Ambulance UK - April 2020

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NEWSLINE AMBULANCE UK - APRIL Knife crime related missions at an all time high New figures reveal the extent knife crime is having on the front line of our emergency services. According to statistics from the charity Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (AAKSS) knife crime is becoming a part of everyday shifts for AAKSS crew members. Since 2013, the paramedics and doctors of AAKSS have responded to over 400 critical knife crime related call outs. The figures reveal AAKSS critical missions across Kent, Surrey and Sussex related to knife crime were at an all-time high between June 2018 and June 2019. These were in line with a recent report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that revealed knife crime has risen to its highest levels in eight years. Between June 2018 and June 2019, there were 75 knife related critical pre-hospital cases across the four counties. It was the worst year of knife crime related call outs in five years; and an increase of 32% since 2013, when 57 critical knife crime cases were responded to. The data also shows a rise in the proportion of knife crime victims treated by AAKSS who are female, increasing to 12% last year – its highest recorded level. According to the figures the highest number of victims of knife crime that needed critical care from AAKSS across Kent, Surrey and Sussex were in their thirties. 9% of critical knife crime victims across Kent, Surrey and Sussex were aged 18 and under, more than a third (35%) were aged between 19-29, and over a quarter (27%) were in their thirties aged between 30-39. A further 16 % of victims were aged between 40-49, 8% aged 50-59, 2% aged 60-69 and 3% were in their seventies. Responding to the figures, Dr Magnus Nelson, a HEMS Consultant with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey and Sussex, said: “It is concerning that we have seen this rise in our region and we know, that as part of our response to this we will continue to work with partners to support not only the immediate care for victims, but our engagement with partners and strategies to look at the longer term reduction in this type of violence. “Our role in the treatment of the victims of this type of crime recognises the importance of being available 24 hours a day to provide a response region wide. Our teams offer the high acuity clinical interventions sometimes necessary to treat and stabilise patients along with the ability to rapidly transport them to the region’s Major Trauma Centres. “These cases are always challenging and the existing ability of our teams to work with the other emergency services to make a positive difference is vital in good clinical outcomes.” For further information on the work of Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex visit: www.aakss.org.uk. Project to predict cardiovascular events at University of Manchester receives Heart Research UK grant A project at the University of Manchester aiming to develop a new tool for predicting the risk of a cardiovascular event or death in patients who have already suffered a heart attack has received a grant of almost £150,000 from national charity Heart Research UK. In the UK, around 7 million people are living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is responsible for one in four deaths. People with CVD are up to five times more likely to have a stroke, are six times more likely to die compared to those without, and up to half of them suffer a second heart attack. There are currently no methods to predict the risk in this group of patients, so there is an urgent need for such tools to help assess the risk of future cardiovascular events and deaths in patients who already have CVD. The project, which will be led by Prof Mamas Mamas, Professor of Cardiology at Keele University and Honorary Professor of Population Health at the University of Manchester, will use medical data to develop a tool that predicts the risk of a future cardiovascular event or death, in people who have already had a heart attack with the aim of improving care of patients with CVD. The development of such a tool would improve the quality of care for patients with CVD by helping GPs to identify patients at higher risk of future cardiovascular events and death, meaning that lifestyle changes can be made or appropriate medical treatment given to reduce their risk. Prof Mamas said: “This is an incredibly exciting project that we hope will be able to make a real difference to survivors of heart attacks. If we can accurately predict the likelihood of them suffering another cardiovascular event, then we can intervene early and hopefully reduce their risk. “This will not only help to improve their quality of life, but could ensure that patients receive care tailored to their condition, increasing its effectiveness and helping to reduce the strain on our health service.” Kate Bratt-Farrar, Chief Executive of Heart Research UK, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the work of Prof Mamas and his team, which has the potential to have a big impact on how effective we can be at preventing people suffering from a cardiovascular event. “Our Translational Research Project Grants are all about bridging the gap between laboratory-based scientific research and patient care - they aim to bring the latest developments to patients as soon as possible. “The dedication we see from UK researchers is both encouraging and impressive and we at Heart Research UK are proud to be part of it.” The £147,816 Translational Research Project grant was awarded to the University of Manchester as part of Heart Research UK’s annual awards for research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease. Last year, Heart Research UK awarded more than £1.6 million in grants for medical research projects across the UK. To date, the charity has invested more than £25 million in medical research via its grants programme. 60 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
NEWSLINE SECAMB SECAmb work with Jumbulance Trust to adapt multi-patient transfer vehicle South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has teamed up with charity, the Jumbulance Trust, to adapt a vehicle to assist SECAmb with multiple patient transfers between hospitals as part of its Covid-19 response. Traditionally the accessible holidays and travel charity uses its Jumbulance medically-equipped coach vehicles, which are fitted with stretchers, to give those with disabilities and severe illnesses, and other significantly dependent individuals, the opportunity to travel in safety and comfort across the UK and Europe. SECAmb has commissioned the charity to provide a Jumbulance vehicle which it has adapted further to meet its specification. The charity will provide drivers for the vehicle, who have undergone additional training, while the vehicle will be crewed by critical care paramedics. The vehicle, which will be used in the coming weeks as required, will be able to transport up to five stretchered patients at a time – avoiding multiple trips by different ambulance crews. The SECAmb adaptations include the fitting of a bulkhead aluminium frame to protect the driver, updating stretchers to Trust specification, sealing off all fabric surfaces so they can be easily wiped clean and for improved infection control, fitting a piped oxygen system and installing clinical waste bins and hand gel dispensers. SECAmb Associate Director of Operations (Resilience), Ian Shaw said: “I am pleased that we have been able to work with the Jumbulance Trust and commission the charity to help with our Covid-19 response and prepare for the potential increase in demand. The role of these vehicles is usually very different and we are pleased that we have been able to adapt one of their vehicles to help with our response. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this important collective work to help patients.” Jumbulance Trust Chair, Gill Berry added: “We are proud that Jumbulance Trust, a small volunteer-led charity with specialist vehicles and dedicated staff, can help SECAmb with multiple patient transfers. It is humbling for us to be able to give something back and use our resources in this way. I would also like to add a huge thanks to all involved for their commitment to making this happen.” Ambulance volunteers get vital boost to save lives Volunteers who respond to life-threatening emergencies for London Ambulance Service have been given three new response cars to help save lives in the capital. The Freemasons have donated the high spec Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles - each worth around £40,000 – to the charity that trains volunteers to support London Ambulance Service in its work. These ‘Emergency Responders’ must pass a rigorous application and assessment process before six days of intensive training where they learn life-saving skills. After successfully completing the training, these volunteers respond to 999 calls in response cars on blue lights. Athar Khan, Director of Integrated Patient Care at London Ambulance Service, said: “Our highly trained volunteers play a vital role supporting the work of London Ambulance Service’s medics in the capital. “These new cars will mean more lives in London are saved. Acts of kindness like this keep our Emergency Responders out on the road answering 999 calls, and I would like to thank the Freemasons for their generous gift.” Sir Michael Snyder, Metropolitan Grand Master, said “I am delighted, on behalf of all London Freemasons, to present these three fast response cars for use by the voluntary emergency responders within the London Ambulance Service, to further complement the five cars that London Freemasons generously donated just a couple of years ago. “The work of the London Ambulance Service is inspirational in their relentless efforts in assisting all those Londoners in time of need. This role is only achieved by the huge commitment given by the many volunteers from various different walks of life, and I have the utmost respect for their dedicated service across the capital.” The London Ambulance Service Voluntary Responder Group charity funds the Emergency Responder scheme. In 2019, these dedicated volunteers gave close to 25,000 hours of their own time attending 8,272 emergency calls. Of these emergency calls, an ER team was on scene first in almost 6,000 cases. They provide a valuable additional resource in helping London Ambulance in treating more than 1.1m patients a year. Tim Kirkby has been an Emergency Responder for nearly nine years. He said: “I do a 9 to 5 desk job so I initially started volunteering so I could get out, meet people and make a difference. “And most of the time, we really do. I’m usually the first medic on scene and that can often make the difference for the patient: giving early defibrillation can save a life.” At any time, London Ambulance Service has up to eight Emergency Responder crews on the road. There are currently nearly 150 Emergency Responders on the team but the service is hoping to double that number. AMBULANCE UK - APRIL Life Connections - The Affordable CPD Provider: www.lifeconnections.uk.com 61
Page 1 and 2: Volume 35 No. 2 April 2020 The best
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS CONTENTS Ambulance UK 45 E
Page 5 and 6: EDITOR’S COMMENT EDITOR’S COMME
Page 7 and 8: FEATURE Standard ventilator can ven
Page 9 and 10: NEWSLINE Ambulance service supports
Page 11 and 12: FEATURE Turbine Driven Ventilation
Page 13 and 14: NEWSLINE maximum benefit from their
Page 15 and 16: NEWSLINE A heart attack is caused b
Page 17 and 18: NEWSLINE research into new methods
Page 19: NEWSLINE person’s chance of survi
Page 23 and 24: NEWSLINE Trust launches ‘Where Be
Page 25 and 26: NEWSLINE In addition, mobile networ
Page 27 and 28: NEWSLINE SECAMB Long service and ac
Page 29 and 30: NEWSLINE Call for healthcare worker
Page 31 and 32: IN PERSON LAS News London Ambulance

Ambulance UK - April 2020

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