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and Hampshire Constabulary. The scenario involved a gang-related mass brawl, spilling out onto a street where a petrol bomb was then thrown and further violence erupted. As the emergency crews swung into action, their responses were being monitored by observers and students as part of the training process. View the pictures at http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/AboutTheTrust/Events/Major-incident-exerciseat-UHS.aspx#ad-image-0 Photography supplied courtesy of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS)
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Keeping 10 tips to you make Emergency , and Call Taker youryour New Year s Polly Frank, family safe resolution a spends in water success! the day #watersafety
Around 400 people needlessly drown in the UK every year and thousands more suffer injury, some life changing, through near-drowning experiences.
shadowing head of Hampshire Emergency Operations Centre Tony Peters
Putting this into context, one person dies every 20 hours in the UK. Drowning is also the third highest cause of accidental death of children in the UK.
Learn how to keep you and your family safe with our water safety advice. The Hazardous Area Response Team for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS HART) is encouraging everyone to be safe around open water this summer.
People of all ages can get into difficulty in all types of open water including ponds, lakes, rivers, reservoirs, quarries, docks or beach. SCAS’s diverse geographical region covering Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire contains all of these water locations. SCAS’s HART has specially trained water instructors who ensure their colleagues are trained to treat patients in all water scenarios including inland, coastal, mud and swift water rescues.
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I was eager to know what it was that Tony Peters did, so a few years ago when I was younger and naive I asked him outright. His response was something along the lines of ‘a lot’. In my opinion the question wasn’t really answered – so I recently spent the day with him as part of my appraisal and I can now say I know exactly why he couldn’t answer my question. I met Tony at 08:00 in his office. He had a lot of meetings scheduled to attend throughout the day and I was eager to find out more. He opened his emails and they were full up, it looked humanly impossible to be able to respond to them all. He explained how even when he’s in meetings SCAS HART operatives regularly train at a they just fillingto up. He often variety of keep wateron venues ensure that they responds to emails after working are ready respond to any water hours, incident. just to keep on top of them. Colin Rotchell, HART Team Educator and Lead Water Rescue Instructor at SCAS 1st meeting said: “We are encouraging members of At Greenand Car the the09:00 publicwe toattended enjoy thethe summer SOP (Standard water but to do Operating so safely soProcedures) that you meeting with Specialist Practitioners do not become a casualty. It is very easy Lead South, Frankwithout Mincherrealising and Clinical to get– into danger the Support Desk (CSD)those Manager, Andi Parker. hazards including hidden beneath They were discussing the role of specialist the water line, so please take heed paramedics (SPs), patient of our advice andtheir onlybenefits swim intoplaces care and if there was anything that could where there are the appropriate safety improve patients’ experience. It was really precautions.” interesting to see the benefits that SPs were having on know patient care and how byquickly using The team only too well how SPs the can patients are difficulty getting the right care people get into in water, which and are not having to be transported into can result in serious injury and even death. hospital, asthey SPs can manageten certain things That’s why are sharing pieces of advice on staying safe around open water:
at home. Frank explained that in most cases elderly patients like to stay at home if possible and by sending SPs this is more likely to happen.
2nd meeting 1. Only swim in designated areas
WeBefore then finished this into meeting there you venture open and water, wasmake just enough time to grab a coffee sure you know your location and before wethe were onto the next meeting, where safety precautions are such as thelife EOC (Emergency Operations rings should you get into difficulty. Centre) Governance meeting which 2. Know your swimming Tony was chairing. This wasability shared with Even if you’re a strong swimmer, open Bicester Call Centre via webcam link. We water can overpower you and sap were joined by EOC Clinical Team Auditor your swimming ability Hein, so don’t Malcolm Harvey, Tamsin PA take to the unnecessary risks or be tempted to Director of Operations (Clinical Control show off to friends. Centres), CSD Manager, Andi Parker and a few other members of staff. 3. Know who to discussed phone in throughout an Many items were emergency * the meeting including Datix , auditing, you’re on thewith coast,learning/training. phone 999 and ask andIfprogression for the Coastguard. If you’re I found this really interesting inland, and it phone was the ambulance nice999 to and see ask howforboth call centresservice. work together to improve staff and patient 4. Don’t jump from height from structures care. such as cliffs, piers and bridges Hazards exist beneath the waterline including debris using suchthe asTrust’s electronic * The Trust requires that all adverse incidents, near misses or hazards be reportedharmful and documented reporting system (Datix) as part of a proactive approach to risk management.
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discarded metal objects like trolleys as well as fishing nets, concrete, plastic buoys and rocks.
matter how fit you are, the average sea temperature is only around 18 degrees. 8. Think about tides and wind Before using an inflatable craft think about the tides and wind to make sure that your craft does not get swept out to danger.
5. Don’t drink alcohol and go into open water If you’re out enjoying the sunshine and drinking alcohol, don’t be tempted to get into open water. You’ll put yourself at risk of injury.
9. Dirty water can make you sick Being in open water can also carry hidden nasties such as blue green algae or Weil’s disease which has the potential of making you ill.
6. Don’t be fooled by water that looks calm on the surface Even if water looks calm on the surface, there could be fast flowing currents and varying depths underneath which could drag you into difficulty and danger.
10. Out in the boat? If you are out in your boat please ensure that you remember your buoyancy aids, life jackets and kill cords.
7. A hot sunny day doesn’t mean that open water will be warm Warm sunshine doesn’t necessarily mean that the water will be. Cold water shock can stop your heart no 35
SUMMER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES BY AGE GROUP Whatever your age, in this section you will find something which can get/keep you (and your kids if you have any), fit and happy during these summer months.
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Children and young people
Download a factsheet on physical activity guidelines for children and young people (5 to 18 years) (PDF, 554kb).
School’s out for summer!
For a summary on the health benefits of being more active, check out this Department of Health infographic for children and young people (PDF, 86kb).
Kids need to be active for 60 minutes a day and summer holidays are the perfect time to get super active! Why not get the kids involved with the NHS Change 4 Life? From the fun Shake Up games to information about active hobbies and sports, there is everything you need to get your family moving at https://www.nhs. uk/change4life/activities
Source: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/ exercise/physical-activity-guidelineschildren-and-young-people/
Are you 15 to 17 years-old? This summer you could do a NCS (National Citizen Service) with the NCS Trust C.I.C., a not-for profit social enterprise established to shape, support, champion and lead a thriving National Citizen Service. For more information, go to www.ncsyes.co.uk/ summer
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Remember: Children and young people should take part in activities that are appropriate for their age and stage of development.
Activity camps for children with health problems
For a summary on the health benefits of being more active, check out this Department of Health and Social Care infographic (PDF, 500kb).
Children with long-term medical conditions are often told they can’t do adventurous activities like abseiling, horse-riding and rock climbing. But is that true? We take a look at some activity camps specially designed for children with health problems.
65+ There are various outdoor activities which can help you keep/get fit. Here is a sample of great pursuits which you can do either on your own or with other people.
Over The Wall runs residential activity camps during the Easter and summer holidays for children aged 8-17 affected by serious illness. Visit their website or call 02392 477110. The camps are free of charge for families.
• Cycling • Bowls playing • Gardening (if you do not have one, contact your local council to apply for an allotment near you)
Kick Asthma holidays are held across the UK in July and August. The cost is subsidised by Asthma UK and prices depend on your ability to pay. For details visit the site or call 0800 121 6244.
• Swimming at your local/nearest lido or beach (see below for some examples)
• Aldershot Lido, Hampshire
• Lymington Open Air Sea Water Baths, Hampshire
• Newbury Lido, Berkshire
Source: https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/ medical-information/general-healthadvice/leading-active-lifestyle/activitycamps-children-health-problems
• Open Air Swimming Pool Fox Close, Chipping Norton Oxfordshire
• Petersfield Open Air Pool, Hampshire
• Woodstock Open Air Pool, Oxfordshire
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• Wycombe Rye Lido, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Check out Diabetes UK for information on children’s support holidays. Click for details of family and teenage holidays organised by the Children’s Heart Federation or call 0808 808 5000.
There are plenty of outdoor fitness activities that you can do in the summer. Check your local community centre and council for details.
• Walking football • Walking to the local park If not mobile, check with your local council if there are any voluntary organisations, health and well-being centres or clubs that can help you.
Download a factsheet on physical activity guidelines for adults (19-64 years) (PDF, 568kb)
If you have any health concerns, such as a health condition or an injury, seek advice from your GP or a health professional before starting any exercise programme. 38
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During hot weather: • Avoid too much exercise, which can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and can even be fatal. Watch for signs of heat stress - an early sign is fatigue. • Drink plenty of water. • If you do go out, try and avoid the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm) and seek shade where possible. Avoid being in the sun for long stretches.
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SCAS Community First Responder recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours List 40
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commitment to the CFR role responding to emergency incidents but also as a successful fundraiser and education provider. As a volunteer he embraces the Trust’s core values of Caring, Teamwork, Professionalism and Innovation. He has been an exemplary role model.
Mike has been a CFR, since 2005, responding to appropriate emergency medical incidents. In addition to this he is also the Bransgore CFR scheme coordinator looking after the team of other local volunteer responders. Mike is an excellent ambassador for SCAS and has worked tirelessly in his local area bringing the community together. Over the past 12 years Mike has been an inspirational character not only in his
In responding to the news of his award Mike said: ‘‘It is an honour and a privilege to serve the community in this area at times when they are facing a medical emergency and to be able to offer initial help and care before the ambulance arrives. I was speechless when I heard news of this award and I am proud and humbled to be recognised for doing something that is so rewarding in itself.”
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Mike Jukes, a volunteer Community First Responder (CFR) in Bransgore (situated in the New Forest) has been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List, with a British Empire Medal for Services to Emergency Response and Fundraising.
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Hampshire CFRs join the NHS70 celebrations at Westquay Shopping Centre On Saturday 23rd of June Southampton East Community First Responders showcased their work in the community at Westquay Shopping Centre in Southampton as part of a NHS70 open day with local NHS Trusts, charities and bodies.
The event was a great success and CFRs Stuart O’Connor, Marie MorrisEales, Johnathan Desty and Claire Hill were delighted with the outcome.
Visitors had the opportunity to take part in CPR demonstrations together with other activities from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton Hospital Charity, Think UHS, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust – research, Solent NHS Trust, Southampton City CCG, West Hampshire CCG, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Southampton Healthy Living.
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I would like to take this opportunity to also thank our volunteers for giving up their free time to support the event to make the day such a success.”
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Stuart said: “Southampton East Community First Responders were pleased to support the NHS70 event held at Westquay last Saturday. It enabled us to engage with the local community to not only raise our own profile on what we do as volunteers but also allowed members of the public the opportunity to try CPR and the use of a defibrillator with our training equipment. We are pleased to say that 68 members of the public are now more confident in performing CPR if the need called for it.
HI-5 Family Fun Day
On Saturday 28 April SCAS Hampshire Governors Richard Coates and Andy Bartlett, together with Paramedic James Grant, Chair Lena Samuels, our mascot 999 Ted, local Community First Responders from Hayling and Portsmouth and crew members from our Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service, joined the fun at the Hayling Island 5 Schools Family Fun Day held at Hayling College.
Road Traffic Collision (RTC) demonstration from SCAS, the police and the fire and rescue service. A spectacular historic action display featuring Denmead Brass Band, motorcycles, special effects, the Fort Cumberland Guard and pyrotechnics, completed the activities on offer. Richard Coates, who organised the RTC and the historic action display said: “Not only were thousands of pounds raised to assist all five Hayling schools, but over 300 hundred young people took up the opportunity to learn CRP and life-saving skills through a combined approach using the Red Cross, SCAS NEPTS and CFR teams to compliment the 12 public access defibrillators now in place around the Island which were all funded by local donations�.
Hundreds of people attended the fundraising event held in support of the Mill Rythe Infant and Junior schools, Mengham Infant and Junior schools and Hayling College. Visitors had the opportunity to browse among the many craft stalls and be entertained by singers, dancers and a 44
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Community First Responders come from all walks of life. If you are interested in joining SCAS as a volunteer you will need to be over the age of 18, physically fit and healthy, able to carry out effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for up to 20 minutes (after training) and be a car owner with a full UK driving licence. Community First Responders (CFRs) receive full training by SCAS to provide life-saving treatment and if they are sent to an emergency they are always backed up with the nearest available ambulance. Every six months, all CFRs must complete training to refresh their skills and there are optional monthly training sessions they can attend too.
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For more information, please go to sca-charity.org.uk
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SCAS is currently supporting all CFRs to achieve a national qualification – Level 3 Certificate in Ambulance First Response – which will provide them with enhanced emergency medical skills they will be able to utilise prior to our ambulance crews arriving on scene.
As from this issue, we will have a section dedicated to our partners. Here is the latest campaign from Thames Valley Police.
The third phase of Thames Valley Police’s Hidden Harm campaign launched on 2 July and focuses on Honour Based Abuse, to raise awareness and encourage reporting.
The abuse can be emotional, physical or sexual and can involve threats of violence, false imprisonment, stalking, forced marriage and even murder. Physical signs of HBA can include signs of physical injury, eating disorders, depression. Changes of behaviour can also be a sign for example unexpected or repeated absence from school or work, acting withdrawn or upset or engaging less with friends.
Honour based abuse (HBA) is any type of abuse committed against a person in order to protect or defend the perceived ‘honour’ of a family or community. Incidents like these are taking place across our counties and could be happening in your community or to a person you know.
If you believe someone you know could be a victim of honour based abuse contact the police on 101. Always call 999 if you believe they are at immediate risk from harm.
Honour based abuse stems from beliefs and customs and an expectation that people should behave in a certain way or they will bring ‘shame’ or ‘dishonour’ on their family or the wider community.
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Open your eyes to abuse. Suspect it. Report it.
Membership Get your friends, colleagues and family to join! Do encourage your friends and family to become members. They can become a member of SCAS as long as they are aged 14 or over and live in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire or Oxfordshire. They can also join if they, whilst not residing in one of the four counties listed above, have a connection with the Trust. For instance, they may be somebody who receives services from SCAS, works in one of our four counties or has friends or family who work for the Trust or live in the South Central area.
Update your details If we need to cancel an event it is important that we can contact members at short notice. We would appreciate if you could please promptly notify the membership office of any future changes to your contact details.
Contact You can contact the membership office with any queries about membership or this newsletter. Please email getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk or telephone 01869 365126.
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Out and About – What’s on in your area We are always keen to engage with our members and the public. Our list of events is published on our website at www.scas.nhs.uk/get-involved/events/ and is always being updated so don’t forget to keep checking back for more. You can see upcoming Board Meetings, Community Engagement Forums, Engagement or Recruitment events. See you there!
QUIZ Blood pressure quiz High blood pressure is sometimes called the silent killer, as it often has no symptoms but can significantly increase your risk of heart disease, stroke and dementia. Take this quiz to find out how much you know. 1. How many people do you think have high blood pressure in England? Select one:
• 1 in 10
• 1 in 5
• 1 in 4
2. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘If you don’t have any symptoms you don’t need a blood pressure test’ • True • False 3. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘If high blood pressure runs in your family there is nothing you can do to stop developing high blood pressure yourself’ • True
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• False
4. If you have high blood pressure you will need to take medication for life • True • False 5. I don’t add extra salt to my food so my blood pressure can’t be high • True • False 6. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘If a man is obese he is almost 3 times more likely to develop high blood pressure’ • True • False 7. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘I had my blood pressure checked around 5 years ago so I know my blood pressure is low’ • True • False 8. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘You need to make an appointment and see your GP to get a blood pressure test’ • True • False 9. What conditions can high blood pressure lead to? You can pick more than one:
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Dementia 10. What factors are known to increase the risk of developing high blood pressure? You can pick more than one.
• Being overweight
• Too much salt in your diet
• Not enough physical activity
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Stress
• Family history of high blood pressure Source: NHS Choices
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FUN CORNER Find 999 Ted 999 Ted, our mascot, is hidden in one of our articles‌‌did you spot him?
Want to know more about what goes on in the Trust? This newsletter is a very important method for us to keep our Members up to date but so much happens across our services every day that it is hard to fit it all in! If you want to know more about what goes on in your ambulance service or want more details on what you have read in this newsletter, there are a number of ways for you to do this: Visit our website http://www.scas.nhs.uk/ Watch our videos on SCAS999 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC58tlgillDAUA2gVGFNh78A Follow us on Twitter @SCAS999 Like us on Facebook https://en-gb.facebook.com/SCAS999/
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Public Governors
Berkshire constituency
Mark Davis
Frank Epstein
Colin Godbold
Appointed Partner Governors
Staff Governors
Public Governors
Hampshire constituency
Andy Bartlett
Richard Coates
Barry Lipscomb
David Luckett MBE
Charles McGill MBE
Emma Crozier
Lynn DoveDixon
Jim Dunderdale
Kate Moss
David Palmer
Sabrina Chetcuti
Jeanette Clifford
Dr David Chilvers
Dr Anne Crampton
David Drew
COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
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Tony Nicholson
Cllr. Keith House
The Council of Governors meets four times a year and represents the interests of members and stakeholder organisations. Meetings are open to the public. For more information please visit our website at www.scas.nhs.uk/ft
Issue 23 Summer 2018
Public governors
Buckinghamshire constituency
Bob Crocker
Bernadette Devine
Bob Duggan
Public governors
Oxfordshire constituency
Paul Ader
Stephen Haynes
Loretta Light
Contact the Membership Office Please get in touch with the membership office if you: èè want more information about what we do èè have a story you want to share with other members èè want us to come along to an event in your local area èè want to change your contact details èè want to get more involved and update your involvement choices èè want membership forms or other literature to distribute èè want to raise an issue with a Governor Email: getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk or Tel: 01869 365126
If you would like to get in touch with a Governor, you should do so at the following address: Company Secretary South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 7-8 Talisman Business Centre Talisman Road Bicester Oxfordshire OX26 6HR Or you can send an email to company.secretary@scas.nhs.uk
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QUIZ Blood pressure quiz - Answers Q 1. How many people do you think have high blood pressure in England? A.
1 in 4
1 in 4 (a quarter) of people in England have high blood pressure (hypertension) - it is one of the biggest causes of premature death and disability.
Q 2. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘If you don’t have any symptoms you don’t need a blood pressure test’ A.
false
High blood pressure doesn’t usually cause symptoms and the only way to know your blood pressure is to get tested.
This is why it is often known as the ‘silent killer’.
Q 3. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘If high blood pressure runs in your family there is nothing you can do to stop developing high blood pressure yourself’ A. false
If high blood pressure runs in your family you’re more likely to develop it, but you can still reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight and eating a balanced diet.
Q 4. If you have high blood pressure you will need to take medication for life. A. false
A diagnosis of high blood pressure does not necessarily mean that you will need to begin taking medication. Simple lifestyle changes, such as having a healthier diet or being more active, can significantly lower your blood pressure without medication.
Q 5. I don’t add extra salt to my food so my blood pressure can’t be high A: false
About 75% of the salt we consume is hidden in processed foods such as bread, breakfast cereal and ready meals. Although cutting down on salt will reduce blood pressure, it is not the only cause.
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Q 6. Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘If a man is obese he is almost 3 times more likely to develop high blood pressure’ A. true
Obesity affects around a quarter of adults in England. Obesity multiplies the risk of developing high blood pressure about threefold in men and fourfold in women.
Q. 7 Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘I had my blood pressure checked around 5 years ago so I know my blood pressure is low’ A. false
Your blood pressure can fluctuate, which is why all adults should get tested at least every 5 years. Those more at risk - such as people of African or Caribbean descent, older people or people who are overweight or obese - should be checked more regularly.
Q. 8 Do you think the following statement is true or false? ‘You need to make an appointment and see your GP to get a blood pressure test’ A. false
You don’t have to see your GP to get a blood pressure test. Nurses or healthcare assistants can test you, some surgeries have self-service machines, many pharmacies offer free tests and you can even buy cheap, accurate monitors to use at home.
If you are between the ages of 40 and 74, you could get your blood pressure tested through the free NHS Health Check programme.
Also look out for our stands at shopping centres and various events across our region where our frontline staff offers free blood pressure tests to visitors.
Q. 9 What conditions can high blood pressure lead to? A. they all do
High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and dementia.
Q. 10 What factors are known to increase the risk of developing high blood pressure? A. they all do
Being overweight, too much salt in your diet, not being active enough, drinking too much alcohol, stress and family history are all risk factors.
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Ambulance Response Programme (ARP) All ambulance trusts in England are measured against the targets set out for four categories of emergency 999 calls in the Ambulance Response Programme (ARP) introduced in SCAS on 31 October 2017
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Category 1
Category 2
EMERGENCY CALLS
URGENT CALLS
People with life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
Emergencies that are not life-threatening.
These are responded to in an average time of seven minutes and at least nine out of ten times within 15 minutes.
These are responded to in an average time of 18 minutes and at least nine out of ten times within 40 minutes.
Category 3
Category 4
URGENT CALLS
LESS URGENT CALLS
In some instances you may be treated by ambulance staff in your own home.
In some instances you may be given advice over the telephone or referred to another service.
These are responded to at least nine out of ten times within 120 minutes (two hours).
These are responded to at least nine times out of ten within 180 minutes (three hours).
As you can see from the table below SCAS is achieving all its targets for the most seriously ill and injured patients, and almost all targets for all other patients.
Latest data available as at end of June for April & May 2018 only
CATEGORY TARGET May 18 Apr 18 Cat 1 Mean (7mins) 6:52 6:35 Cat 1 90th (15mins) 12:26 11:50 Cat 2 Mean (18mins) 15:41 14:13 Cat 2 90th (40mins) 32:21 27:46 Cat 3 90th (2 hours) 02:01:23 01:40:08 Cat 4 90th (3 hours) 02:54:30 02:33:04
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Produced by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Units 7 and 8 Talisman Business Centre Talisman Road Bicester Oxfordshire OX26 6HR Tel 01869 365000 | getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk | www.scas.nhs.uk