ambulance partnership wins award

ambulance partnership wins outstanding award

Over the last year we’ve been working with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) on a partnership project to make end-of-life transfers for the child and family as stressfree and as comfortable as possible. And the project was recognised in the NHS Wales Awards evening in September, winning two esteemed awards.

WAST Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service provides pre-planned transport to end-of-life care patients, but emergency ambulances are often called when a child’s condition quickly deteriorates, putting extra strain on the service.

This has led to Tˆy Hafan being one of four sites involved in a pilot scheme with the Welsh Ambulance Service regarding the creation of an End-of-Life Care Rapid Transport Service. The scheme has resulted in a dedicated booking number and desk that services Wales, developed alongside palliative care clinicians.

Following initial journeys, it was found that we needed to make the ambulance more child and family friendly so, using funds from Children in Need, we’ve managed to buy an iPad, toys, books and distraction equipment to make the journey as comfortable as possible.

Another touch that differentiates the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service is the addition of epaulettes for the ambulance staff that are based on the handprints displayed around the hospice.

The NHS Wales Awards were held on 19 September and we are delighted that the project won the Delivering Person-Centred Services Award. There were eight different award categories and each category winner was also nominated for an overall award for the Outstanding Contribution to Transforming Health and Care Award which we also managed to win. The service is now available across Wales and has carried out almost 600 journeys. A recent review of the service revealed the median waiting time for an ambulance booked through the End-ofLife Care Rapid Transport Service is 52 minutes.

It’s been fantastic to be a part of this scheme and we are delighted to see it going from strength to strength.