Ambulance UK Feb 2020

Volume 35 No. 1
February 2020
DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS
Celebrating 41 years of support
for the emergency services
In this issue
Tackling Pressures with a Sense
of Humour
A Major Re-Design of New A&E
‘WAS’ Vehicles
Newsline
www.dsmedical.co.uk

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CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Ambulance UK
4 EDITOR’S COMMENT
6 FEATURES
6 Tackling pressures with a sense of humour
8 A major re-design of new A&E ‘WAS’ vehicles at
the North East Ambulance Service unveiled
10 NEWSLINE
33 IN PERSON
38 COMPANY NEWS
This issue edited by:
Sam English
c/o Media Publishing Company
48 High Street
SWANLEY BR8 8BQ
ADVERTISING:
Terry Gardner, Brenda Pickering
CIRCULATION:
Media Publishing Company
Media House, 48 High Street
SWANLEY, Kent, BR8 8BQ
Tel: 01322 660434 Fax: 01322 666539
E: info@mediapublishingcompany.com
www.ambulanceukonline.com
PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY:
February, April, June, August,
October, December
COVER STORY
Founded in November 1979, DS Medical looks to celebrate its 41st year
of business supporting healthcare professionals. We have been the
proud providers of exceptional pre-hospital and primary care products
to our varied health care customers for over four decades. Our aim is to
continue to develop fantastic products and services.
You don’t have to look far to see the growth we have exhibited over the years. Our product
range has expanded from stethoscopes and general fi rst aid supplies for the pre-hospital
care market, to emergency medical equipment, haemostats, and consumables for all
stages of medical support. With the introduction of manufacturing 12 years ago DS
Medical is able to provide a range of Response Bags that many of the leading NHS
Ambulance Trusts and other institutions utilise on their vehicles and for their personnel,
making DS Medical one of the leading suppliers of medical care products in the UK.
Since 1979, attention to detail and customer care have been core values held by DS
Medical. Over the years we have developed close bonds with numerable institutions, NHS,
Fire, Police, Maritime, and Industry, enabling us to add to our expertise, understanding and
support of client requirements within the emergency services industry.
Increased long-standing supplier relationships with renowned global leave us confi dent
that our consumers can rely on us for products that ensure excellent patient care.
In our 41 years of business, our primary focus has never wavered from our customers’
needs. Aiming to deliver the best customer care, our four decades of medical expertise,
industry knowledge and our in-house clinician means we are able to do just that.
COPYRIGHT:
Media Publishing Company
Media House
48 High Street
SWANLEY, Kent, BR8 8BQ
PUBLISHERS STATEMENT:
The views and opinions expressed in
this issue are not necessarily those of
the Publisher, the Editors or Media
Publishing Company.
Next Issue April 2020
Subscription Information – February 2020
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3

EDITOR’S COMMENT
EDITOR’S COMMENT
Welcome to this issue of AUK.
As you read this the 2020 Ambulance Leadership Forum will soon be taking place. I was once asked
about my leadership qualities at interview, I’m not going to give you my response but while it’s easy to
talk generally about leadership, its quite difficult to identify your own style. It therefore seems appropriate
to spend a little time thinking about leadership, especially in an NHS where times are tough and issues
complex.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
“I’d
rather be
a sheep
in charge
of an
army
of lions
than a
lion in
charge
of an
army of
sheep.”
I don’t give orders in my day to day role, nor do I pretend to be all-knowing, my skill has always been in
recognising the strengths of the team and delegating tasks appropriately. I read some of the work from
David Marquet, a former submarine commander turned leadership guru, who beautifully describes how
good leaders move ‘authority towards information’ in much the same way, the video is well worth a watch.
This isn’t a new concept, TQM (Total Quality Management) was a concept of W.Edwards Deming in the
1940’s and focused on a simple premise, recognising that the man who packs the beans is the best
placed to know how to make economies in packing beans. It dictates that when people are valued for their
knowledge or insight, not only is the institution better placed to improve quality but also the leadership is
seen as successful, even though the actual effort may be as simple as being visible and talking to staff.
I suppose that although you could look at this in many ways, in its simplest form it demonstrates that the
key skills in leadership are obvious if not easily acquired, are to listen, ask, understand and empower the
team depending on the situation. It’s all about how we handle ourselves in relationships, whether they
be personal or professional. It isn’t possible to avoid a single conclusion, good leadership is about the
investment you make in those you lead.
So, the next time I’m asked about leadership there’s a simple answer, I’d rather be a sheep in charge of an
army of lions than a lion in charge of an army of sheep…
Sam English, Co-Editor Ambulance UK
4
For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

FEATURE
TACKLING PRESSURES WITH A
SENSE OF HUMOUR
Heading into winter 2019, newspaper headlines reported the NHS was
preparing to face the ‘worst winter it has ever endured’ with harsh weather
conditions, the potential of a severe flu outbreak, an NHS pensions issue
with doctors and the uncertainty of Brexit potentially ‘crippling’ the health
service.
Along with the rest of the NHS, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS)
and ambulance trusts across the country face increased patient numbers
year on year and specifically during the winter months which is why there
are intense plans created well before the cold snap to ensure patients in
need get the help they are entitled to.
At NWAS, winter planning days involving staff across all directorates, not
just operations, and start during the summer – the idea being that all staff
have a part to play and are fully bought into tackling the challenging times
together.
As winter approached, many initiatives to support demand management
were underway. Alternative care pathway providers were encouraged to
make new schemes available and to respond to referral requests quickly
to minimise ambulance crews’ time on scene, clinical support in contact
centres was available 24/7, voluntary ambulance services were brought
in to respond to non-urgent cases, patient transport crews supported
discharges and shared public health leaflets with their patients.
Through a quality improvement programme called ‘Every Minute Matters’,
collaborative work was also ongoing to minimise hospital handovers.
One key aspect of the trust’s winter plan each year is how it will
communicate with patients, stakeholders and the public. The trust’s
Communications Team is responsible for creating new opportunities to
capture the attention of the public, providing information about when it is
appropriate to call 999 and the other ways they can get help from the NHS.
A few years after the launch of the trust’s award winning ‘make the right
call’ campaign, it was time for a new approach. Could something be done
to help reduce the 37% of 999 calls to NWAS that were for urgent rather
than emergency situations such as slips and falls, tummy and backache?
Created in a studio, the film featured an emergency medical dispatcher
as the star and narrator of the film, one simple prop for each story and
actors to play the parts of patients – it even involved a rabbit!
The film ended with a twist when chilling audio from a real-life cardiac
arrest call was played.
Beyond the video, a new web page was created explaining when a
situation is an emergency and what to do when it is not. In addition, radio
adverts were commissioned with major stations across the five counties
of the North West to correlate with the timing of the video campaign
– just before Christmas when calls tend to reach an all-time high. The
radio adverts played out an example of an emotive call to pull at the
heartstrings of listeners, interrupted by petty, non-emergency scenarios.
Information was issued to the media featuring an embeddable video for
them to use and a link to NHS 111 Online. Interviews were set up with
spokespeople and local TV news channels, which broadcast to 1.8 million
people.
Reaching out to the public through the media enabled the trust to explain
that whilst the video contained extreme examples to capture public
attention, over a third of 999 calls come from people who do need help, but
not for emergencies and it was those people that would benefit from using
NHS 111 instead of 999. 93% of media coverage included the campaign’s
key messages and 11% of coverage included a link to NHS 111 online.
The video was posted on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, driving
606k video views, reaching 1.1 million people and resulting in 18,435
engagements.
Sentiment online about the video was hugely positive, with comments
including: “The man at the end of the video was my dad. We called
after mum suffered from a massive heart attack and cardiac arrest. Our
emergency services and NHS are amazing. Mum survived.”
The campaign delivered far beyond expectations, achieving standout
broadcast TV coverage and incredible digital engagement at a very
busy time.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
999 – I can’t reach the toilet roll
Inspired by Channel 4’s tongue in cheek advert, which features celebrities
narrating their own complaints, the trust commissioned a film that would
use humour to bring to life some of the most ridiculous 999 calls it had
received.
Examples of genuine ‘emergency’ calls featured in the video included a
stubbed toe, hiccups, a broken kettle, complaints about the TV show ‘999
what’s your emergency?’ and someone who called because they could
not reach the toilet roll.
More importantly, the impact on the public was phenomenal and played
its part in contributing towards a decrease in incidents on key dates
during the festive period (compared to the year before); including a 10
percent decrease in incidents on New Year’s Eve and 6.3 decrease in
incidents on New Year’s Day.
Thank you for saving my life
The next part of the trust’s communications work to support demand
management was the launch of a ‘thank you’ campaign to show NWAS
staff just how much they mean to every day members of the public.
6
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

FEATURE
The idea behind this phase of the public campaign was to highlight cases
where the intervention of the ambulance service had made the difference
between life and death, to remind people that 999 is for life threatening
emergencies only.
Five fi lmed case studies were used to launch the campaign.
One of the grateful patients was Joe Holding from Liverpool, who was
attacked in his home and was left fi ghting for his life after a gang of men
broke into his home, beat him up, slashed him with a machete, threw
petrol on him and set him on fi re.
The men had doused the entrance of the house with petrol and set it on
fi re which blocked the escape for Joe who ended up having to jump out
of a fi rst fl oor window of the burning building.
Joe said: “I remember screaming in pain and panic. My whole body was
on fi re and I had no choice but to escape by jumping out of an upstairs
window.”
Left in a critical condition after the attack, Joe was covered in blood and
slash wounds with burns over half of his body. His neighbour called 999
and the emergency services attended within minutes of receiving the call.
Joe was taken to hospital where he remained in an induced coma.
He almost lost his life due to the extent of his injuries but thankfully he
recovered and was able to reunite with Dave and Daryl, paramedics from
NWAS’ hazardous area response team.
“It was so important for me to meet with David and Daryl as they, along
with the other ambulance crew who treated me, really did save my life,”
said Joe. “It really has been the pinnacle in my recovery as whilst I have
healed physically, mentally it has been tough. I can’t thank North West
Ambulance Service enough for what they did for me.”
Case studies such a Joe’s, alongside the hashtag #ThankYouNWAS,
drove the public to share their own stories on social media. NWAS staff
joined the conversation too, with one person commenting on Facebook:
“It’s amazing for us as crew to get positive feedback… We don’t do the
job for the recognition but is always nice when we do receive it.”
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Happily ever after
To appeal to adults and children alike, the trust’s fi nal phases of winter
work saw age-old fairy tales such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
Sleeping Beauty and Hansel and Gretel given a modern twist in a new
book.
In the book, Snow White takes a bite of her apple and falls unconscious
due to an allergic reaction and Sleeping Beauty helps a prince having a
seizure by dialling 111.
Filled with beautiful pictures and engaging stories, the book’s themes
will stay with children throughout their lives and help them make the right
decisions in future.
For more information about NWAS winter communications, go to
www.nwas.nhs.uk.
i-view is the new, single use, fully disposable
video laryngoscope from Intersurgical, providing
the option of video laryngoscopy wherever you
might need to intubate.
www.intersurgical.co.uk/info/iview
Quality, innovation and choice
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
7

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
A MAJOR RE-DESIGN OF NEW A&E
‘WAS’ VEHICLES AT THE NORTH EAST
AMBULANCE SERVICE UNVEILED
The new 44 ambulances procured last year were re-designed to make
them more accessible to disabled people, including people with sight
and hearing impairments and people living with dementia. NEAS is the
first ambulance service in the country to completely re-design some of
their vehicles to meet the needs of all of these patients.
Some patients currently have difficulty seeing handrails and steps,
while others have problems seeing or understanding signs in vehicles.
Changes to the colour scheme and signage have been made at no cost
to the Trust.
Among the changes are a new look interior, an improved colour
scheme, flooring, seat colours, better signs and handrails. The colour
contrast between the walls, floor and cabinets has also been changed
to improve access for patients.
NEAS chief executive Helen Ray said: “Being in an ambulance can be a very
traumatic experience - even more so for patients who have specific needs.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
The work follows an extensive consultation exercise with stakeholder
and patient representative groups. The vehicles have been approved by
the Alzheimer’s Society as dementia friendly vehicles and the outside of
the vehicles will display a sign indicating the new vehicles are dementia
friendly spaces.
“What might appear to be small adaptations, such as changing signs
and the colour of handrails, can make a big difference to disabled
patients. These changes will mean that they can access our vehicles
more easily and help people to live more independently. This will help to
reduce the stress and anxiety they can feel.
“I’d like to thank all the people and groups who have helped us redesign
these vehicles. Their contribution has been invaluable.”
8
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE
Tom Howlett of vehicle manufacturer ‘WAS’ which carried out the
ambulance conversion, said: “It’s been a very rewarding project to work
on knowing that it will have a positive impact on patient experience.
It’s easy to forget the difficulties that some patients can face when they
are in an ambulance vehicle. We hope the adaptations can make a real
difference for them.”
Andrew Ball of the Alzheimer’s Society said: “More and more people
are living with dementia – in their own homes but out of the community.
We need to make the journey in an ambulance as comfortable as
possible for them and for ambulance staff to understand the needs
of people living with dementia. NEAS has been brilliant at listening to
the experts and the views of people with impairments. It’s been really
welcome that the changes have been for everybody, including those
with disabilities.”
Julie Walker, of Willowdene Care Home, said: “I am really impressed
with the changes. What they have done is more than we asked for.
They have really taken on board the suggestions of how to help people
who have dementia. All of the changes will make the lives of people
who have to use an ambulance hugely better.”
And Darren Taylor, managing director of Empowerment Consultancy
and Training in Birtley added: “It was important that service users were
involved throughout the process, not just at the end. I think the changes
will make a big difference and people will appreciate them because
they’ve been consulted.”
WAS UK Ltd
Email : wasukinfo@was-vehicles.co.uk
Phone : 0845 45 927 85
Website : www.was-vehicles.com
Twitter : @WASAmbulances
Facebook : www.facebook.com/was.vehicles
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Features? Please contact us and let us know.
9

NEWSLINE
YAS
Yorkshire Ambulance
Service receives its
10 millionth call into
NHS 111
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
NHS Trust has clocked up its
10 millionth call to the NHS
111 service it provides across
Yorkshire and the Humber.
The Friday before Christmas
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
marked the day that the milestone
call was received since the NHS
111 service was launched in
March 2013.
Based at two call centres in
Wakefield and Wath upon Dearne,
the NHS 111 service is operated
by experienced health advisors
and clinicians who handle calls
24 hours a day, seven days a
week. They provide advice to
patients who call when they have
an urgent healthcare need which
is not an emergency and are able
to signpost them to the most
appropriate care.
Karen Owens, Director of Urgent
Care and Integration at Yorkshire
Ambulance Service NHS Trust,
said: “Our service remains one
of the largest in the country and
we are proud of the care our staff
are able to provide to thousands
of patients every day. NHS 111 is
a compassionate service that is
accessible to all and the fact that
we have now received 10 million
calls shows that the public relies
on the NHS 111 service when they
need trusted advice for a medical
problem and are unsure what to
do.”
On a typical weekday, the service
currently responds to an average
of 3,300 calls, around 6,300 on a
Saturday and just over 5,700 on
a Sunday.
Remember that the NHS 111
service can offer you advice if:
• your case isn’t life-threatening
and is less urgent than a 999
call
• you don’t have a GP to call or a
GP isn’t available
• you aren’t sure which service
you need
• you need health information
and the confidence to know
what to do next.
For less urgent health needs,
contact your GP or visit your
local pharmacy in the usual
way. You can also find support
and information on symptoms,
conditions, medicines and
treatments on the NHS website at
www.nhs.uk
For immediate and life-threatening
emergencies, always dial 999.
WAA
Increased demand
for Wiltshire Air
Ambulance in 2019
Wiltshire Air Ambulance
undertook 1,233 missions in
2019 - an increase of 12% on
the previous year.
It was also the most number of
missions carried out in a year
since the charity became a
stand-alone air ambulance in
2015.
Of the 1,233 missions last year,
920 were in the Rapid Response
Vehicles (cars) while 313 were by
helicopter.
During 2019 the charity hired
a back up helicopter, an MD
902, before securing its own
Air Operator Certificate (AOC)
enabling its Bell 429 helicopter
to resume flying in November on
HEMS (Helicopter Emergency
Medical Service) missions.
David Philpott, chief executive
of Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said:
“Despite the well documented
issues with our Bell 429
helicopter during 2019, our
aircrew were busier than they
have ever been.
“When our helicopter is unable
to fly our critical care paramedics
and doctors use Rapid Response
Vehicles. The vehicles have the
same medical equipment that is
onboard the helicopter so we are
still able to provide gold standard
medical care to patients.
”We rely on donations to provide
our essential service so we’d like
to thank our supporters for their
generosity and our volunteers
for their dedication in attending
fundraising events and raising
awareness of our charity.”
The largest number of call
outs in 2019 were to cardiac
emergencies - 384 - almost one
in three missions, while 239 were
to road traffic collisions - almost
one in five missions.
The team were also called to
112 falls, 104 medical collapses,
78 assaults and 66 sporting
injuries, of which 27 were horse
riding accidents. More than one
in ten incidents - 132 - involved
children.
More than one in three missions -
479 - took place at night.
The largest number of incidents
that Wiltshire Air Ambulance
responded to were in the
Swindon area - 224.
Other areas in Wiltshire where
the team were called to were;
Amesbury - 29; Bradford-on-Avon
- 20; Calne - 39; Chippenham -
90; Corsham - 29; Cricklade - 6;
Devizes - 73; Marlborough - 28;
Malmesbury - 23; Melksham - 61;
Mere - 4; Pewsey - 16; Royal
Wootton Bassett - 17; Salisbury
- 57; Tidworth - 19; Tisbury - 3;
Trowbridge - 82; Warminster - 57
and Westbury - 27.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance were
also called to incidents in
neighbouring counties including
Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire,
Hampshire, Oxfordshire and
Somerset.
This year Wiltshire Air Ambulance
celebrates a significant milestone
- its 30th year of operation.
For more information about
the charity visit www.
wiltshireairambulance.co.uk.
10
For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE
NWAS
Ambulance
communicators win
gold at CIPR awards
Celebrated for its ‘outstanding
public relations team’, North
West Ambulance Service
(NWAS) took home double
gold at the regional PRide CIPR
Awards, held in Manchester.
Scooping the top prize in two
categories, ‘outstanding inhouse
public relations team’
and ‘public sector campaign’,
NWAS’ Communications Team
saw off tough competition from
high profile companies including,
Electricity North West, M&S Bank,
Manchester Airport, and silver
award winners Essity.
Recognised for its “impressive
communications service”, the
judges’ comments reflected on the
team’s hard work and the many
different aspects of communications
they successfully manage and
undertake on a day-to-day basis,
including press office and an
out of hours service, internal and
external communications, public
affairs, stakeholder and community
engagement, FOI, videography,
social, digital and campaigns.
Judges commented, “NWAS has
achieved results out of proportion
to the resources available to it.
From providing frontline access
for major broadcasters to crisis
communications, the team
has successfully managed the
full spectrum of public sector
public relations with skill and
professionalism.”
Volunteer car driver recruitment
campaign, Star in a Car, was also
awarded the gold prize in the
public sector campaign category.
Using animations, case studies
and social media to drum up
interest in the volunteer roles, the
judges commented how they
were “impressed by how NWAS
reached out beyond its traditional
supporters, using innovative social
media channels to really engage a
younger audience with the work this
essential public service delivers.
“With limited resources, this
campaign achieved great results
with 50 new volunteers joining
the service. Overall, this was
an excellent campaign, fully
deserving of success.”
The CIPR PRide Awards is the
UK’s most prestigious nationwide
awards scheme, recognising
excellence in public relations and
communications. This year, the
PRide Awards attracted around
1,000 entries from public relations
teams, consultancies and
individuals across the UK.
Julie Treharne, Head of
Communications and Engagement
at NWAS said: “It’s fantastic to be
recognised by industry experts at
the CIPR awards and to beat off
competition from private sector
teams with bigger budgets. We’re
honoured to fly the flag for NHS
communicators!
“The team supports all the services
the trust provides from our 999
emergency response, to patient
transport, NHS 111 and corporate
projects. It’s our aim is to bring
to life our organisation’s vision
and values through compelling
narrative that connects with our
wide variety of stakeholders.
“We try to put patients at the
heart of everything we do to
enhance their experience with
the organisation and make
meaningful connections with
our front line services; doing so
using our creativity and innovative
approaches whilst using money
responsibly. To be labelled
‘outstanding’ for this is a something
we’re incredibly proud of.”
Keep up to date with NWAS by
following them on Twitter,
@NWAmbulance, Facebook,
nwasofficial and Instagram,
@nwasofficial.
SECAMB
Rochester couple
and baby reunited
with ambulance team
A couple from Rochester
have been reunited with the
ambulance team which came
to their aid when mum-to-be
Carly Walker started fitting and
collapsed at 35 weeks pregnant.
Carly, 37, attended Medway
ambulance station recently with
baby Naomi, now five months old,
and husband Nick to personally
thank all those involved in
responding to them on 27 July,
one of the hottest days of the year.
First to arrive at the family home,
after call taker Joanne Hards had
taken Nick’s 999 call was Critical
Care Paramedic, Luke Hamilton.
Luke was quick to realise the
seriousness of the situation.
He said: “My immediate concern
was that Carly was suffering from
eclamptic seizures. As soon as
I’d taken her blood pressure this
was confirmed and I knew I had to
administer a magnesium sulphate
infusion and that ultimately she
had to deliver her baby as soon
as possible.”
Luke liaised with a consultant to
agree a course of action involving
administering the drug to attempt
to lower Carly’s blood pressure.
As the plan was agreed, Carly
suffered a further seizure. By this
time crew mates George Osborne
and Adrian DeBari had arrived
with an ambulance. Medication
was administered to stop the
seizure and the team then worked
together to get Carly safely to
the ambulance from the top of
the couple’s town house, which
involved removing a bedroom
door.
Carly was then rushed to Medway
Maritime Hospital, which Luke had
contacted in advance to enable
them to ready a team for her
arrival. Carly delivered Naomi by
caesarean section and spent a
week receiving further treatment in
hospital before being discharged
with a healthy Naomi.
Luke said: “It’s been lovely to
meet with Carly and Nick in much
better circumstances with her and
Naomi doing so well. In my 14
years as a paramedic this is the
only time I have attended a patient
who is not pre-eclamptic but
suffering from actual eclamptic
seizures.
“We knew we had to act quickly
to provide some immediate
treatment at the scene but that
ultimately Carly needed to deliver
to bring her blood pressure
down from such a dangerous
level. Nick was amazing. He was
the textbook husband and did
everything we needed him to do
including letting us know the detail
of Carly’s medical history and
reassuring Carly. On behalf of the
whole team I’d like to wish them
all a very happy and peaceful
Christmas.”
Pharmacy technician, Carly
said: “We’re both so thankful for
everything Luke and the team. It
all happened so suddenly without
any warning. I had been booked
in for a C-section for unrelated
reasons but of course that all had
to be brought forward. I’d also like
to thank everyone at the hospital
including the multi-disciplinary
team responsible for my care led
by Miriam.
“I’m receiving some ongoing
treatment to help with my blood
pressure levels which are still a
little raised but we’re all doing
really well and Naomi is perfect.
Thank you to everyone for
ensuring we received the help we
needed so quickly.”
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
For the latest Ambulance Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com
11

THE ‘3’ IN CORPULS 3
The corpuls3 is not only a device.
It is a three module system:
Monitoring Unit
Patient Box
Defibrillator/Pacer Unit
With the flexibility to split the modules at any time depending
on the requirements, the three modules of the corpuls3
communicate wirelessly and adapt to the requirements of the
paramedic on scene, or inside the ambulance.
Exclusively available to the UK market from the Ortus Group.
Visit our website to find out more.
www.theortusgroup.com
E: sales@theortusgroup.com
T: +44 (0)845 4594705

WE GIVE OUR ALL
SO YOU CAN GIVE YOUR ALL

NEWSLINE
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
British Red Cross
calls for change
in law to improve
response when UK
emergencies or
disasters strike
The British Red Cross is calling
for the law to be updated to give
individuals and communities
more say in how they are
treated and the support they get
in an emergency.
Currently emergency services,
government bodies and councils,
who together are responsible for
planning for emergencies, aren’t
legally bound to involve voluntary
and community groups.
As a result, local knowledge
about needs, vulnerabilities and
sensitivities may not always be
known or taken into consideration.
In its latest report, People Power
in Emergencies, the charity
looks at how far local resilience
forums, which lead local council
emergency planning, factor in the
knowledge, skills and capacities
of the voluntary and community
sector.
It reveals that collaboration is
variable, meaning responses
to emergencies tend to focus
chiefly on “command and control”
mechanisms, which of course are
important.
At the same time, this can mean
missed opportunities to mobilise
people power encouraging
communities to build their
resilience and support their
recovery from within.
The report highlights the very
different needs of individuals and
how those needs can best be
met.
One of the report’s key
recommendations is for an
urgent review of the 2004 Civil
Contingencies Act.
The British Red Cross is calling
on whoever wins the election
to update the act to enshrine in
law the role of the voluntary and
community sector in emergencies.
Other recommendations in the
report include:
• A “people at the heart of
planning” checklist for local
resilience forums, produced
by the British Red Cross,
and championed by the
recently formed voluntary and
community sector Emergencies
Partnership
• A further amendment to
the Civil Contingencies Act,
Regulations and Guidance to
require local resilience forums,
in partnership with the voluntary
and community sector, to plan
what the report calls a more
‘person-centred’ approach to
preparing for and dealing with
disasters and emergencies.
Previous research by the British
Red Cross has shown how
involving grassroots organisations
in responding to emergencies
ensures people and communities
feel listened to and more
empowered and in the face of
disaster.
As every individual will react
differently, it is unrealistic to ask
councils and emergency services
to adopt a ‘one size fits all’
approach.
The British Red Cross is calling
on local authorities and the
voluntary and community sector
to work with it on the report’s
recommendations, and to see the
law amended urgently.
British Red Cross CEO Mike
Adamson said: ‘Our own
response to the recent floods
across Yorkshire and the Midlands
has shown the value we bring,
whether supporting fire and
rescue to distribute sandbags, or
welcoming people who’ve been
flooded out of their home into rest
centres.
“This is about showing how we
complement the work of our
partners.
“It’s also about giving a voice to
those affected by emergencies
and highlighting local challenges,
sensitivities and opportunities to
help people survive and recover
better.
“It’s people and communities
who know best what their needs
are and how they want them
addressed.
“They are the experts in who may
be seriously ill, have a disability or
mobility issue, or face difficulties
because of language barriers,
poverty, immigration status or
anything else.
“By listening harder and tapping
into that resource, people will
have the best possible chance of
survival and recovery.
“By updating the law so that
statutory agencies work more with
communities and the voluntary
sector, people’s immediate needs
will be met more easily, in the
most appropriate way.”
Dr Andy Johnston, Chief
Operating Officer of the Local
Government Information Unit
(LGIU), and Convenor of the
Local Government Flood Forum,
has welcomed the report: “It
is very timely, given the recent
emergency response to flooding
in the North of England and the
Midlands.
“Emergencies in the UK are
evolving, with climate change
and threats of terrorism, and
are very complex, affecting both
communities and councils.
“I am therefore pleased to see the
recommendation for reviewing
the legislation to better guide the
local agencies in their planning for
emergencies.
“In my roles as part of the LGIU
and Convenor of the Local
Government Flood Forum, I very
much look forward to working
more closely with both councils
and the voluntary and community
sector to take forward these
insights and recommendations to
ensure community insight is key
to local government emergency
planning.”
EEAST
Volunteer wins
lifesaver award
A community first responder
was presented with an award
by TV host Dr Hilary Jones after
saving a woman’s life.
Andrew Hartshorne, community
first responder for East of England
Ambulance Service NHS Trust
(EEAST), won the SADS (Sudden
Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) UK
award after performing successful
resuscitation while off duty.
Mr Hartshorne, who volunteers
in the Aylsham area, had been
out shopping in Market Place
with his wife when he noticed
three people gathered around
a woman, who was lying on the
floor unresponsive.
The three people all offered to
help and, under his guidance,
rotated between performing chest
compressions and mouth to
mouth.
As soon as a public access
defibrillator arrived, Mr Hartshorne
shocked the patient four times
before she began breathing on
her own again.
Janet Green, 69, was taken to
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
14
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE
where she was fi tted with a
pacemaker and has since made a
full recovery.
Mr Hartshorne said: “I was
very pleased to be recognised,
The presentation was held
November 16 at the British
Academy of Contemporary Artists
in London, at the annual dinner
and awards ceremony of SADS
UK.
The Trust would also like to thank the
public for its support and messages
of appreciation across the whole
festive and New Year period.
While the peak period of the night,
their hard work over the last few
weeks. We’ve seen some very busy
days, especially in the week leading
up to Christmas and, as ever,
everyone has risen to the challenge
to ensure the demand met.
volunteers are not as high profi le
as some frontline staff.
“I have been with EEAST since
2013 and I’m proud to be a
Interested in volunteering with
EEAST? Visit eastamb.nhs.uk/
join-the-team/volunteering-andvolunteers.htm
(midnight-1am) saw the Trust
handle slightly fewer calls than
previous years with 155 calls,
overall in the seven hours from
8pm on New Year’s Eve to 3am
“Working for the ambulance
service is never easy but
spending time away from family
and loved ones when others are
volunteer. Often, we reach
on New Year’s Day it dealt with 61
celebrating can make it even
patients in a life-threatening
emergency before an ambulance
crew arrives so the work we do is
really important.
“Our fi rst responder group has
wonderful support from the
SECAMB
Ambulance service
thanks staff, volunteers
and public after busy
New Year’s Eve
more calls than last year.
Demand is expected to remain
high today, (January 1), and
throughout the fi rst weekend of
the year. People are urged to
continue to make use of the NHS
tougher. Throughout SECAmb
there are examples of staff and
volunteers who have gone the
extra mile to make working at this
time of year easier for everyone.
“I’d also like to thank members
public and we have been very
busy teaching CPR to schools,
mother and toddler groups and
other organisations. Interest in
saving lives in the area has really
increased since this event took
place.”
South East Coast Ambulance
Service NHS Foundation Trust
(SECAmb) would like to thank
its staff and volunteers for their
commitment and hard work
over what was, as ever, a busy
New Year’s Eve.
111 service and only call 999 in
the event of a life-threatening or
serious emergency.
SECAmb Chief Executive Philip Astle
said: “I’d like to thank every single
member of staff and volunteer for
of the public for their continued
support. In the middle of winter,
we know that we are going
to have some very busy days
ahead and the support and
understanding of the public is very
much appreciated.”
Trauma Care Conference 2020
SUNDAY 8TH MARCH - WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH
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AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
For the latest Ambulance Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com
15

NEWSLINE
Health Scholars,
the Virtual Reality
Healthcare Training
Platform, Launches
First VR ACLS
Training Simulation
for First Responders
Application allows for more
affordable training and effective
assessment of emergency
medical personnel, potentially
saving lives.
(Westminster, CO, 1/14/2020)
– Health Scholars, known for
their VR simulations and cloudbased
simulation management
platform utilized for management,
delivery, and analysis of clinical
training, have announced the
availability of the fi rst Virtual
Reality (VR) Advanced Cardiac
Life Support (ACLS) training
designed specifi cally for fi rst
responders. Made possible
with the company’s Public
Safety Innovation Accelerator
Program – User Interface grant
from the National Institute of
Standards and Technology
(NIST) Partnership and the
State of Colorado’s Advanced
Industries Accelerator Program,
the company is excited about the
possible impact to the industry
and the community.
Designed in accordance with
American Heart Association
guidelines and input from local
EMS partners, providers play the
role of the team lead running a
mega code and are provided
thirteen total scenarios that refl ect
cardiac and non-cardiac arrest
scenarios. Using voice direction,
providers identify rhythms and
direct virtual team members to
shock, give meds, and/or perform
CPR as necessary. The simulation
provides extensive practice
on communication, situational
awareness, decision-making and
competencies such as accurate
hospital notifi cation.
“With average adult survival rates
of 26% for in-hospital cardiac
arrest and up to 11%[1] for out-ofhospital
cardiac arrest, continuous
improvement to cardiac arrest
response and training is an
obligation to patients,” says
Brian Gillett, MD, President of
Health Scholars. “ACLS is just
the fi rst application within a larger
resuscitation suite because we
believe that designing scalable,
self-directed, and affordable
simulation for fi rst responders
was an untapped, yet imperative
market to develop. They are on
the front lines of patient safety
and deserve effective, experiencebased
training and skills
assessment.”
By virtualizing training, small or
rural EMS organizations are now
able to integrate more immersive
training practices and VR provides
agencies of all sizes an additional
training modality that easily scales
to any number of providers, is at
least 50% less than the cost of
traditional physical simulation,
and provides performance
reporting that is actionable.
“Our goal in working with Health
Scholars is to introduce new
technology within the EMS
market, but more importantly
provide an effective solution to
make training more accessible
and frequent, help EMS staff stay
sharp and provide EMT’s an easy
way to grow skills” says Ed Smith,
Captain, Clear Creek EMS.
The work involved with
development and management
of this new training is being
performed under the following
fi nancial assistance award
70NANB18H149 from U.S.
Department of Commerce,
EDESIX VIDEOBADGE VB-400
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ATTITUDE IMMEDIATELY
CHANGED.”
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used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2020 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

NEWSLINE
National Institute of Standards
and Technology. For more
information on the grant and
development details visit https://
hubs.ly/H0cRQmC0
“This grant has provided Health
Scholars the ability to advance
the use of virtualization in public
safety. VR has the power to
fundamentally improve the way
training products are designed
and how training is executed in
public safety. The possibilities are
endless and with NIST’s program
and our EMS partners we have
been able to bring the fi rst of
many VR training simulations to
market” – Cole Sandau, CEO,
Health Scholars
WMAS
WMAS proud to be
disability confi dent
leader
West Midlands Ambulance
Service is proud to receive
recognition as a ‘Disability
Confident Leader’ by the
Department for Work and
Pensions (DWP).
The Trust was given the coveted
‘Disability Confi dent Leader’
status by the DWP Disability
Confi dent Scheme this week
for the work undertaken by the
service to recruit people with
disabilities and support our staff
people into work, within the next
10 years.
The initiatives undertaken by
the Trust to support people with
disabilities include the following:
• Actively attracting and recruiting
disabled people to help fi ll
opportunities (including jobs,
apprenticeships, internships,
work experience, etc.)
• Providing a fully inclusive and
accessible recruitment process.
• Being fl exible when assessing
people so disabled job
applicants have the best
opportunity to demonstrate that
they can do the job.
• Ensuring there are no barriers
to the development and
progression of disabled staff.
Anthony Marsh, the Trust’s
Chief Executive Offi cer, said: “I
am immensely proud that West
Midlands Ambulance Service
is one of only two ambulance
services in the country to be
awarded this status. We pride
ourselves on being an inclusive
place to work as well as providing
excellent care to our patients
regardless of health inequalities.
“The quality of our service relies
heavily on our staff, and we can
only deliver an excellent service
by continuing to show respect for
and giving support to each and
every member of staff.
Health Scholars will continue to
develop VR Training for healthcare
and public safety providers
throughout 2020 with input from
their partners and customers.
Images, demos, and interview
available upon request.
with disabilities.
The Disability Confi dent
scheme has been running since
November 2016 and supports
the Government’s commitment
to help one million more disabled
• Ensuring employees have
appropriate disability equality
awareness training.
• Supporting employees to
manage their disabilities or
health conditions.
“I would like to place on record
my sincere thanks to everyone
at West Midlands Ambulance
Service, in particular my staff
within Recruitment and Human
Resources for their dedication and
commitment to equality.”
About Health Scholars
Our mission is to advance
healthcare education through
virtualization, making experiencebased
training scalable,
accessible and affordable to
both Healthcare and Public
Safety providers. Health Scholars
is a cloud-based, VR-ready
clinical training platform with
VR Simulations, Simulation
Management, and Clinical
Readiness Reporting solutions
for the management, delivery and
analysis of clinical training. Our
VR simulations extend physical
simulation beyond the simulation
center, enabling repeatable
practice of proper workfl ows
as well as critical soft skills like
communications, situational
awareness and critical thinking.
For more information, see www.
HealthScholars.com. You may
also contact Chris Ingwalson
at (303) 915.0087, or by
email at Chris.Ingwalson@
HealthScholars.com
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
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17

NEWSLINE
Major Trauma Centre
first in UK to benefit
from weather station
University Hospitals of North
Midlands Major Trauma Centre
is the first in the UK to benefit
from a weather station which
provides certainty and real
time information for emergency
helicopter pilots about weather
conditions, ensuring that its
patients are seen quicker and
with more efficiency.
The weather station, called
“Skyview”, which has been
donated by the HELP Appeal,
which is the only charity in the
country dedicated to funding
hospital helipads, measures
visibility and conditions around
the Royal Stoke University
Hospital site and helps
ambulance crews understand the
next steps for our critically injured
patients, making sure they are
air lifted to the most appropriate
trauma centre avoiding bad
weather conditions that can make
flying difficult.
Martyn Ashworth, Major Trauma
& Neurosurgery Service Manager
at UHNM, said: “I would like
to thank the HELP Appeal for
this generous donation, our
Major Trauma team is extremely
excited about having the first
ever weather station at a NHS
trust in the UK and we want to
share that excitement with the
local community and surrounding
areas.
“Our aim is to provide the pilots
and flying medical crews with the
latest local weather information
and provide them with the
most up to date and accurate
facilities we can, bringing the
most advanced, innovative and
comprehensive resources directly
into the forefront of Trauma care.”
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive
of the charity’s HELP Appeal,
said: “We are delighted that we
have funded the first ever weather
station for a UK Major Trauma
Centre, which means patients
can receive more efficient care.
As the weather station informs
air ambulance crews of the
conditions at Royal Stoke, it can
accurately inform them if it’s safe
to land on Royal Stoke’s helipad
or if they need to be transferred to
a surrounding hospital. This will
save precious time, a must when
a patient urgently needs specialist
care to help save their life.”
NWAS
Ambulance service
sees rise in
emergencies over
festive period
From street fighting in
Merseyside, firework injuries in
Bolton to assaults in Lancashire,
New Year’s Eve is historically one
the busiest times of year for North
West Ambulance Service (NWAS)
and this year was no exception.
The trust received over 5,300* 999
calls on New Year’s Day alone.
Christmas Day saw an increase of
seven per cent when compared
to last year and the day started in
an extra special way with a baby
being born in an ambulance just
after midnight.
Messages of well wishes and
support came flooding in on
social media for the thousands of
NWAS staff who worked over the
festive period, sacrificing time with
their families to help others.
Director of Operations, Ged
Blezard said: “As always, we were
well prepared for the spike in calls
over the Christmas period with
months of planning and additional
resources on key dates.
“I would like to thank everyone for
their support during this busy time.
We must prioritise life-threatening
emergencies which can mean that
patients in a less serious condition
do experience a wait. We have
been able to reduce wait times
as much as possible by utilising
our clinical hub providing medical
advice over the phone and
treating patients in the community
wherever possible, reducing
unnecessary A&E admissions.
“Alongside our dedicated staff,
we are also very grateful for the
support from our Community First
Responders over Christmas and
New Year. We have had the highest
number of sign-ons from them than
ever before and their presence is
invaluable. The fact that they are
volunteers and give their time freely
makes their contribution even more
commendable.”
NHS 111 has also been extremely
busy, the busiest day being
Saturday 28 December with 12,460
calls, one every seven seconds.
Ged continues: “As we head into
January and February and the
temperature plummets, we are
expecting the high demand to
continue and ask for the public to
continue to help us by only calling
999 in life-threatening emergencies.”
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
(L – R) Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal presents a cheque for £51,000 to University
Hospitals of North Midlands Major Trauma Centre.
People can take advice from a
pharmacist for common health
niggles, book an appointment
with their GP for health issues
which will not go away, visit an
urgent treatment centre for minor
illnesses and injuries or use NHS
111 online for health advice. In
emergencies, if it is safe to get
to an emergency department
(A&E) without an ambulance then
people should do that as arriving
at hospital by ambulance won’t
mean you’re seen any quicker.
*This statistic includes 999 calls,
duplicate calls, incidents at events
where NWAS is the medical
provider and 111 pass throughs.
18
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NEWSLINE
Midlands Air
Ambulance Charity
makes a strategic
promotion
Midlands Air Ambulance
Charity is pleased to announce
the promotion of aircrew
team leader and critical care
paramedic, Jim Hancox, to
the position of assistant air
operations manager.
Jim has over 17 years’ experience
with the ambulance service, and
has served with Midlands Air
Ambulance Charity since 2006.
Jim will support the charity’s air
operations manager, Ian Roberts,
with a number of responsibilities
in line with the charity’s mission
to offer advanced clinical care to
those in critical need in the prehospital
environment 365 days
a year.
Ian Roberts, air operations
manager for the charity, states:
“We have three helicopters and
three rapid response vehicles
operation across six Midlands
counties, and more recently we
have added two critical care cars
to our asset-base to support
patient care in the region. The
expansion of our service, to
enable us to reach and treat over
1,000 more patients each year led
to a requirement for further seniorlevel
operations support.
“Jim has shown clear leadership,
strategic thinking and clinical
excellence throughout his work
with the service, and will be
an invaluable member of the
operations team.”
On his new position as assistant
air operations manager, Jim
added: “Delivering the highest
level of clinical care to critically ill
and injured patients is something I
am hugely passionate about. I am
extremely proud to take on this
challenging new role, supporting
the future development of our
organisation and ensuring that
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
remains at the forefront of
emergency pre-hospital patient
care, offering the very best
treatment to patients.”
Find out more about Midlands
Air Ambulance Charity at:
midlandsairambulance.com or
follow the charity on social media.
SECAMB
Kent man reunited
with lifesavers
A man who collapsed in cardiac
arrest, enjoyed a Christmas
reunion with the ambulance
team who came to his aid.
Garry Henderson, 55, from
Shorne, near Gravesend, Kent,
was reunited with his life-saving
team recently at Medway
ambulance station in Chatham
following his collapse at home on
6 September last year.
Garry, along with his partner,
Sue and brother, Simon, met
with Critical Care Paramedic,
Dave Hawkins, Operational Team
Leader, Alexandra Hemsley,
ambulance crew Daisy Vickery
and Adrian Biles as well as 999
call taker, Nick O’Doherty.
And now Garry is keen to spread
the message of the importance
that people learn CPR and other
life-saving skills and urged people
to listen to the potential warning
signs of suffering a heart attack.
Garry, had unknowingly at the
time, suffered a heart attack in
June 2018. Having not acted on
the signs, he attended a doctor’s
appointment four days later and
was subsequently fitted with two
stents, having been informed he
had suffered a heart attack.
The subsequent collapse in
September 2018 saw him
spend close to five weeks at
William Harvey Hospital in
Ashford in an induced coma
and recovering having received
further emergency treatment and
having been fitted with an internal
defibrillator.
Garry’s expert hospital treatment
followed quick thinking of partner
Sue in calling 999 while CPR
was provided at the scene by a
members of staff from a nearby
nursery, Claire and Sam, and a
GP, Dr Adaji from Shorne medical
practice.
Dave said: “The chain of survival
started with Sue speaking to Nick
on the phone. Help was quickly
sought, and it was so critical
that Garry was given CPR prior
to our arrival. It takes a team to
save a life and everyone worked
really well together. We shocked
Garry’s heart twice to return it to a
normal rhythm before heading off
to the William Harvey for Garry to
undergo emergency treatment.”
Garry remembers nothing of his
ordeal but was quick to praise the
team on an emotional reunion. “It
feels like the stars aligned for me
so that everything was in place
that day”, he said. “I’m so grateful
for everything everyone did. From
Nick at the end of the phone, to
the GP and nursery staff to the
whole team and my subsequent
treatment in hospital. It was very
emotional but it was lovely to see
everyone in person to properly
thank them.
“I know in hindsight I should have
listened to my body more rather
than wait four days to see my GP.
I’d urge people to take the warning
signs seriously and ourselves and
our friends and family know first
hand how vital it is for people to
learn how to save a life.”
Sue added: “I know I wasn’t very
patient with Nick on the phone
and so it was really nice to be
able to apologise and to meet
everyone in better circumstances.
Thank you to everyone involved
in ensuring were together at
Christmas.”
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
For the latest Ambulance Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com
19

NEWSLINE
ALF 2020: The
Conference for the
Ambulance Sector
The Ambulance Leadership
Forum (ALF 2020) will take
place on 17 & 18 March 2020.
Hosted by the Association of
Ambulance Chief Executives at
the Jurys Inn, Hinckley Island,
Nuneaton Leicestershire,
ALF 2020 is shaping up to be
another high quality event.
ALF 2020 promises to be bigger
and better than ever, with a
superb range of speakers and
facilitators over two main days
of conference.
Exploring themes relating to
engagement across the STP/
ICS landscape and integrated
urgent care, speakers will look
to stimulate discussion, provoke
thought and share insights and
experience. Can your workplace
be improved? What role can the
sector play in system leadership
and how? Do you work for an
employer of choice?
Day One
A first class line up of speakers
already confirmed for Day One
includes:
Baroness Dido Harding
The Chair of NHS Improvement
will be our keynote speaker
and open the conference.
Expect to learn from Dido’s
vast experience on some
of the solutions needed to
overcome challenges facing
the NHS – and ambulance
services in particular. Reducing
unwarranted variation is a goal
but integrating to respond to
local need is very much a reality
– how do we manage the two?
Nigel Edwards
We are thrilled to welcome the
Nuffield Trust Chief Executive to
speak again at ALF. Few others
can share Nigel’s insight into
policy and strategies, whilst
making sense of what the data
really shows.
Bobby Pratap
Putting mental health front and
centre we are delighted to that
Bobby, Deputy Head of Mental
Health at NHSE & I, is joining
us at ALF for the first time. He
will discuss how the ambulance
sector can get the best returns
for mental health patients from
the new Long Term Plan funding
put into these vital services.
Chris Hopson
This year Chris, Chief Executive
at NHS Providers, looks
forward to briefing delegates
on a strategic vision (being
launched jointly with AACE) that
will provide clear statements
on where we feel ambulance
services can make the best
contributions within changing
health structures.
For a second year, ALF will be
chaired over the two days by
AACE Council Chair and SCAS
Chair Lena Samuels, who brings
her extensive knowledge and
understanding to proceedings
– and will be ready to challenge
any sweeping statements from
the podium!
Day Two
A varied range of sessions
on Day Two of ALF will
include insights into quality
improvement, organisational
development, satellite
technology, visibility for
disability, ‘safe space’
conversations, the ambulance
data set project, volunteering
and falls, the joint ambulance
improvement programme,
rotational roles and how
ambulance services can
become employers of choice.
More speaker and topics will
be published over the coming
weeks.
Organised and managed by
the Association of Ambulance
Chief Executives (AACE) this
important event enables senior
managers, suppliers and others
with an interest in the effective
management of ambulance
services to join forces to share
ideas and best practice in a
supportive and high-profile
environment.
Non-Executive Director (NED)
Development Seminar
Preceding the opening of ALF,
there will be a seminar focused
on non-executive director
roles and responsibilities.
The evolving NHS landscape
requires ambulance trust
boards to remain current and
informed, which isn’t always
easy given the pace of change.
The bespoke seminar will
share learning from experts
and provide insight into how
best non-executive functions
can effectively engage with
and navigate the wider health
and social care system. The
seminar will be delivered by the
Association of Ambulance Chief
Executives in conjunction with
The King’s Fund, NHS Providers
and the NHS Confederation.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
The NED Development Seminar
takes place on Mon 16 March,
14.00 – 17.30.
The ALF Awards Dinner
As part of ALF 2020 we will
again come together to
celebrate outstanding service
from across the UK at the
Awards Dinner on the evening
of Tuesday 17 March.
20
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NEWSLINE
Attendance at this popular
event is included as part of the
Conference Delegate Package
and will be arranged, along with
conference bookings, by your
Trust Lead.
As always, the Awards Dinner will
provide an excellent opportunity
for Ambulance Leadership Forum
attendees to applaud excellence,
discuss developments from
the last year, and network with
colleagues.
However, most importantly,
the evening will provide an
opportunity for AACE and
colleagues to recognise members
of staff from across all UK
ambulance services who have
provided truly outstanding service,
going above and beyond the call
of duty in a variety of categories
that represented the whole
breadth of service delivery.
Research papers presentations
– a call for Abstracts
AACE is pleased to announce
that dedicated time will again
be scheduled for the main stage
presentation of research focused
on ambulance service delivery
and leadership. Following last
year’s success we expect high
quality submissions and a close
vote from the audience to select
the winner for the £500 travel
bursary.
International Roundtable of
Community Paramedicine
(IRCP 2020)
Directly following the ALF
conference, AACE are delighted
to host the IRCP annual meeting
over Wednesday 18 and
Thursday 19 March 2020.
A full agenda will be compiled
though the normal IRCP
channels.
The conference will be free
to attend and will include
refreshments and a working
lunch on the Thursday.
The Venue – Hinckley Island
Hotel
Hinckley Island is one of the
most accessible and wellappointed
conference venues
in the Midlands. Nestled in
the heart of Leicestershire
and surrounded by beautiful
countryside, the four-star hotel
provides a great business base
for the Ambulance Leadership
Forum.
The hotel is just off the M1, M6
and M69 motorways, and is
short drive to both Birmingham
and East Midlands Airports.
For more details contact Steve
Irving at AACE at steve.irving@
aace.org.uk.
Steps to take in
recognising and
referring DVA
“Our vision is a world in which
gender-based violence is
consistently recognised and
addressed as a health issue.
Our mission is to improve
the healthcare response
to gender-based violence
through health and specialist
services working together.”
Medina Johnson, CEO IRISi
The IRIS programme has helped
refer over 15,500 women to
date. An IRIS programme is first
commissioned within a certain
geographical area. Local IRIS
teams are recruited and trained
and these teams then train local
GPs, healthcare professionals
and clinicians in recognising
signs and symptoms of
Domestic Violence and Abuse
(DVA) and how to ask the right
questions of the patient. If
the patient requires help, they
are referred to an Advocate
Educators (AE), who provides
support to both the practice and
the patients that are recognised
and referred.
“Many of us know the statistics”
says Medina Johnson, CEO at
IRISi.
“25% of women will experience
Domestic Violence and Abuse
(DVA) at some point in their lives.
Two women are killed every week
at the hands of a current or former
partner, or adult family member.
Behind each statistic is a woman,
a friend, a sister, a daughter, a
mother, a grandmother, an auntie.
Most of these women will have
had recent contact with health
services. How many of them will
have found it difficult to say what
was happening for them at home
during their appointment? How
many of them wanted someone
to look beyond what they were
saying? How many women will
have sat with a doctor or nurse
who felt uncomfortable to look
beyond and ask their patients
about what was happening for
them at home or whether they felt
frightened or controlled by anyone
because they didn’t think they had
the right words or knowledge of
the next steps to take? How many
women were missed?”
“We know that DVA impacts both
the mental and physical health
of those it affects and that this
has ramifications throughout the
family.” Continues Medina. “In
cold, hard business speak, we
also know that DVA also costs
the NHS a lot of money in terms
of appointments, chronic illness
and prescriptions. Clinicians want
to know how to best support
patients and how to offer support.
This is why they become medics.
We can’t expect them to simply
know what to do to support
patients affected by DVA without
offering training and support
and onward referral pathways.
We need to support our clinical
colleagues to look beyond and we
need commissioners to fund this
support in a sustainable way.”
The IRIS model rests on five
principles:
Recognise when a patient is
affected by DVA
Ask them about it
Respond in an understanding
way
Refer the patient into specialist
support
Make a record of the consultation
and disclosure.
If you are concerned a patient
might be affected by DVA, only
ask them about this if they are
alone. It is not safe to ask when
a patient is accompanied, even
by a child. As a minimum, have
national helpline numbers to offer
or the contact information for your
local, specialist service. If you
have safeguarding concerns then
follow your usual safeguarding
procedures. Do not prescribe
what the patient should do but
let them know that support is
available. Be sure to record the
consultation in the electronic
medical record. These are useful
numbers for you:
National 24 Hour Helpline –
0808 2000247
Men’s Advice Line –
0808 8010327
Respect – 0808 8010327
IRIS teams provide in-house
specialist domestic violence
training sessions to enable staff
to become better equipped
to respond to concerns and
disclosures of DVA from all
patients including perpetrator.
The team then receive ongoing
support and DVA consultancy
after training is completed from
a named Advocate Educator.
Regular attendance from the
Advocate Educator at team
meetings helps remind staff about
the service and also provides
health care workers with support
for any challenging cases.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
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21

NEWSLINE
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
Huge donation
lights up emergency
helipads across
Lincolnshire and
Nottinghamshire
With thanks to a generous
donation from the HELP Appeal,
new helipad lighting has
recently been installed at three
different landing sites frequently
used by the life-saving crew at
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.
A total of £69,000 was donated
by the HELP Appeal, the only
charity in the country dedicated
to funding hospital and air
ambulance helipads, which has
fully funded the installation and
upgrade of helipad lights at the
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
airbase at RAF Waddington,
Fenland Airfield in South
Lincolnshire, and Nottingham
Airport (Tollerton).
The installation of these new lights
will prove to be an invaluable
addition for the crew on board the
helicopter, who regularly use these
landing sites when responding to
some of the most critically ill and
seriously injured patients across
Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
The state-of-the-art landing lights
has made each site significantly
more visible during the event of
low visibility and landing at night;
vital in the Charity’s recent move to
24/7 operations.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive
of the HELP Appeal, recently paid
a visit to the upgraded facility
at the Charity’s airbase at RAF
Waddington. He was joined by
members of the crew from the
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and
their iconic AgustaWestland 169
helicopter.
Robert said: “We are delighted to
be able to support the life-saving
work of the air ambulance and
despite fewer daylight hours
during winter, Lincs & Notts Air
Ambulance will now be able
to treat patients at incidents in
Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire
after dark. The crew can then
rapidly transfer patients in urgent
need of specialist care to hospital
and return to land safely on their
newly illuminated helipads.”
Llewis Ingamells, Chief Pilot at
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance,
added that these lights would
ensure the safety of the Helicopter
Emergency Medical Service crew
and increase the capabilities of
the service they provide.
He said: “Having these new
modern night landing aids not
only gives us lit landing sites for
aircraft refuelling during the hours
of darkness at targeted locations,
but it provides us with lit diversion
destinations for weather or
planning around one of the largest
response areas; 3,500 square
miles, covered by any single Air
Ambulance in the UK.
“The introduction of Night
Vision Goggles has required an
update of technology not just
in the aircraft but to the ground
infrastructure to support our 24/7
operations. These lights bring the
latest technology with infrared
lighting for night vision goggles,
pilot-controlled functionality,
all whilst offsetting our carbon
footprint with 100% solar
technology.
“We extend a huge thank you
to HELP Appeal for the funding
of these fantastic lights, FEC for
constructing and installing them,
and our friends at Fenland Airfield
and Nottingham Airport for their
continued and increasing support
for our 24-hour operations.”
As of this month, the Lincs &
Notts Air Ambulance is now
operating a 24/7 service. Along
with the ongoing support of the
local community, these state-ofthe-art
lighting upgrades at the
Charity’s most frequent landing
sites has helped to support this
incredible development for the
local Air Ambulance, who are now
able to respond to emergencies
24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Karen Jobling, Chief Executive
Officer at Lincs & Notts Air
Ambulance, said: “We are truly
grateful for the support of the
HELP Appeal and this generous
donation, which has enabled us
to upgrade our helipad lights
across our most frequent landing
sites. As a Charity, we receive
no direct Government funding,
meaning that our life-saving work
“There is no
doubt that the
installation
of these new
lights will help
drastically
when our
crew take on
even more
life-saving
missions in
the hours of
darkness. ”
is only possible with thanks to
the generosity and support of our
local community.
“There is no doubt that the
installation of these new lights
will help drastically when our
crew take on even more lifesaving
missions in the hours of
darkness. We know that patients
can become seriously ill or injured
at any time of the day or night,
and by operating 24 hours a day,
7 days a week, we hope to be
able to treat approximately 400
additional patients every single
year.
“This new state-of-the-art lighting
system will allow us to land, no
matter what time of day, so that
our patients can receive the best
possible treatment as quickly as
possible.”
The HELP Appeal relies solely on
charitable donations and does not
receive any government funding
or money from the National
Lottery. For more information on
the charity visit www.helpappeal.
org.uk or call 0800 3898 999.
22
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NEWSLINE
Isle of Wight
NHS opens new
Community Unit
Isle of Wight NHS Trust
has opened a new 14-bed
Community Unit to help ease
winter pressures and support
people to leave hospital as
soon as they are able to.
The Trust, which provides
ambulance, hospital, community
and mental health services on
the Island, announced the new
nurse-led unit as part of its plan
to manage increased demand
during the winter months and to
support people to leave hospital.
Alice Webster, Nursing Director
at Isle of Wight NHS Trust,
said: “This is fantastic news for
our patients and for the wider
community.
“Investing in community services
is one of our top priorities
because it will help people to live
healthy and independent lives.
“Hospitals are very busy places
during the winter months and
we want to do everything that
we possibly can to help make
sure that people are supported
to leave hospital as soon as they
are able to.
“We are looking forward to
seeing the positive difference that
this new unit will make for our
community.”
The unit, based on the site of
the former Compton Ward at
St Mary’s Hospital, will care
for people who need nursing
support and a period of rest and
convalescence before they can
leave hospital.
The NHS team will work
alongside an Activities
Coordinator and Living Well
support from Age UK.
It has been funded by part of the
£1.192 million additional money
made available to support the
local NHS through winter.
The Unit, which has a large day
room and group dining table to
encourage people to move and
interact, opened on January 6
and is now fully operational with
14 beds.
People will be discharged
from hospital and referred to
the Community Unit, which is
being run as a standalone unit
supporting people who are
medically fit to leave hospital but
who may be waiting for social
care support or who may need
nursing care as they continue
their recovery before going
home.
Visiting time is 2pm to 8pm
daily, to create a protected lunch
time for patients and to ensure
plenty of time for activities to aid
recovery and improve people’s
mobility.
Isle of Wight NHS Trust also
plans to invest in additional IT
support for the Community Unit
which will help monitor patient’s
activity levels in hospital and at
home, to track and maximise
people’s movement and mobility.
The Isle of Wight Health and Care
Plan, published in September
2019, highlighted the need to
invest in community services as a
key priority for the Island’s health
service.
In autumn 2019 the Local Care
Board, which brings together the
NHS, social care, primary care
and the community and voluntary
sectors, agree to invest £800,000
in strengthening community
services.
The investment is designed
to support people in their own
homes as part of their recovery
after a stay in hospital.
It is also being used to place
district nurses and therapists into
A&E so that they work alongside
the social workers who are
supporting people to return to
their homes rather than spending
unnecessary time in hospital.
EMAS
East Midlands
Ambulance Service
responds to more
than 1,000 calls in
first seven hours of
New Year’s Day
East Midlands Ambulance
Service received 1,021
emergency and urgent calls
during the first seven hours
of 2020, with a new 999 call
received every 20 seconds
throughout the busiest hours.
By 3am, our 999 control
rooms had taken almost 600
emergency and urgent calls – a
figure not normally reached until
at least 9am even on busy days.
Calls were for a variety of
conditions including trips and
falls, breathing problems and
road traffic collisions. Many calls
related to illness or injury suffered
as a result of too much alcohol.
EMAS has been running a
strategic command cell – key
operational leads and senior
management – each day since
early December to respond
swiftly to incidents, to support
with peaks in demand and to
liaise with other parts of the care
system to manage the increased
demand.
Strategic commander Ben
Holdaway said “We expect New
Year’s Eve and into News Year’s
Day to be our busiest time of
the year, but we have also seen
unprecedented levels of activity
in the service over the last
couple of months. Our teams
have been working tirelessly
to prepare for the overall rise
in demand expected during
December, January and into
February and we continue to
work closely with colleagues
in other NHS organisations to
ensure patients receive the help
they need.
“Crews in our emergency
ambulances and fast response
vehicles, volunteer responders
and teams in our Emergency
Operations Centres have worked
fantastically over the first few
hours of the year.
“The support they have received
from our mechanics, support
staff and administration teams
has been equally impressive.
“I would like to send my
personal thanks to all colleagues
and volunteers for their hard
work and wish them a Happy
New Year.”
EMAS is continuing to urge
people to use only use 999 for
urgent and immediately lifethreatening
conditions, such as:
• Suspected strokes
• Breathing difficulties
• Heavy bleeding/bleeding that
won’t stop
• Loss of consciousness.
EMAS expects activity levels to
remain high through January
and February and during busy
periods will prioritise the most
serious cases, advising other
callers that they will need to
wait until resources become
available.
People are being asked to play
their part by seeking out the
most appropriate service for
their conditions. Help with less
serious conditions is available
from GP surgeries, pharmacies,
by dialling NHS111 or NHS111
online, or by visiting local walk-in
centres.
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23

NEWSLINE
EEAST
Norfolk cardiac
arrest survivor
reunited with her
life-savers
Sue Purvis, 62, from Norfolk,
was given the opportunity
to be reunited with the team
that saved her life when her
heart stopped beating in her
Wymondham home, and convey
a special thank you to the call
handler who took her call.
On 7 June 2019, the East of
England Ambulance Service NHS
Trust (EEAST) Norwich control
room received an emergency 999
call from Mark Purvis, after he
witnessed his wife Sue collapse
in their kitchen whilst she was
cooking dinner.
John Chapman was the EEAST
call handler who took the call
at 4.50pm and proceeded to
talk Mark through how to do
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR).
the crew and transported to the
Norfolk and Norwich University
Hospital (NNUH).
Bryony said: “We were all
pleasantly surprised to find Sue
sitting up and trying to talk whilst
travelling in the ambulance.
“She was in such good condition
by the time we reached the
hospital, even the doctors were
shocked she’d had a cardiac
arrest just half an hour before!”
Just a few months later, Sue wrote
a letter to the patient experience
department at EEAST.
In her letter, Sue wrote: “It has
taken a long time for me to write
this letter because I have been
unable to select the appropriate
wording to reflect my feelings.
“I have, however, decided that
some words are better than none.
“Maybe all I need is a million
‘thank yous’ to the people who
take the 999 calls.”
to collaborate on creating the
best paramedic undergraduateeducation
experience in
Scotland.
RGU successfully bid to bring
paramedic undergraduate
education to the Highlands &
Islands and Grampian in October
of 2019, boosting the capacity
for training new paramedics in
Scotland and enhancing patient
care.
The university’s new Visiting
Professor, Paul Gowens, will
support its BSc Paramedic
Practice course at a strategic
level, as well as providing
masterclass opportunities for
students.
Paul has experienced numerous
strategic roles, including
Programme Director and Chair
of the Clinical Transformation
Programme Board. As Lead
Paramedic Consultant, he is
tasked with leading clinicaldevelopment
transformation
across the Scottish Ambulance
Service (SAS).
national level.
“It’s exciting and humbling to
be involved in the development
of the paramedic curriculum
and profession,” said Paul.
“I think it’s a great honour for
any professional to be given
responsibility for how education
and training will be delivered,
and to develop research and new
knowledge in that field. To be
part of that from the onset is very
exciting.”
Ian adds: “For RGU, we will
ensure that our programme is
addressing the needs of future
paramedics, who are not just
going to operate in an urban
environment but also in remote
and rural contexts. We’re fortunate
to have both as part of our
programme going forward.
“There are exciting opportunities
for collaborating with Paul,
and SAS, on research and
how we deliver on the Scottish
Government’s commitment to
ensure equity of healthcare across
the population and the nation.”
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
Also, in the house at the time was
the couple’s son, Stuart Purvis
who was able to take over CPR
from his father until the EEAST
crew arrived.
Two ambulance crews and an
ambulance officer were sent to
Sue’s home by dispatcher, Glenn
Pell and Dispatch Team Leader,
Laura Denman.
Bryony Shipsey (intermediate
ambulance practitioner) and
her crewmate Mark Wright
(paramedic) were the first to
arrive on scene, closely followed
by Ben Corrigan (emergency
medical technician), Oliver Oxbury
(paramedic), Will Armstrong
(paramedic) and Gary Steward
(critical care paramedic).
After receiving three shocks,
and a shot of adrenaline, Sue
was successfully resuscitated by
She was able to say thank you
in person to her call handler, and
some of the team that saved her
life, when she reunited with them
this week accompanied by Mark,
Stuart and her other son Chris.
Sue said: “My family and I cannot
ever thank these people, and in
fact all of their colleagues, for the
amazing work they do.”
SAS
Top paramedic
collaborates on
undergraduateeducation
in
Scotland
The Lead Paramedic Consultant
for the Scottish Ambulance
Service has accepted the
position of Visiting Professor at
Robert Gordon University (RGU)
Professor Ian Murray, Head of the
School of Nursing and Midwifery
at RGU, said: “To have Scotland’s
leading paramedic as part of our
team is one of many steps we
are taking to provide a curriculum
that’s fit for purpose and the
future. Paul’s contribution will help
us take strides toward becoming
the leading university in Scotland
for paramedic practice.
“Through Paul, students will
be able to engage directly with
someone who’s not just leading
practice but also operating
at a strategic level in terms of
ambulance-service experience in
Scotland.”
Paul’s links to SAS will also help
the university to identify areas
for demand-led research, which
will support the development of
the paramedic profession on a
WAA
Plasma on Wiltshire
Air Ambulance
provides additional
lifesaving capability
Wiltshire Air Ambulance has
enhanced the blood products
it can give to critically injured
or unwell people by carrying
plasma.
The charity is now carrying two
units of plasma onboard and this
will be used with two units of O
negative blood (packed red blood
cells).
Wiltshire Air Ambulance has
been carrying packed red blood
cells on its helicopter and Rapid
Response Vehicles (cars) since
August 2015 and 72 patients have
been given pre-hospital blood
24
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NEWSLINE
transfusions by its critical care
paramedics and doctors.
The packed red blood cells help
carry oxygen around the body and
replaces blood lost by patients,
while plasma contains essential
clotting factors to help stop
bleeding.
The plasma carried by Wiltshire
Air Ambulance, called LyoPlas,
is freeze dried and is in powder
form in a glass vial. It is mixed
with water to form a yellow liquid
before it is given intravenously.
Ben Abbott, critical care
paramedic and operations officer
at Wiltshire Air Ambulance,
said: “We believe the addition of
plasma will make a significant
difference to the care of patients
who require emergency prehospital
blood transfusions and
improve their chances of reaching
hospital alive in order for them
to receive further emergency
treatment.
“We’ve been giving pre-hospital
blood transfusions since 2015
and we have seen the visible
difference they can make to
critically injured or unwell patients
who are bleeding as a result
of trauma or acute medical
conditions. Blood products
are a precious commodity and
emergency blood transfusions
can save lives.
“It is a privilege for the critical care
team at Wiltshire Air Ambulance to
be able to give blood and plasma
to patients who require it in the
pre-hospital environment.”
Richard Miller, clinical services
and ground base manager at
Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said:
“Our paramedics and doctors
provide gold standard medical
care to patients and the addition
of plasma is an enhancement to
our service.
“Having blood products on board
our aircraft and Rapid Response
Vehicles is only possible thanks
to the kind donations our charity
receives from the community,
businesses and grant-making
trusts to run our vital service.”
NWAS
Flu angels help
vaccinate frontline
staff
Two North West Ambulance
Service (NWAS) ‘flu angels’
have been out and about across
Cheshire and Merseyside on a
decommissioned ambulance
dubbed the ‘flu bus’ delivering
vaccinations to busy ambulance
staff.
Paramedic, Kelsey Morgan and
Emergency Medical Technician
1, Sarah Jane Pettitt along with
help from Paramedic, Debbie
Stephens have delivered around
140 vaccines so far and will
be continuing to deliver flu
vaccinations at convenient times
for staff.
The flu vaccination is the most
effective way for people to protect
themselves and their families
against the influenza virus and
healthcare workers are entitled to
a free jab each year.
Advanced Paramedic, Rob
Palmer said: “Our frontline staff
work very closely with poorly and
vulnerable patients and are more
likely to be exposed to flu - and to
pass it on. It’s really important for
them to protect themselves and
their patients by getting the flu
vaccination.
“It can be a challenge for staff
to attend designated flu clinics
around their busy shifts so this
is an excellent way to bring the
vaccinations to them!”
Kelsey and Sarah, who are both
expecting babies and therefore
currently on light duties, have
been turning up at local hospitals
and ambulance stations working
during different shift times to offer
the vaccine to as many staff as
possible.
Kelsey said: “This is really well
received by staff who often
struggle to find time to have their
flu vaccination.
“The viruses that cause flu can
change every year, which is why
it’s really important for staff to get
their flu jab annually and the more
staff we can get protected, the
better.”
The flu bus will be in action whilst
supplies last and staff are also
able to book in time slots to be
vaccinated.
All NWAS staff are entitled to
the flu vaccination and clinics
and initiatives are run across the
region to target as many staff as
possible.
The Ambulance
Staff Charity (TASC)
launches its new
brand and website
The Ambulance Staff Charity
(TASC), a national charity
which provides the UK’s
ambulance community with
mental, physical wellbeing
and financial support, is
excited to announce the
launch of its new brand and
redesigned website at www.
theasc.org.uk.
Beginning as The Ambulance
Services Benevolent Fund
in 1986, the charity officially
launched in 2015. Since its
creation, TASC has gone
through a number of significant
developments, including a
recent change to its charitable
constitution to now support UK
ambulance service volunteers,
and this rebrand reflects the
changes in the organisation, it’s
continued commitment to the
people in the UK’s ambulance
community and it’s vision for
the future.
The Coventry-based charity’s
new website was developed in
partnership with local creative
agency Rawww and features
a fully responsive modern
design, brand new content
and improved functionality.
The website will be updated
regularly with useful information
and advice and the charity’s
latest news. There are also
plans for the continued
development of the site,
including an online shop which
will be launching in 2020.
Karl Demian, TASC’s Chief
Operating Officer, said:
“2019 was a year of great
change for the organisation,
including widening the range
of support we provide and
developing our services
to deal with the increasing
numbers and demand from
the ambulance community.
The entire TASC team and
our partners at RAWWW have
worked incredibly hard over
the last five months and we’re
very excited to launch our new
brand and website - it was the
perfect way for us to end 2019
and begin the next chapter in
TASC’s growth.”
Maria Louca, Sales and
Marketing Manager at Rawww,
said:
“As a creative agency
proudly based in Coventry,
we love working with local
organisations. To be working
with a national charity like
TASC, supporting the UK’s
amazing ambulance community,
gives the Rawww Team an
added incentive to deliver
a fabulous new website
showcasing the great work
TASC does.”
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25

NEWSLINE
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
WAS
Emergency services
celebrated for
dementia friendly
initiatives at annual
Alzheimer’s Society
awards
Following Alzheimer’s Society’s
annual Dementia Friendly
Awards on 27 November, three
local emergency services have
been recognised nationally for
their achievements in leading
the sector by helping to support
people with dementia to live
safely in their local community.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service,
Welsh Ambulance Services
NHS Trust and Cleveland Police
were all shortlisted for either
a large or small ‘Dementia
Friendly Organisation of the
Year’, two of nine categories at
the sixth prestigious Dementia
Friendly Awards that celebrate
individuals, organisations
and communities who are
leading and inspiring change
to transform the lives of people
with dementia, challenge
misunderstandings and alter
attitudes around dementia.
Keeping safe and well is
important to everyone, but it may
be more of a concern if a person
has dementia. For instance,
people with dementia may find
it harder to manage everyday
risks and may forget to turn
things off such as the oven or
gas or become confused about
how things work or where they
are. These services have been
commended for going above
and beyond to support people
affected in their community.
The shortlisting of the services
coincides with the launch of
Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia
Friendly Emergency Services
guide, which sets out best
practice for Emergency Services
looking to support and assist
people with dementia. In 2017,
Emergency Services across the
UK made a strategic commitment
to become more dementia
friendly and support people in
their local community affected
by dementia. Since 2017, 28
services have signed up to
become dementia-friendly and
the sector now has over 35,300
Dementia Friends. The release
of the guide will help support
services across the nation
in meeting this goal, and the
three services shortlisted are
showcased in this guide.
Shortlisted for the large
organisation section of the
‘Dementia Friendly Organisation
of the Year’ category, the Welsh
Ambulance Services NHS
Trust has been recognised for
providing an invaluable service
to over three million people
across the country. Recognised
by Alzheimer’s Society as a
Dementia Friendly Organisation
in 2017, the service involves
people with dementia across its
activities, from board meetings
to training delivery. The Trust has
also co-produced a dementia
friendly leaflet with people living
with the condition, advising
residents about what to do in an
emergency and how to get help
in easy to understand language
and pictures.
Alison Johnstone, Programme
Manager for Dementia at the
Welsh Ambulance Service said:
“We are extremely honoured to
be shortlisted for the Dementia
Friendly Awards 2019. This
acknowledgement is testament
to the priority that the Trust has
given to our dementia plan. As
an organisation, we are fully
committed to improving the
experiences of people living with
dementia. The relationships that
we have nurtured and maintained
with people affected by dementia
remains at the heart of everything
we do. This nomination means a
lot for the selfless people on my
team who have worked tirelessly
to continue to improve our
services for those who need them
the most”
Cleveland Police, has also been
recognised for taking extensive
steps to support people with
dementia in the local community,
from signposting to local
Alzheimer’s Society support on
their vehicles to ensuring their
station is dementia friendly by
encouraging police officers
to become Dementia Friends,
the positive impact of the
force’s dedication was shown
in November 2018, when an
83-year-old resident was spotted
walking by a Police Station only
wearing a dressing gown and
slippers on a cold night, without
any identification. She was
taken inside and was extremely
frightened and disorientated. The
officers, who were both Dementia
Friends, were able to put her
at ease and immediately made
the necessary adaptations to be
able to communicate with the
individual.
Police and Crime
Commissioner Barry Coppinger,
who is also a recognised
Dementia Champion, said:
“There has been a great effort
within Cleveland Police to
establish themselves as a
Dementia Friendly organisation,
which I have supported
enthusiastically. It’s important that
the police reflect and understand
the communities they serve and
I’m pleased their work has been
recognised nationally.
“The close partnership working
we have in Cleveland means
officers, staff, volunteers and
police cadets have all been able
to improve their knowledge and
establish processes to help
improve their service for people
living with dementia.”
Another finalist, Kent Fire and
Rescue Service, has made
the majority of its staff (90%),
Dementia Friends, produced
a booklet for carers to provide
advice on how to support
people with dementia in the
local community, and worked
with Alzheimer’s Society to
be an expert voice for other
services wishing to become more
dementia friendly.
Sean Bone-Knell, Director of
Operations at Kent Fire and
Rescue Service, said: “Here at
Kent Fire and Rescue Service,
offering extra support and help to
those living with dementia is just
a part of what we do as a service.
However, for a number of years
now, we have also been actively
working to ensure members of
our community truly understand
dementia and the small things
everyone can do to make a big
difference.”
“These awards are a great
opportunity to celebrate the
good work taking place in
communities around the UK,
and so we are honoured to have
been shortlisted this year. It’s
vital for emergency services
to meet the needs of those
living with dementia and ensure
everyone can live well within
their community – it is something
myself and our staff are incredibly
passionate about promoting.”
Dementia is the 21st century’s
biggest killer in the UK. Someone
develops the condition every
three minutes, but too many face
it alone and without adequate
support, even though two thirds
of people with dementia live in
their local community. Alzheimer’s
Society is at the forefront of a
movement to ensure everyone
living with dementia is understood
and included in society, with its
Dementia Friends initiative being
the largest of its kind, uniting over
three million people to take action
to change the way the nation
thinks, talks and acts about
dementia.
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The three shortlisted services
also help make up over 450
Alzheimer’s Society Dementia
Friendly communities across
England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, which are helping to
ensure people with dementia are
better able to live the life they
choose and are involved in their
local communities.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief
Executive of Alzheimer’s
Society, said: “There are 850,000
people living with dementia in the
UK and this number is increasing.
Having Emergency Services that
understand the complexities of
dementia and can respond to
often distressed and frightened
individuals is a lifeline, so this
recognition of the fantastic work
of the three organisations, who
have gone above and beyond
to support people with dementia
in their local communities, is
thoroughly deserved.
“Defeating dementia will take
a societal response, where
individuals, organisations and
whole sectors are changing the
way they think, talk and act about
dementia. I would encourage
every other fire, ambulance and
police service to take a look at
our Dementia Friendly Emergency
Services Guide to create even
more change.”
Find out more about how to
become a Dementia Friendly
Organisation by visiting
dementiafriends.org.uk/
Falmer, East Sussex is expected
to be operational by Autumn
2020.
SECAmb’s Make Ready system
minimises the risk of crossinfection
and keeps vehicles on
the road for longer with speciallytrained
operatives regularly deepcleaning,
restocking and checking
vehicles for mechanical faults.
The central reporting model will
also see ambulance staff who
currently start and end their shifts
in Brighton, Hove and Lewes
instead start and finish at the
new centre – a way of working
already in place across much of
SECAmb’s, region.
The Make Ready Centre will be
named Chamberlain House, in
recognition of Professor Douglas
Chamberlain, who founded the
first paramedics in Europe in
Brighton in the 1970s.
The renowned retired cardiologist,
who worked as an advisor for
SECAmb for many years, visited
the building development recently
alongside two of Brighton’s
longest serving and newest
paramedics.
The new development will be
supported by a network of
dedicated Ambulance Community
Response Posts, (ACRPs), with
suitable rest facilities for crews
between calls and when on a
break.
subject to wider development
plans.
The introduction of Make Ready
means that the Trust does not
require large stations in which
to store equipment and restock
and maintain vehicles. The new
centre will also provide modern
training and meeting facilities.
SECAmb Operating Unit Manager
for the Brighton area Tim Fellows
said: “I’m delighted that work
on this important development
is now well under way. The new
centre will ensure we have new
modern facilities for staff and that
we are able to fully implement the
Make Ready system in Brighton
and the surrounding area.
“Crews will still respond from the
same towns under this system
but will begin and end their shifts
at staggered times with a vehicle
prepared for them that is fully
operational. The facilities that
Chamberlain House provides will
also ensure crews have access
to improved educational and
skills training accommodation
and increased access to
leadership team support. It is
only right that the city, as the
birthplace of the UK paramedic
profession, has the estate to
match its prestigious history.”
SECAmb has already developed
five purpose-built Make Ready
centres in Ashford and Paddock
Wood in Kent and in Crawley,
Tangmere and Polegate in
Sussex. It also has Make Ready
Centres in Chertsey, Hastings
and Thanet.
What is Make Ready?
• The Make Ready initiative
significantly enhances and
improves the service SECAmb
provides to the community.
• It minimises the risk of crossinfection;
frees up front-line
staff, who traditionally cleaned
and re-stocked ambulances,
to spend more time treating
patients; and keeps vehicles
on the road for longer.
• The initiative ensures that
specially-trained operatives
regularly deep-clean, restock
and check vehicles for
mechanical faults.
• Make Ready Centres are
supported by a network
of Ambulance Community
Responses Posts (ACRPs)
across the area with staff
beginning and ending their
shifts at the new centre.
• During their shifts, staff will
respond from the ACRPs
which will provide facilities for
staff.
These are located based on
patient demand.
The service provided to Brighton
SECAMB
Work progressing
on new Brighton
ambulance centre
Work is progressing well on the
development of South East Coast
Ambulance Service’s, (SECAmb),
latest Make Ready Centre.
The new development at
Woollards Field, near the A27 at
and the surrounding area will be
protected by strategically-placed
response posts located across
the area including in Seven Dials
and Hanover District in Brighton,
Lewes, Peacehaven, Newhaven
and Hove. Shifts will also begin
and end on a staggered basis to
ensure that ambulance cover is
maintained in all areas served by
the new centre. New ACRPs at
the current Brighton and Lewes
ambulance station sites are
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Her Royal Highness
The Princess Royal
officially opens new
helipad at Maidstone
Hospital
Her Royal Highness The
Princess Royal visited
Maidstone Hospital on
Wednesday 11 December
2019 to officially open its new
helipad.
The HELP Appeal, which is
the only charity in the country
dedicated to funding hospital
helipads, donated £300,000 to
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
NHS Trust to build the all-weather
pad at the rear of the oncology
unit. It replaces the temporary site,
which was often water-logged.
The helipad will help increase
the life chances of seriously ill or
injured patients being brought to
Maidstone Hospital for treatment
or flown from the hospital to
specialist centres elsewhere in
the country for treatment. Air
Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex
will be the main user but it can
also be used by other emergency
services as well as charities such
as the Children’s Air Ambulance
which provides a medical transfer
service for critically ill babies and
children up to the age of 18.
Prior to unveiling a plaque to
mark the official opening of the
helipad, Her Royal Highness was
introduced to representatives from
HELP Appeal, the Trust’s helipad
response team as well as crew
members from Air Ambulance
Kent Surrey Sussex which is
celebrating 30 years of service
this year.
During her visit Her Royal
Highness also met with the Trust’s
Chief Executive Miles Scott,
Chairman David Highton, as
well as representatives from the
hospital’s clinical services and
departments, including Cancer
and Emergency Medicine and
Occupational Therapists, and the
West Kent Dementia Partnership,
during which she spoke to them
about their achievements.
Shirley Hollinshead, who this year
celebrated 53 years’ continuous
NHS service, presented Princess
Anne with a bouquet of flowers
as a thank you for visiting the
hospital.
Miles Scott, Chief Executive
at MTW NHS Trust, said: “We
are extremely grateful to Her
Royal Highness for taking the
time to open the new helipad at
Maidstone Hospital which was
only made possible thanks to the
generosity of HELP Appeal.
“To be able to offer a landing
pad 24 hours a day seven
days a week so we can work in
partnership with other agencies
to ensure our patients receive the
best possible care at the right
time in the right place is priceless.
“It was also a fantastic opportunity
for The Princess Royal to meet
some of our wonderful staff and
for her to hear first-hand from
those working on the frontline
about the amazing work they do
every day to ensure we provide
outstanding care to our patients.”
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive
of the HELP Appeal, said: “As
we rapidly approach the shortest
day of the year when there will
be just eight hours of daylight,
it’s fantastic to see Maidstone
Hospital having a helipad, which
not only enables patients to
have immediate access to the
Emergency Department, but is
also fully illuminated, allowing
air ambulances to land during
darkness hours for the first time
with critically ill patients.
“We never hesitated for a second
to fund this helipad, as we knew
the difference it could make to the
people of Maidstone, Kent and
beyond. I am delighted that its
significance is being recognised
by Her Royal Highness The
Princess Royal today.”
Helen Bowcock, Chair of Trustees
Air Ambulance Kent Surrey
Sussex, said: “We have been
working closely with Maidstone
Hospital for nearly 30 years and
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
NHS Trust is a key partner of ours.
“The opening of this helipad
further strengthens that
relationship and provides us
with the infrastructure to provide
a round-the-clock, enhanced
service that will help save lives
and improve patient outcomes.
“We are grateful to the HELP
Appeal for their funding and were
honoured to be present at the
official opening of the new facility
by The Princess Royal.”
LAS
First London
Ambulance Service
cycle paramedic
bicycle on show at
the Science Museum
The first bicycle used by the
London Ambulance Service’s
pioneering Cycle Response
Unit (CRU) twenty years ago is
now on display in the Science
Museum’s new Medicine
Galleries.
The bicycle, and the kit cycle
medics carried at the turn of
the millennium, is on display
in a newly opened and eagerly
anticipated lifetime exhibition at
the central London museum –
donated by the founder of the
CRU, Tom Lynch MBE.
The Medicine: The Wellcome
Galleries at the Science
Museum in London opened on
16 November. It’s the biggest
exhibition of its kind in the world,
at 3,000 square metres.
Medic Tom - a BMX Racing
Champion - first proposed a
dedicated bicycle response team
in 1998 – getting the go-ahead to
launch a team in 2000.
The bike he used as a singlemedic
unit operating a trial in the
West End is on display and a
second, spare bicycle Tom used
is at the London Ambulance
Service Historic Collection.
After Tom’s trial responding in the
West End proved a success, he
started to expand the unit across
the capital.
In addition to the bicycle in the
exhibit is the kit and medical
equipment Tom would carry when
responding to patients. This
includes a defibrillator, oxygen
and Tom’s BMX-style helmet.
Tom said:
“It was very special for me to see
the display for the first time - in
this amazing new exhibition and
among some wonderful pieces of
medical innovation.
“Our Cycle Response Unit has
come a long way since I rode this
bicycle around the West End – we
estimate our riders have since
cycled an equivalent distance of
circling the planet 70 times!
“As we approach 20 years since
the formation of the unit, it’s
wonderful to have this integral
display of our history showcasing
how we’ve developed in the
Science Museum for decades to
come. I am so proud to represent
the Service in this way.”
Nowadays cycle medics still
respond in the busy centre of the
capital, including the West End
and the City of London. The unit
also has cycle responders in train
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stations and shopping centres
in Stratford, Kings Cross and St
Pancras and there is also a team
based at Heathrow Airport and in
Kingston and Richmond.
In 2007 Tom Lynch was listed in
the Queen’s New Year’s Honours
List and appointed as a Member
of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE) for services to cycling,
including his BMX career as a
champion racer and coach, which
was presented by HRH The Prince
of Wales.
HELP Appeal invests
in new kit bags
for Midlands Air
Ambulance Charity
To support advanced patient
care in the region, Midlands
Air Ambulance Charity
has unveiled new medical
equipment kit bags, funded by
the HELP Appeal, which are
proving to aid clinicians on
scene.
The charity is dedicated
to continuously improving
specialist pre-hospital
emergency care and recognised
a more effective way of carrying
equipment, medical supplies
and drugs could be established.
This led to a working group
researching and subsequently
implementing the new system.
Manufactured by PAX the new
bags include colour-coded
areas for easy access of kit and
medicines by the flight doctors
and paramedics and those
assisting on scene, such as the
ambulance service.
As part of the charity’s
consistent approach, the
new kit bags are now being
used on the service’s three air
ambulance helicopters, airbase
rapid response vehicles and two
critical care cars in Birmingham
& the Black Country and
Worcester.
Ian Roberts, air operations
manager for Midlands Air
Ambulance Charity, stated:
“Previously the kit bags were
bulky and cumbersome. Plus,
due to wear and tear would only
last up to six months before
needing to be replaced. They
were also difficult to fix into
place in the helicopters, so a
solution was required.
“The new streamlined bags are
being used up to ten times a day
and are proving to further aid
the delivery of advanced urgent
medical care to patients due to
the easy access pouches for
medicines and equipment.”
In addition to the new kit bags,
the medical stores at each
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
base have been reconfigured
to mirror the colour coding of
the bags, to streamline the
restocking process.
Collectively, across all Midlands
Air Ambulance Charity’s
vehicles, the bags cost £22,000,
which was generously funded by
a grant from the HELP Appeal.
Robert Bertram, chief executive
of the HELP Appeal, said: “The
HELP Appeal is about saving
time wherever possible, whether
that is funding lifesaving hospital
helipads all over the country or
funding kit bags which allow
doctors to have much quicker
access to lifesaving medicine
and kit. If we can shave vital
minutes off the time it takes to
treat a critically ill patient, this
could help to save their life.”
Ian concludes: “Before rolling
out the new bags on missions,
the aircrew undertook training
and guidance on where
everything is stored, which
received positive feedback. I’d
like to take this opportunity to
thank aircrew team leader at
our Strensham airbase, Julian
Spiers, for leading on the
working group and creating
a solution which will support
advanced patient care for many
years to come.”
LAS
Specialist training
for ambulance
staff to support
the treatment of
terminally ill patients
Ambulance crews in the capital
have undergone specialist
training to ensure that terminally
ill people get care that meets
their needs but respects their
wishes.
All front-line staff are receiving
training through a partnership
between London Ambulance
Service and Macmillan Cancer
Support that aims to improve
palliative and end of life care for
patients and their families.
Clinicians get additional guidance
and education to support dying
patients, whether that be on an
emergency 999 call, an NHS 111
call, or as part of a scheduled
ambulance transport service.
This can help avoid unnecessary
trips to the hospital which can be
distressing to the patient and their
family.
The London Ambulance Service
team leading the project, which
is now entering its second year,
have also worked with other
health and social care providers
and charities to deliver bespoke
communication and bereavement
courses to staff.
London Ambulance Service’s Chief
Quality Officer Dr. Trisha Bain, said:
“We strive to provide dignified,
compassionate and respectful
end of life care. Our work with
Macmillan has meant extra
training and education for all our
crews on the road and our call
handlers taking 999 calls.
“This has ensured patients have
their needs met and wishes
respected and often avoids an
unnecessary trip to hospital,
which can be distressing to both
the patient and their family.”
All 18 ambulance group
stations serving London have
an ambulance clinician with
additional training to help
patients nearing their end of
life and support their families.
These volunteer clinicians lead
improvement in their local
area, sharing education with
colleagues, promoting patient’s
care plans and supporting the
wellbeing of their colleagues.
All staff have rapid access
to Coordinate My Care, an
electronic system holding
patient care records. This means
that clinicians have patients’
notes at their fingertips and
can understand a person’s
preferences for care when a
crisis occurs. The team has
also been working with hospices
and palliative care teams
across London to create new
appropriate care pathways,
which offer specialist advice and
access to services for London
Ambulance Service Clinicians.
Macmillan Paramedic
Programme Lead, Georgina
Murphy-Jones, said:
“When someone is reaching
their end of their life, we only
have one chance to get it
right. We aspire to provide
compassionate care that meets
the individual’s needs and
wishes. This can be commonly
achieved by supporting patients
and their families at home.
“Our partnership with Macmillan
Cancer Support is enabling
us to develop the knowledge,
confidence and skills of our staff
to provide quality care and an
improved experience to those
with advanced illness or when
nearing their end of life.”
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LAS
Taking the emergency
department to
the patient treats
two-thirds in the
community
A specialist emergency service,
which takes senior doctors
and state-of-the-art medical
equipment on the road, is
successfully treating many
patients at the scene, potentially
avoiding almost 1,000
ambulance trips to hospital and
saving over £500,000 a year,
according to new research led
by Barts Health NHS Trust.
The Physician Response Unit
(PRU) is a collaboration between
Barts Health NHS Trust, London’s
Air Ambulance Charity and the
London Ambulance Service,
which takes the emergency
department (ED) to the patient,
delivering safe and effective
emergency care in the community.
The PRU is based at The Royal
London Hospital and responds
to 999 calls in northeast
London. Staffed with a senior
emergency doctor, in addition to
an emergency ambulance crew
clinician, the doctor’s experience
enables the PRU team to treat
a wider range of illnesses and
injuries at the scene, compared
to ambulance crews which more
often need to take emergency
patients to hospital.
The PRU car carries advanced
medication, equipment and
treatments usually only found in
hospital, such as instant-result
blood tests, urine tests and
sutures to stitch serious wounds.
It also has a computer with
access to patients’ electronic
records, allowing the team to
review hospital and GP notes.
Barts Health, London’s Air
Ambulance and the London
Ambulance Service were
the first in the UK to set up a
PRU, launched in 2001. The
innovative model has since been
implemented across the UK,
including Wales, Oxford and
Lincoln, with other parts of the
country also looking to develop
similar services.
Dr Tony Joy, Consultant in
Emergency Medicine at
Barts Health NHS Trust and
Clinical Lead of the PRU, said:
“Emergency Departments,
inpatient wards and Ambulance
Services are under a lot of
pressure, so the time is ripe for
a service like this to be rolled out
more widely.
“The Physician Response Unit
takes the emergency department
directly to the patient. We’re able
to provide immediate patientcentred
care for those who would
normally need to be taken to ED.
This also frees up hospital and
ambulance resources, and allows
us to prioritise care in ED for very
sick patients.”
Earlier this month, Charles
Rumsey, aged 90 from East Ham,
London, had a blocked catheter
for which a district nurse advised
calling 999 for hospital attention.
He has advanced dementia, and
he and his wife were braced for a
long day at A&E. Instead, a PRU
team arrived and were able to
change his catheter at their home.
His wife, Valerie Rumsey, said: “I
initially phoned the local nurse,
who said we should call an
ambulance because it needed
quick attention. So I phoned 999,
and we got ourselves ready to go
to hospital in an ambulance.
“The response was so quick,
arriving in around 10 minutes, and
I was amazed when a car turned
up with two medics, including a
senior doctor, and an unbelievable
amount of equipment. They
examined Charles, and said it
could be done there and then. I
just couldn’t believe it. The doctor
who unblocked the catheter was
absolutely brilliant, and sorted
everything out so quickly.
“Because my husband has
advanced dementia, it meant
an awful lot to us not to have to
take him to hospital. It’s made us
quite emotional, feeling so well
looked after without having to
leave the house. This should be
made available to as many people
as possible. A lot of people our
age would benefit, and so would
babies and children. Everybody
would benefit, in fact.”
The latest research, published in
the Emergency Medicine Journal,
shows that many patients seeking
emergency care via ambulance
can be managed outside of
hospital using the PRU:
• The PRU saw 1,924 patients
over the 12 month period
(September 2017-September
2018), averaging 5.3 per day,
with 1,289 (67%) of patients
being treated successfully in
the community.
• Of those managed in the
community, 945 (73%) were
likely to have been taken
to hospital by a standard
ambulance resource.
• The PRU was estimated to
deliver a reduction of 868
inpatient bed days and replaced
the need for three ambulance
responses per day, generating
an estimated total net saving of
£530,107 over the year.
• 640 patients (33%) underwent
diagnostic tests not normally
available with regular
ambulance service resources.
• 98% of 52 patients surveyed
were extremely likely to
recommend the service.
Patients were overwhelmingly
positive about being able to
receive a specialist medical
consultation in their own home,
avoiding a trip to hospital.
This includes the elderly and
infirm where a hospital episode
increases the incidence of
disorientation, falls and infections.
Dr Tony Joy from Barts Health
added: “A big motivation for us
is getting emergency doctors out
into the community to learn more
about the people they serve. It’s
empowering for the doctor to
see the patient in their own home
rather than in ED where they see
so many patients over a short
period. And unsurprisingly, the
patients love it too.
“In addition to the patients
benefiting, our clinicians are
also finding great reward
and satisfaction from more
collaborative working between
the ambulance service and the
hospital team.”
London Ambulance Service Chief
Medical Director Dr Fenella Wrigley
said: “This service, with support
from London Ambulance Service
emergency ambulance crew, helps
bring expertise into a person’s
home potentially saving a patient
an unnecessary trip to hospital.
This means more ambulances may
be available for even more critically
injured patients.
“This is one of a number of
advances the Service has
made to reduce the number of
patients we take to emergency
departments by offering the right
care for them elsewhere and
reducing pressure on the wider
healthcare system in London.”
Jonathan Jenkins, Chief Executive
of London’s Air Ambulance
said: “I’m incredibly proud of the
innovative work Tony and everyone
at the PRU are doing and the
difference it is making to patients’
lives. London’s Air Ambulance
Charity knows the importance
of bringing the emergency
department to the patient and
the PRU is a crucial part of this,
30
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE
allowing us to do the very best for
our patients. The opportunity to
expand this work, both ourselves
and with partners, is huge.”
St John Ambulance
Services in East
Midlands rated
‘good’ by CQC
First official rating for the First
Aid Charity
St John Ambulance East Midlands
has received its first rating from
the Quality Care Commission and
was awarded ‘good’.
The rating comes after an inspection
was announced at short notice
in August last year and the CQC
acknowledged improvements that
have been made in the charitable
service since the previous inspection
in 2017. Both the Patient Transport
Service and Emergency & Urgent
Care Service were reviewed, and
both were found to provide safe,
caring, effective and responsive care
to patients.
The ‘well-led’ criterion was found to
be ‘needing improvement’, but the
announcement comes in the middle
of a re-structuring period for St
John Ambulance and the CQC has
acknowledged further improvements
in the five-month period since the
inspection took place.
St John is now implementing
its 2020 business strategy for
ambulance provision and looks
forward to welcoming the CQC
back to see further improvements;
not only in the East Midlands, but
across the country.
St John Ambulance is
exceptionally proud of the work it
does, providing urgent care and
support to communities across
the country. This rating proves that
this work more than meets the
expectations of the independent
regulator of health and social care
in England.
Craig Harman, the National
Ambulance & Community
Response Director at St John
Ambulance comments: “I am
pleased that the CQC found
our leaders to be visible and
approachable and that our
people felt supported, respected
and valued. I was also pleased
that the inspectors witnessed
good care, witnessing our
people speaking to patients with
compassion and kindness. Since
the inspection in August we have
restructured, moving to a national
operational structure. We will use
the feedback provided by the
inspection team to underpin our
new national processes as we
build on the hard work already
carried out by our people and
continuously improve the service
we provide in our communities.
Driving standards across the
independent ambulance sector
and within the event industry is a
key strategic objective for St John
and this CQC report is an excellent
example of the work we are
already doing to help us get there”.
YAS
Helping to boost
the Restart a Heart
campaign in Sri
Lanka
A Yorkshire Ambulance Service
manager, who leads the Restart
a Heart campaign, is heading
to Sri Lanka to help improve
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) training across the
country.
Jason Carlyon, senior
engagement lead for Yorkshire
Ambulance Service based in
Wakefield and project manager
for the Resuscitation Council,
has been asked for help by Dr
Nilmini Wijesuriya of the College
of Anaesthesiologists and
Intensivists of Sri Lanka.
The country took part in the World
Restart a Heart campaign for the
first time in 2019 and more than
3,700 people were trained in CPR.
Their first campaign was launched
with support from Jason by
phone, Skype and email and his
advice and input was recognised
by making him a founder member
of the project.
The college is now keen to
develop the campaign to make it
bigger and better in 2020 and has
asked Jason to spend a week in
Sri Lanka to share his knowledge
and experience with colleagues.
Jason will be visiting the capital
city of Colombo at the end of
January and will be teaching
medics how to train others in
CPR as well as providing advice
on how to roll-out the campaign
across the country.
Jason, who lives in Scarborough,
said: “I am absolutely delighted
to be invited to Colombo to
help the college develop this
important work. We have seen
here in Yorkshire how successful
the campaign can be and we are
happy to support more people
to learn this important life-saving
skill with the aim of improving outof-hospital
cardiac arrest survival
rates.”
Dr Wijesuriya
said: “We
look forward
to Jason’s
assistance
with the
development
of this
project, in
order to
raise public
awareness
in bystander
CPR and
also his
expertise to
make World
Restart a
Heart Day
2020 even
more successful.”
On Restart a Heart Day 2019
in Yorkshire more than 860
volunteers provided CPR training
to more than 46,000 students at
163 secondary schools across the
region.
The concept of Restart a Heart
Day was first developed in 2013
by the European Resuscitation
Council. On 16 October 2014,
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
visited 49 schools and taught
CPR to 11,500 youngsters –
with the help of hundreds of
volunteers, mostly off-duty staff
and community first responders.
In 2016 Yorkshire Ambulance
Service supported the roll-out of
the event to all UK ambulance
services and two years later it
was adopted by the International
Liaison Committee on
Resuscitation to encourage mass
CPR training on a global scale
under a World Restart a Heart Day
banner.
The Yorkshire event is sponsored
by the Yorkshire Ambulance
Service Charity and organised in
partnership with the Resuscitation
Council (UK), British Heart
Foundation, St John Ambulance
and other partners.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
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31

NEWSLINE
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
SCAS
999 service hits
all response
time targets over
Christmas and New
Year
Thanks to the hard work and
dedication of all its staff and
volunteers working over the
busy Christmas and New
Year period, South Central
Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust (SCAS) is
delighted to announce that it
met all its national response
time targets in the two-week
period from ‘Black Friday’, 20
December 2019 to 2 January,
2020.
This means that all patient
emergencies received by SCAS’
clinical co-ordination centres
in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and
Otterbourne, Hampshire –
whether triaged as a Category
1 life-threatening emergency
or a Category 4 less urgent
emergency – received an
ambulance response within
the timescales set out by NHS
England that all ambulance
services are measured by.
Mark Ainsworth, Director of
Operations at South Central
Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust, said:
“The Christmas and New Year
fortnight is an exceptionally
busy time for all emergency
services and I’m delighted that
we were able to continue to
deliver excellent clinical care
both in person and over the
phone, and a responsive and
appropriate service to all those
patients who called 999 during
these two weeks.
As well as passing on my
gratitude to our staff working
in our clinical co-ordination
centres and on the road,
we also received fantastic
support right across the South
Central area from our volunteer
community first responders
and co-responders from local
fire and rescue services,
police services and military
personnel.”
Will Hancock, Chief Executive
at South Central Ambulance
Service NHS Foundation Trust,
added:
“I’d like to thank all our staff
and volunteers for working
so hard all year round, and
particularly over the Christmas
and New Year season when
they are away from their
families. Despite an increase
in demand for our 999 service
compared to 12 months ago,
the dedication, professionalism
and commitment over the last
two weeks has delivered these
fantastic results at the busiest
time of the year.
I would also like to thank
members of the public across
our region for continuing to
use NHS 111, urgent treatment
centres, their local GP surgery
and pharmacies for minor
injuries and illnesses. This
really helps ensure that we can
respond quickly to the most
serious and life-threatening
emergencies via our 999 service
whenever and wherever they
happen in our region.”
YAS
Yorkshire Ambulance
Service Emergency
Medical Dispatcher
scoops national
award
An experienced Emergency
Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
from Yorkshire Ambulance
Service NHS Trust has been
awarded EMD of the Year
2019 by the International
Academies of Emergency
Dispatch as part of their
annual UK Navigator Awards.
Aneela Ahmed, a 999 call
handler in the Trust’s Wakefield
Emergency Operations Centre,
was commended for her great
teamwork, professionalism
and ability to cope well under
pressure.
She has worked for the region’s
ambulance service for 22 years
and has a wealth of experience
in reassuring callers to the 999
service and providing clear
direction on what they need to
do to help patients prior to the
arrival of an ambulance.
On receiving the award, Aneela
said: “As an EMD we deal with
a multitude of scenarios and I
always try to do my very best to
help callers whatever situation
they are faced with. People can
be very distressed when calling
999 for ambulance assistance
and it’s humbling to receive
an award for helping others
and doing a job I love. I am
proud to be taking this award
back to Yorkshire – it is for all
the staff who work tirelessly in
emergency operations centres.”
Ashley Bond, Emergency
Operations Centre Team Leader
at YAS, was delighted about
Aneela’s prestigious win and
said: “Aneela is a role model for
all EMDs and sets a standard
that newcomers into the service
should be aiming to achieve.
She is so knowledgeable about
the ambulance service as a
whole, not just within the role
she holds as an EMD. She isn’t
afraid to help her colleagues
when they are in need and does
this in a confident, professional
manner.”
This is the third time a Yorkshire
Ambulance Service EMD has
won the award held by the
International Academies of
Emergency Dispatch during the
past six years.
Aneela, who lives in Bradford,
is a Governor for Bradford
District Care NHS Foundation
Trust. She also supports her
local community as a Councillor
for the City of Bradford
Metropolitan District Council
where she has responsibilities
as a member of the Joint Health
and Social Care and Children’s
Services Overview and Scrutiny
Committee and as a member of
the Fostering Panel.
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IN PERSON
LAA News
London’s Air Ambulance
appoints new Medical
Director
London’s Air Ambulance Charity and Barts
Health NHS Trust announced that Dr Tom
Hurst has been appointed as the new
Medical Director of the charity.
Tom brings a wealth of expertise to the role. He
is a currently a consultant in pre-hospital care
with London’s Air Ambulance and a consultant
in intensive care medicine and major trauma
at King’s College Hospital. He trained in
Manchester before undertaking a secondment
to London’s Air Ambulance in 2008. Tom was
Clinical Lead at East Anglian Air Ambulance
from 2011 to 2014 and the sub-specialty lead
for training in pre-hospital emergency medicine
in London from 2014 to 2019.
Tom’s appointment follows the departure from
the medical director role of Dr Gareth Davies,
who stepped down this year following the
end of his tenure as Trustee to the Board of
Directors. Gareth held the role from 1996 –
2019 and remains a consultant in pre-hospital
care with the service.
The Medical Director role is of vital importance
to London’s Air Ambulance Charity and Barts
Health NHS Trust, providing leadership in the
delivery of quality clinical care in collaboration
with the London Ambulance Service and
ensuring the efficient running of this life-saving
service.
Commenting on his new role as Medical
Director, Dr Tom Hurst said:
“This is truly an exciting time for London’s Air
Ambulance and I am proud to be a part of
it. We have exciting new procedures coming
down the track that have the potential to be
transformative for our patients.
“I look forward to building on the incredible
work that Dr Gareth Davies has undertaken as
Medical Director. Gareth has steered London’s
Air Ambulance to be a global leader in prehospital
care and we can see this in the way
the charity is now considered a vital part of
London’s emergency response.
“Above all I look forward to driving forward the
clinical developments that will help us create
the next generation of survivors in the capital.”
Chief Executive Officer of London’s Air
Ambulance Jonathan Jenkins said;
“The charity is delighted to welcome Dr Tom
Hurst to this important role as we enter the
next phase of development. Tom has an
unwavering commitment to our vision for
rapid response and cutting-edge care to end
preventable deaths in London from serious
injury.
“I would also like to pay tribute to Dr Gareth
Davies. Gareth has been instrumental to our
charity’s development and has played no
small part in ensuring we are recognised as a
world-leading institution.”
Barts Health Clinical Director for Emergency
Medicine Dr Malik Ramadhan said:
“This new post – joint between the Trust and
the Charity is an exciting new model. Tom’s
predecessor – Dr Gareth Davies - has left
London’s Air Ambulance in an excellent
position with a series of new processes
coming on line to help critically injured
patients.
“Barts Health looks forward to continuing the
partnership with the charity and the London
Ambulance Service to push the boundaries of
trauma survival and Tom is the ideal person to
lead this programme.”
London’s Air Ambulance Charity delivers rapid
response and cutting-edge medical care to
save lives in the city. The charity marks its 30th
anniversary this year with the campaign 30
Years Saving Lives, of which HRH The Duke of
Cambridge is Patron.
EEAST News
East of England Ambulance
Trust (EEAST) appoints
permanent Chief Executive
Following an external recruitment process,
the East of England Ambulance Trust
(EEAST) has named Dorothy Hosein as its
permanent Chief Executive.
London’s Air Ambulance - Tom Hurst
Dorothy has been Interim CEO since joining
EEAST on 1 November 2018. Dorothy has
extensive experience as a senior healthcare
leader. Before joining EEAST she also
delivered quality, performance and financial
improvements at a range of hospitals,
including the Mid-Essex Hospital and the
Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
The Trust now has a permanent Chair and
CEO in place, providing stable leadership and
direction to the organisation.
Ann Radmore, regional director for NHS
England and NHS Improvement in the East of
England, welcomed Dorothy’s appointment,
saying:
>>>
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
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33

IN PERSON
“Dorothy came into the East of England
Ambulance Service Trust on an interim basis
last year and kick-started a programme of
improvement, so I’m delighted that she has
now been appointed as the permanent chief
executive. I believe that Dorothy and Nicola
will make a strong team to see through the
changes needed in the organisation and to
lead the Trust’s improvement journey – both in
relation to the services it provides for patients
in the East of England and for its dedicated
staff.
Nicola Scrivings, Chair of EEAST, said: “I am
very pleased to announce that Dorothy Hosein
has been appointed as our permanent CEO.
Since joining the Trust just over a year ago,
Dorothy has had a very positive focus on
patient centred care, championing the need
to ensure that our patients are at the heart
of decision-making. I believe that this has
been recognised by our staff and our external
stakeholders alike.”
He became one of the first UK paramedics
in the mid-1980s, setting high standards and
inspiring others to follow suit. He was very
generous with his time and knowledge to
support less experienced colleagues and this
led to Trevor becoming one of Yorkshire’s first
paramedic clinical trainers.
After identifying the opportunities of a new
dispatch system from the USA, known as
Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System
(AMPDS), Trevor played an integral role in the
implementation and training of the system
which delivered pre-ambulance arrival clinical
advice in the UK. It was, and remains, the
most significant improvement for ambulance
services, and meant staff could respond
to 999 calls in clinically-prioritised order
which has subsequently saved countless
lives. In recognition of this, he became an
internationally-recognised Fellow of the
International Academies of Emergency
Dispatch.
He has also overseen Yorkshire Ambulance
Service’s retention of its AMPDS ‘Centre
of Excellence’ accreditation for the last 12
years, a feat not matched by any other UK
ambulance service.
In addition, Trevor has led the Trust’s
Hazardous Area Response Team (HART)
and was Gold Commander during numerous
challenging incidents, including extensive
flooding in December 2015. Under his
leadership there was unwavering commitment
to overcome the difficulties faced, keep staff
safe and provide uncompromised patient care.
He has also remained a respected advisor
to national groups which implemented the
Ambulance Response Programme in 2017.
Rod Barnes, Chief Executive of Yorkshire
Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “This is a
great honour which recognises Trevor’s valued
contribution to ambulance dispatch protocols
Dorothy Hosein said: “I am delighted to be
joining EEAST on a permanent basis. Over
the last year I have been proud to lead such a
fantastic group of people – including both staff
and volunteers. We are currently developing
our Corporate Strategy which sets out an
exciting vision for how we will continue to
deliver high quality patient care while also
supporting our people in the very challenging
jobs that they do every day.”
News
Queen’s Ambulance Medal
for Distinguished Service
awarded to Yorkshire
Ambulance Manager
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
Trevor Baldwin, Head of Service Development
(Emergency Operations Centre) at Yorkshire
Ambulance Service NHS Trust, has been
awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Medal for
Distinguished Service (QAM) in the Queen’s
New Year’s Honours List.
Trevor is one of the longest-serving and most
respected members of staff, not just within the
Yorkshire Ambulance Service, but across the
UK.
He has held many roles and is currently a
senior manager within the Trust’s Emergency
Operations Centre where 999 calls are
handled.
34
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IN PERSON
and many years of dedicated service to the
people of Yorkshire. It also makes him part of
a very small, hand-picked group of ambulance
personnel who have shown exceptional
devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and
conduct in their roles.
The medal, which will be presented at
Buckingham Palace in London, recognises
ambulance personnel who have shown
exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding
ability, merit and conduct in their role.
Support Unit in 2000, and he was one of just
eight people to be trained to assist medically
in many protracted and dangerous rescues.
This unit was later superseded by the EMAS
Hazardous Area Response Team.
“His 40 years of exemplary service is in itself
worthy of recognition, but Trevor is much
more than that – he stands out because of
his unique achievements and motivation to
continually innovate and improve patient care.
Thomas explained that it was a complete
surprise when he received the letter informing
him that he is to be awarded the Queen’s
Ambulance Medal – although for the last few
years he has joked about being missed off the
list.
On several occasions has spent more than 24
hours underground to ensure the safety and
emergency treatment of patients.
Thomas was previously the recipient of the
Willetts Award after he aided in the rescue of
“Trevor’s operational and managerial
expertise is well respected and he is a very
popular character around our service and
in ambulance trusts across the country. On
behalf of Yorkshire Ambulance Service I would
like to thank him for all he has done and
continues to do. He should be very proud of
this fantastic achievement.”
He said: “When I first opened the letter, I didn’t
think it was real.
“I was so surprised – although I have been
saying for years that I would have to write to
the Queen because she kept missing me off
the list.
a patient that had fallen into a large silo in a
quarry, by risking his own safety and climbing
into the silo to treat the patient until the full
rescue team could arrive.
Three years ago, Thomas was diagnosed
with a rare bone cancer in his hip and had to
undergo surgery.
Trevor will be presented with his medal at
Buckingham Palace in 2020.
Other recipients of the Queen’s Ambulance
Medal in the New Year’s Honours List are
Thomas Bailey, Paramedic at East Midlands
Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Joanne
Rees-Thomas, Non-Emergency Patient
Transport Service General Manager at the
Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, and
Nicholas Richards-Ozzati, Emergency Medical
Technician at the Welsh Ambulance Services
NHS Trust.
EMAS News
Queen’s Ambulance Medal
awarded to one of EMAS’
first paramedics
One of East Midlands Ambulance Service’s
(EMAS) first paramedics has been named
in the New Year’s Honours List to receive
the prestigious Queen’s Ambulance Service
Medal for Distinguished Service.
Thomas Bailey, 64, based at Buxton Ambulance
Station in Derbyshire, has worked on the
frontline of the ambulance service for 40 years.
Thomas was nominated for his four decades
of dedication to caring for emergency patients,
for setting up a rural cave rescue service in
Derbyshire to rescue patients involved in
dangerous incidents, and he recently fought
and defeated cancer.
“I really am honoured, literally. I’m very proud,
not just for me, but for the ambulance service
and all my colleagues who turn up to difficult
situations day in, day out, to help someone.”
Thomas joined Derbyshire Ambulance Service
(before it became EMAS) in September 1979,
originally based at New Mills, and was one of
the first in the service to undertake paramedic
training.
He spent many years fighting hard to have
additional skills added to the paramedic role,
and sought training in interosseous injection
(injecting directly into bone marrow) and
paediatric intubation (putting a tube into the
airway of a child) long before they became part
of the paramedic skillset.
In addition, Thomas became an accredited
instructor to ensure that new staff received the
best start to their career as possible.
Thomas said: “There is not much better than
going out to help people. To be able to walk
into someone’s crisis and help them so that
there is a positive outcome, is a real privilege.
“My career has been successful because
of the people I have met along the way who
have encouraged me and supported me, and
I have been very lucky to have had one good
crewmate after another.”
Working in the Peak District alongside the
Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation led
Thomas to set up the EMAS Cave Rescue
Despite his consultant explaining that he would
probably need to give up work, Thomas was
back in the driving seat after just six months,
and has no intentions of retiring yet.
Peter Bainbridge, Ambulance Operations
Manager for Derbyshire, said that Thomas
has been an inspirational mentor to new
colleagues joining the service, and has
been instrumental in the training and
encouragement of generations of new
ambulance crews.
He said: “Thomas has been an exemplary
leader and has gone way above the expected
level of dedication expected of staff.
“His calm and professional approach ensures
that learning with him is very well delivered,
and he continues to be a leader and an
inspiration to the hundreds of staff who have
had the pleasure of working alongside him.”
Thomas is one of only four ambulance
colleagues from the UK ambulance services to
receive the award this year.
Commenting on his achievement, EMAS Chief
Executive Richard Henderson, said: “I am
delighted for Thomas that he has been named
in the New Year Honours list.
“His dedication to EMAS over the last 40 years
is truly inspiring, and he has been a fantastic
mentor to many ambulance colleagues in the
early days of their careers.”
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
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35

IN PERSON
SECAMB News
SECAS Trust Secretary
honoured for governance
expertise at ICSA Awards
2019
Peter Lee, Trust Secretary of the South East
Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation
Trust has been awarded an accolade
for good governance by The Chartered
Governance Institute, organiser of the
prestigious ICSA Awards 2019.
Peter won the coveted Company Secretary
of the Year award at a glittering awards
celebration at the Park Lane Hilton in London
last night, narrowly pipping Andrew Eames of
St. Modwen Properties PLC, who was Highly
Commended by the judges, to the award.
Speaking about the award, Peter Swabey,
Policy and Research Director at The
Chartered Governance Institute said: “This
award recognises company secretaries who
demonstrate effective team and thought
leadership, and who have mastered the
complex legal and regulatory environments
in which they work. Peter impressed the
judges with the way in which he’d led his team
through a challenging period, delivering results
beyond the expectations of his role. He has
played an added-value role in the governance
of the South East Coast Ambulance Service,
matching technical strength with commercial
acumen. The judges were particularly
impressed with the range of responsibilities
and the strong relationships that Peter has
developed with colleagues and the board.”
The annual awards, which recognise
excellence in governance, also saw the
following individuals and teams crowned
winners:
• Governance Professional of the Year: Wendy
Stanger, East Coast College
• Team of the Year: Provident Financial plc
• Governance Project of the Year: HSBC –
Global governance excellence
(Premier League / EFL - Capability Code of
Practice was Highly Commended)
• Service Provider of the Year: Support
Services for Education
(DMJ Recruitment was Highly Commended)
• The One to Watch: Christina Meikle, Senior
Consultant, Ernst & Young LLP.
Peter concluded: “Good governance
benefits all organisations, regardless of size,
by establishing a framework of processes
and attitudes that adds value and helps to
build reputation. It is particularly important
in an organisation like SECAS where the
difference between good governance and bad
governance can be a life or death matter. Being
able to call upon the advice and expertise of
governance professionals such as Peter is
worth its weight in gold to any organisation.”
The photo accompanying this release shows
left to right: Liam Healy from Diligent, which
sponsored the award; Peter Lee, South
East Coast Ambulance Service NHS FT –
Company Secretary of the Year 2019; Simon
Evans, comedian, who hosted the evening’s
proceedings.
WMAS News
I believe the ambulance
service is the jewel in the
crown of the NHS
“I believe the ambulance service is the jewel
in the crown of the NHS.”
These are the words of the man who is set
to take over as Chairman of West Midlands
Ambulance Service as the Trust moves into a
new decade.
Professor Ian Cumming is due to take up
his new position on 1st April when he retires
from his current role of Chief Executive of
Health Education England - the education and
training organisation for the NHS.
His career in the NHS spans 38 years; originally
training as a research scientist, before spending
25 years as an NHS Chief Executive. He has
worked in hospitals, commissioning services
and as Chief Executive of the NHS in the West
Midlands in 2009.
Professor Cumming said: “I have had a personal
interest in pre-hospital care for many years. The
ambulance service meets people at a time when
they are arguably at their most vulnerable.
“We are there when people need us with staff
who are highly skilled and trained professionals.
Not only are we handling physical injuries and
illness, our staff are at the forefront of dealing
with emergency care for people with mental
health and social care issues.
“Because of that, the ambulance service has
to be a fundamental part of the caring and
compassionate NHS that we seek to provide
for all citizens of this country.
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
“WMAS already has a real focus on keeping
the Trust at forefront of developing patient
care and I am looking forward to helping them
continue that journey. There aren’t many
ambulance services that come close to what
WMAS achieves, but we need to be looking to
the future and staying ahead of the curve.
“As we move into the 2020s, we need to be
innovating and looking to harness the power of
new technology such as the true integration of
111 and 999 services but also looking at better
links between emergency and non-emergency
ambulance services.
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IN PERSON
“We also need to look at the ‘internet of things’
so that we can automatically connect people’s
houses through to our systems so that we
know when somebody may be in difficulty even
if no-one is able to contact us themselves.
“There is no doubt that the next decade will be
one of real change for the ambulance service
and the NHS with the growth of technology
and integration.
“I think we will see ambulance services move
into the delivery of mobile health care in
people’s homes whether a blue light response
or more routine elective type care.
“We already have highly skilled staff such as
our paramedics along with the vehicles and
infrastructure to be able to respond to the
needs of the population.
“It is an exciting time and I can’t wait to join at
the end of March.”
YAS News
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Volunteer Car Service driver
wins prestigious award
A Volunteer Car Service (VCS) driver with
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has
won the Volunteer of the Year Award at the
2019 Yorkshire Evening Post Health Awards.
Stuart Yarker from Leeds was nominated for
his volunteering over the past two years in
helping eligible patients to get to their hospital/
clinic outpatient appointments.
600 separate journeys and travelled more than
11,250 miles during the last 12 months.
In addition, on two separate occasions,
Stuart has used his skills to save lives, first by
delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
to a fellow holiday-maker in Flamborough and
then, some months later and a little closer
to home, he noticed that his father-in-law
was hypoxic and in cardiac arrest. Again,
Stuart performed CPR until an emergency
ambulance arrived on scene. His father-inlaw
was transported to hospital and was later
discharged to recover at home.
On Friday 6 December 2019, Stuart was
invited to a celebratory afternoon tea at Leeds
United Football Club followed by the Yorkshire
Evening Post Health Awards ceremony hosted
by BBC Look North’s, Harry Gration. Stuart
was announced the winner of the Volunteer
of the Year category and the day was topped
off with a tour around Leeds United Football
Stadium at Elland Road.
Stuart was delighted with his award and said:
“I’d like to think I won this award not just for
me but for all the volunteering team, for all the
PTS staff and for everyone else at Yorkshire
Ambulance Service.”
WMAS News
They are very special people
As the decade drew to a close, it also
marked the beginning of the end of Sir
Graham Meldrum’s time as Chairman of
West Midlands Ambulance Service; he
officially steps down on 31st March 2020.
develop and achieve things that might not
have seemed possible ten years ago.
“While the decisions taken by the Board and
senior leadership have undoubtedly shaped
the way the Service has developed, it could
not have been achieved without the most
important part of the organisation; the staff.
“The people within this service are ever so
special. That is true throughout the service,
whether on the road, in our control rooms,
patient transport, in corporate functions,
fleet, vehicle preparation, supplies, everyone.
Wherever you go, you meet very, very special
people and all of them have one thing in
common, their dedication to providing the best
service possible to patients.
“Everything we do is all about the patient,
ensuring we provide the best service
available. The fact that external inspectors
see that and have rated us as outstanding
on two occasions is extremely pleasing and
something the staff should be very proud of.
“What makes it even more special is the fact
that we are not the best funded ambulances
service, in fact we are the worst funded. To
a large extent, the reason we have been so
successful is the roll out of the ‘Make Ready’
system where we have 15 large hubs instead
of over 80 small ambulance stations.
“It has allowed us to become far more efficient
which has allowed us to invest far more than
we would have been able to in frontline staff
and vehicles, which is ultimately what is
needed to provide a high quality service.
His nomination outlined the commitment he
has to the role, with Stuart selflessly giving over
530 hours of his personal time and using his
own vehicle to transport more than 540 patients
to their appointments. He has made nearly
Sir Graham has been in the position for almost
14 years, and during that time, has seen
the ambulance service develop into the top
performing Trust in the country.
WMAS is the only ambulance service rated as
Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission
and one of only two who are rated in
segmentation one by NHS Improvement.
In addition, the Trust is the only one
consistently exceeding the national
performance standings, has a paramedic on
every vehicle and has no frontline vehicle older
than five years.
Sir Graham said: “The last decade has been
an incredibly special one; seeing the Trust
“Whilst we are undoubtedly successful, the
service will not stand still and will continue
to develop long after I have left. Over the
next decade I see West Midlands Ambulance
Service becoming a mobile treatment service.
“What used to be large items of equipment only
found in hospitals are now miniaturised and could
be deployed on ambulances such as ultrasounds,
we can already do blood tests and eventually we
could see mobile scans and x-rays.
“Allied to this, we will develop the skills that
our staff have. By combining the skills and
new treatments, we will see far fewer taken to
hospital. There is no doubt in my mind that the
ambulance service will continue to be a key
part of the national health service.”
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
For the latest Ambulance Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com
37

COMPANY NEWS
Body worn cameras
becoming crucial for
security and training
of front-line health
workers
Latest reports continue to
show significant increases in
assaults, disorderly conduct
and theft in hospitals.
Physical and verbal abuse is now
a common occurrence and the
growing threat of alcohol related
incidents is a particular concern.
Staff who are undertaking one
of the most important jobs in the
country have to live with this threat
on a daily basis, which is clearly
unacceptable.
Some hospitals have already
taken steps to protect staff after
a number of NHS Trusts received
complaints about verbal and
physical attacks on doctors,
nurses and hospital staff. By
equipping security staff with
Edesix Body Worn Cameras,
hospitals across the UK are
now collecting video and audio
evidence of incidents. They’ve
warned that anyone caught on
camera attacking or abusing an
NHS worker will be subject to the
‘full force of the law’.
Edesix, a Motorola Solutions
company, also currently supplies
VideoBadges to advanced
emergency response teams, and
Air Ambulance Services, across
the UK.
These are used to audit out-ofhospital
outcomes, evaluate new
equipment, and train upcoming
paramedics or support staff.
The Resuscitation Research
Group (RRG), whose aim is to
conduct quality research into
Resuscitation Medicine, also
deploy VideoBadges to improve
their processes and techniques
out in the field.
The RRG chose the Edesix VB-
300 camera for their Resuscitation
Rapid Response Unit because
it needed a camera that was
unobtrusive with a low impact
footprint, and capable of
preserving patient and medical
confidentiality. The VideoBadge
is securely attached to the
paramedic’s uniform,
requiring only a single-touch to
start recording, leaving them
free to focus all of their attention
on clinical tasks. The RRG
paramedics can then record
responses in Full HD audio and
video, so that the footage can be
reviewed at a later time.
Dr Gareth Clegg, RRG lead,
comments: “VideoBadge is
revolutionising the way we
optimise high performance
emergency teams. We can
measure key aspects of
performance in ways which were
not previously possible.
For further information about
Edesix please visit
www.edesix.com
AMBULANCE UK - FEBRUARY
38
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

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