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Volume 36 No. 3<br />
<strong>June</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS<br />
A BREATH OF<br />
FRESH AIR<br />
VCS publishes emissions test<br />
results for its class-leading DCA
Just breathe<br />
FIRST-LINE EMERGENCY ANALGESIC<br />
SUPERIOR PAIN RELIEF<br />
FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE TRAUMA PAIN<br />
Versus:<br />
Entonox 1 , IV Paracetamol 1,2 & IV Morphine 2<br />
PENTHROX is indicated for the emergency relief of moderate to severe pain in conscious adult patients with<br />
trauma and associated pain 3,4<br />
PENTHROX 99.9%, 3 ml inhalation vapour, liquid: Please refer to the<br />
Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) before prescribing.<br />
Abbreviated Prescribing Information. Presentation: Each bottle of<br />
PENTHROX contains 3 ml of methoxyflurane 99.9%, a clear, almost colourless,<br />
volatile liquid, with a characteristic fruity odour. Each PENTHROX combination<br />
pack consists of one bottle of 3 ml PENTHROX, one PENTHROX Inhaler and<br />
one Activated Carbon (AC) chamber. Indications: Emergency relief of moderate<br />
to severe pain in conscious adult patients with trauma and associated pain.<br />
Dosage and administration: PENTHROX should be self-administered under<br />
supervision of a person trained in its administration, using the hand held<br />
PENTHROX Inhaler. It is inhaled through the custom-built PENTHROX inhaler.<br />
Adults: One bottle of 3 ml PENTHROX as a single dose, administered using<br />
the device provided. A second bottle should only be used where needed. The<br />
frequency at which PENTHROX can be safely used is not established. The<br />
following administration schedule is recommended: no more than 6 ml in a<br />
single day, administration on consecutive days is not recommended and the<br />
total dose to a patient in a week should not exceed 15 ml. Onset of pain relief<br />
is rapid and occurs after 6-10 inhalations. Patients are able to titrate the amount<br />
of PENTHROX inhaled and should be instructed to inhale intermittently to<br />
achieve adequate analgesia. Continuous inhalation of a bottle containing 3 ml<br />
provides analgesic relief for up to 25-30 minutes; intermittent inhalation may<br />
provide longer analgesic relief. Patients should be advised to use the lowest<br />
possible dose to achieve pain relief. Renal impairment: Methoxyflurane may<br />
cause renal failure if the recommended dose is exceeded. Caution should be<br />
exercised for patients diagnosed with clinical conditions that would predispose<br />
to renal injury. Hepatic impairment: Cautious clinical judgement should<br />
be exercised when PENTHROX is to be used more frequently than on one<br />
occasion every 3 months. Paediatric population: PENTHROX should not be<br />
used in children and adolescents under 18 years. For detailed information on<br />
the method of administration refer to the SmPC. Contraindications: Use as an<br />
anaesthetic agent. Hypersensitivity to methoxyflurane, any fluorinated<br />
anaesthetic or to any of the excipients. Patients who are known to be or<br />
genetically susceptible to malignant hyperthermia. Patients or patients with a<br />
known family history of severe adverse reactions after being administered with<br />
inhaled anaesthetics. Patients who have a history of showing signs of liver<br />
damage after previous methoxyflurane use or halogenated hydrocarbon<br />
anaesthesia. Clinically significant renal impairment. Altered level of<br />
consciousness due to any cause including head injury, drugs or alcohol.<br />
Clinically evident cardiovascular instability. Clinically evident respiratory<br />
depression. Warnings and Precautions: To ensure the safe use of PENTHROX<br />
as an analgesic the lowest effective dose to control pain should be used and it<br />
should be used with caution in the elderly or other patients with known risk<br />
factors for renal disease, and in patients diagnosed with clinical conditions<br />
which may pre-dispose to renal injury. Methoxyflurane causes significant<br />
nephrotoxicity at high doses. Nephrotoxicity is thought to be associated with<br />
inorganic fluoride ions, a metabolic breakdown product. When administered as<br />
instructed for the analgesic indication, a single dose of 3 ml methoxyflurane<br />
produces serum levels of inorganic fluoride ions below 10 micromol/l. In the<br />
past when used as an anaesthetic agent, methoxyflurane at high doses caused<br />
significant nephrotoxicity, which was determined to occur at serum levels of<br />
inorganic fluoride ions greater than 40 micromol/l. Nephrotoxicity is also<br />
related to the rate of metabolism. Factors that increase the rate of metabolism<br />
such as drugs that induce hepatic enzymes can increase the risk of toxicity with<br />
methoxyflurane as well as sub-groups of people with genetic variations that<br />
may result in fast metaboliser status. Methoxyflurane is metabolised in the liver,<br />
therefore increased exposures in patients with hepatic impairment can cause<br />
toxicity. PENTHROX should be used with care in patients with underlying<br />
hepatic conditions or with risks for hepatic dysfunction. Previous exposure to<br />
halogenated hydrocarbon anaesthetics (including methoxyflurane when used<br />
as an anaesthetic agent), especially if the interval is less than 3 months, may<br />
increase the potential for hepatic injury. Potential effects on blood pressure and<br />
heart rate are known class-effects of high-dose methoxyflurane used in<br />
anaesthesia and other anaesthetics. Caution is required with use in the elderly<br />
due to possible reduction in blood pressure. Potential CNS effects such as<br />
sedation, euphoria, amnesia, ability to concentrate, altered sensorimotor coordination<br />
and change in mood are known class-effects. The possibility of CNS<br />
effects may be seen as a risk factor for potential abuse, however reports are<br />
very rare in post-marketing use. PENTHROX is not appropriate for providing<br />
relief of break-through pain/exacerbations in chronic pain conditions or for the<br />
relief of trauma related pain in closely repeated episodes for the same patient.<br />
PENTHROX contains the excipient, butylated hydroxytoluene (E321) which may<br />
cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), or irritation to the eyes and<br />
mucous membranes. To reduce occupational exposure to methoxyflurane, the<br />
PENTHROX Inhaler should always be used with the AC Chamber which adsorbs<br />
exhaled methoxyflurane. Multiple use of PENTHROX Inhaler without the AC<br />
Chamber creates additional risk. Elevation of liver enzymes, blood urea<br />
nitrogen and serum uric acid have been reported in exposed maternity ward<br />
staff when methoxyflurane was used in the past at the time of labour and<br />
delivery. Interactions: There are no reported drug interactions when used at<br />
the analgesic dosage (3 – 6 ml). Methoxyflurane is metabolised by the CYP 450<br />
enzymes, particularly CYP 2E1, CYP 2B6 and to some extent CYP 2A6. It is<br />
possible that enzyme inducers (such as alcohol or isoniazid for CYP 2E1 and<br />
phenobarbital or rifampicin for CYP 2A6 and carbamazepine, efavirenz,<br />
rifampicin or nevirapine for CYP 2B6) which increase the rate of methoxyflurane<br />
metabolism might increase its potential toxicity and they should be avoided<br />
concomitantly with methoxyflurane. Concomitant use of methoxyflurane with<br />
medicines (e.g. contrast agents and some antibiotics) which are known to have<br />
a nephrotoxic effect should be avoided as there may be an additive effect on<br />
nephrotoxicity; tetracycline, gentamicin, colistin, polymyxin B and amphotericin<br />
B have known nephrotoxic potential. Sevoflurane anaesthesia should be<br />
avoided following methoxyflurane analgesia, as sevoflurane increases serum<br />
fluoride levels and methoxyflurane nephrotoxicity is associated with raised<br />
serum fluoride. Concomitant use of PENTHROX with CNS depressants, such as<br />
opioids, sedatives or hypnotics, general anaesthetics, phenothiazines,<br />
tranquillisers, skeletal muscle relaxants, sedating antihistamines and alcohol<br />
may produce additive depressant effects. If opioids are given concomitantly<br />
with PENTHROX, the patient should be observed closely. When methoxyflurane<br />
was used for anaesthesia at the higher doses of 40–60 ml, there were reports of<br />
drug interaction with hepatic enzyme inducers (e.g. barbiturates) increasing<br />
metabolism of methoxyflurane and resulting in a few reported cases of<br />
nephrotoxicity; reduction of renal blood flow and hence anticipated enhanced<br />
renal effect when used in combination with drugs (e.g. barbiturates) reducing<br />
cardiac output; and class effect on cardiac depression, which may be enhanced<br />
by other cardiac depressant drugs, e.g. intravenous practolol during cardiac<br />
Before administering PENTHROX, make sure you have read and fully understood the SmPC and educational materials, which provide important information about how<br />
to safely use the device to minimise risk of serious side effects. PENTHROX educational materials and training on its administration are available from Galen on request.<br />
surgery. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation: No clinical data on effects of<br />
methoxyflurane on fertility are available. Studies in animals have shown<br />
reproduction toxicity. As with all medicines care should be exercised when<br />
administered during pregnancy especially the first trimester. There is insufficient<br />
information on the excretion of methoxyflurane in human milk. Caution should<br />
be exercised when methoxyflurane is administered to a nursing mother. Effects<br />
on ability to drive and use machines: Methoxyflurane may have a minor<br />
influence on the ability to drive and use machines. Patients should be advised<br />
not to drive or operate machinery if they are feeling drowsy or dizzy.<br />
Undesirable effects: The common non-serious reactions are CNS type<br />
reactions such as dizziness and somnolence and are generally easily reversible.<br />
Serious dose-related nephrotoxicity has only been associated with<br />
methoxyflurane when used in large doses over prolonged periods during<br />
general anaesthesia. The following adverse drug reactions have either been<br />
observed in PENTHROX clinical trials in analgesia, with analgesic use of<br />
methoxyflurane following post-marketing experience or are linked to<br />
methoxyflurane use in analgesia found in post-marketing experience and in<br />
scientific literature (refer to the SmPC for further details): Very common<br />
(≥1/10): dizziness; common (≥1/100 to
CONTENTS<br />
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> <strong>UK</strong><br />
68 EDITOR’S COMMENT<br />
70 FEATURES<br />
70 One For the Future?<br />
72 A breath of fresh air: the lightweight DCA helping<br />
ambulance services reach their environmental goals<br />
73 NEWSLINE<br />
91 IN PERSON<br />
94 COMPANY NEWS<br />
This issue edited by:<br />
Sam English<br />
c/o Media Publishing Company<br />
Greenoaks, Lockhill<br />
Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR<br />
ADVERTISING:<br />
Terry Gardner, Samantha Marsh<br />
CIRCULATION:<br />
Media Publishing Company<br />
Greenoaks, Lockhill<br />
Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR<br />
Tel: 01886 853715<br />
E: info@mediapublishingcompany.com<br />
www.ambulanceukonline.com<br />
PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY:<br />
February, April, <strong>June</strong>, August,<br />
October, December<br />
COVER STORY<br />
The answer to ambulance services’ short-term emissions and budget<br />
challenges could be in the humble diesel-powered dual crewed<br />
ambulance, according to conversion specialist, VCS.<br />
COPYRIGHT:<br />
Media Publishing Company<br />
Greenoaks<br />
Lockhill<br />
Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR<br />
Figures revealed for the first time in <strong>Ambulance</strong> Today following tests conducted by VCS<br />
show that its dual crewed ambulance (DCA) demonstrates significant reductions in<br />
emissions and fuel consumption over industry benchmarks.<br />
The tests, which mimicked the duty cycles of several NHS ambulance services using<br />
VCS vehicles, were conducted at UTAC CERAM Millbrook’s industry-leading vehicle<br />
validation facility in Bedfordshire.<br />
Results showed that VCS’s Fiat Ducato-based DCA panel van achieves a 5.7% reduction<br />
in CO 2<br />
and a 10% fuel saving, meaning each vehicle could save more than 500 litres of<br />
fuel per year.<br />
For an ambulance service with a fleet of 480 vehicles, these savings start to add up, with<br />
the opportunity to reduce CO 2<br />
output by more than 2,300 tonnes over five years. The<br />
same fleet could also see a potential fuel saving of more than 1.2 million litres of fuel<br />
over five years which, at today’s fuel prices, equates to a financial saving of more than<br />
£1.4 million.<br />
Lower maintenance costs, owing to VCS’s lightweight design and high-quality<br />
production methods, coupled with its fuel efficiency, means that ambulance services<br />
can expect to save more than £2,900 per vehicle over the course of the life of a VCS<br />
DCA. Tests also demonstrated a 12.9% reduction in NO x<br />
emissions, equating to a fleet<br />
reduction of 579kg over five years.<br />
PUBLISHERS STATEMENT:<br />
The views and opinions expressed in<br />
this issue are not necessarily those of<br />
the Publisher, the Editors or Media<br />
Publishing Company.<br />
Next Issue August <strong>2021</strong><br />
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AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Turn to page 72 for the full story.<br />
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Do you have anything you would like to add or include? Please contact us and let us know.<br />
67
EDITOR’S COMMENT<br />
EDITOR’S COMMENT<br />
Welcome to this issue of A<strong>UK</strong><br />
“The<br />
pandemic<br />
has been<br />
tough but<br />
at least<br />
now there<br />
seems to<br />
be a light at<br />
the end of<br />
the tunnel.”<br />
In this issue we take a little look at vehicles and equipment. I am particularly fascinated with the idea<br />
of a ‘concept’ ambulance, so much so that I’ve included one such idea. At first sight I thought this was<br />
pure fantasy, but then in an age of driverless cars and delivery drones it doesn’t seem that implausible.<br />
Six months ago, I made a move to the Digital arm of my service as CCIO, at that point we were on<br />
spreadsheets, systems didn’t speak to each other and hospital handover meant a paper report being<br />
completed and deposited with the patient. Despite the pandemic, we’ve now got system interoperability,<br />
external patient digital record access and a digital EPR which the hospital can view prior to the ambulance<br />
arrival. The speed of technological advance is both exciting and challenging. Almost every week we get a<br />
new suggestion for digitising aspects of the service, from stores checks to video call centres, once these<br />
would have been nice to haves, now they are must haves in most cases to keep pace with increasing<br />
complexities, time pressures and staff born and raised in an age of digital expectation. Maybe a self<br />
propelled ambulance, responding autonomously to an emergency generated by an implanted bio scanner<br />
is not as daft an idea as it once was.<br />
Sticking to technology for a second, I wanted to give a shout out to the scientists who created the Covid<br />
vaccines in record time. This week we got to meet indoors for the first time in ages, at my local hostelry they<br />
had two six person delayed Christmas parties and god knows how many baby showers. The pandemic<br />
has been tough but at least now there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Another big shout out to<br />
the teams who have been delivering vaccinations with phenomenal efficiency, they don’t give out badges<br />
or trophies, but it would be nice for the Government to recognise the contributions of all NHS staff without<br />
who we would still be in the same place as much of the rest of the world. Hopefully, now the corner has<br />
been turned we might even start to feel more normal, the enforced separation of families has undoubtedly<br />
been harsh on many, for me I felt it strange to be in the pub and try to hear and speak over the general<br />
background noise that has been absent for so long. I can’t help hoping that there is a degree of social<br />
responsibility handed back to people in the near future rather than the edicts of the lawmakers, but I guess<br />
that depends on all of us being sensible and getting the jab.<br />
With a last word on sensible, it would be nice if the weather would improve a bit, the <strong>UK</strong> is a great place<br />
which I think many people forget. This will be the first time since I was a child that I’ve booked a <strong>UK</strong> holiday,<br />
I’d forgotten how much variety there is here with sea, lakes, mountains and forest, now all I need is for the<br />
sun to shine…just a little bit! Think safe and sensible but I hope you all get time for a break this summer,<br />
wherever you get to, you all deserve it after the efforts of the last 12 months…<br />
Sam English, Co-Editor <strong>Ambulance</strong> <strong>UK</strong><br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
68<br />
For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
FREE EDUCATIONAL PODCASTS<br />
In the knowledge that conferences and exhibitions are currently on hold, we are pleased to announce that<br />
contributions from BASICS Scotland and others has enabled us to offer you the opportunity to listen to the<br />
following 30 minute educational Podcasts FREE OF CHARGE and see products being demonstrated:<br />
Paediatric Cardiac Arrest - Jon McCormack<br />
Check Card Medicine - Paul Savage<br />
A Responders Perspective - Iain Craighead<br />
Head Injuries - Dr Jonathan Hanson<br />
Pain Assessment and Management - Martin Esposito<br />
The Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care - Joel Simmons<br />
This unique section on our web site also gives you the opportunity to see the following products being<br />
demonstrated:<br />
• I-view(tm) video laryyngoscope<br />
• Water Rescue toddler<br />
VISIT www.ambulanceukonline.com<br />
• Advanced Water Rescue Manakin<br />
• OREALITI Go by Isimulate<br />
We are also seeking further presentation/podcasts to add to this exciting new educational concept<br />
therefore if you have anything to submit that would interest those working in Pre Hospital Care,<br />
Resuscitation and Simulation please forward it to info@mediapublishingcompany.com<br />
IT’S FREE - IT’S EDUCATIONAL - IT’S REWARDING<br />
WWW.AMBULANCE<strong>UK</strong>ONLINE.COM<br />
Volume 35 No. 5<br />
DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS<br />
October 2020<br />
Volume 7 No. 2<br />
Autumn 2020<br />
Resuscitation Today<br />
A Resource for all involved in the Teaching and Practice of Resuscitation<br />
Volume 2 No. 2<br />
Autumn 2020<br />
SimulationToday<br />
A resource for all involved in the teaching and practice of simulation<br />
Discover the Quantum<br />
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FEATURE<br />
ONE FOR THE FUTURE?<br />
Ahmed Zayed Radwan, Architect, Automotive Designer<br />
ahmedzayed_85@yahoo.com, +86 186 16599656<br />
Shanghai, China<br />
TIME is crucial to emergency medical services. Increased response<br />
time of ambulances to patients in crisis due to traffic congestion cause<br />
thousands of deaths annually around the world. In the US, statistics<br />
say that for a typical cardiac emergency, one minute of faster response<br />
translates into $1,542 of savings in hospital costs per patient leading to<br />
a $7B reduction in US healthcare expenditures per year, besides saving<br />
thousands of lives.<br />
The design comprises of two autonomous self balancing vehicles that<br />
carry paramedics and all medical equipment needed, when they arrive<br />
to destination of crisis the vehicles align by lidar feeds and start to<br />
physically attach to each other (please watch in video) unfolding a fully<br />
functional paramedic space to use. The lateral closures are designed<br />
to double as doors and floor\roof panels to carry loads (reference<br />
feasibility of pickup truck back doors to carry weight).<br />
Emerge is an experimental autonomous concept aiming to address<br />
the problem of increased response times by rethinking the ambulance<br />
architecture laterally straitening its road footprint to cut through traffic<br />
and pair to unfold paramedic space when in use.<br />
EMERGE is a concept integrating the technologies of autonomous<br />
mobility and self balancing technologies to help solve one of our major<br />
problems in our modern time mega cities. It could potentially be a more<br />
feasible alternative for helicopter and drone ambulances in terms of<br />
operation costs and spatial requirements.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
70<br />
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
FEATURE<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Features? Please contact us and let us know.<br />
71
FEATURE<br />
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR: THE LIGHTWEIGHT<br />
DCA HELPING AMBULANCE SERVICES<br />
REACH THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS<br />
Ever since the <strong>UK</strong> government published the Climate Change Act<br />
in 2008, which targeted nationwide CO 2<br />
reductions of 80% by 2050,<br />
it was clear that radical change would be needed across the NHS.<br />
Since then, the NHS has made reducing carbon and air quality-limiting<br />
emissions a major priority, last year launching its ‘Greener NHS’<br />
campaign, and with it, the pledge to deliver a net zero NHS by 2040.<br />
A so-called ‘greening’ of NHS Trusts’ ambulance fleets is a major<br />
part of NHS England’s plan to achieve a net zero service. Coupled<br />
with increasing financial pressures across many Trusts nationwide,<br />
running ambulances that use less fuel and therefore produce fewer<br />
emissions should be a priority for ambulance services everywhere.<br />
But how are ambulance services expected to make their fleets<br />
greener between now and 2040?<br />
The obvious and oft-heralded long-term solution is almost certain<br />
to be a wholesale electrification of the ambulance service. Indeed,<br />
in 2020 the <strong>UK</strong>’s first all-electric front line dual crewed ambulance,<br />
produced by market-leading converter VCS, entered service with<br />
West Midlands <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service. As we understand it, the initial<br />
trial has gone well, and the service is continuing to use the zeroemissions<br />
ambulance as part of its front-line fleet (we hope to bring<br />
you more on this soon).<br />
Put simply, Core Capture employs engineering practices and<br />
techniques from the aerospace industry to create a conversion that<br />
adds as little mass as possible, while being extremely resilient in<br />
order to meet stringent CEN testing requirements and the rigors of<br />
ambulance life. In practice, this means using lightweight composite<br />
materials and creating single moulded structures wherever possible.<br />
Core Capture is used across VCS’s range of DCAs, PTS and RRVs<br />
where practical.<br />
This results in a Fiat Ducato-based DCA panel van that has a gross<br />
vehicle weight of 4250kg, which VCS expects to be around 6.8%<br />
lighter in full operational setting than its next closest rival. This<br />
significant weight reduction has always been expected to reduce fuel<br />
consumption and emissions, but what are the actual figures?<br />
VCS’s UTAC CERAM Millbrook testing considered duty cycles from<br />
several of its NHS customers. It used a Fiat Ducato DCA panel van<br />
loaded for a combined emergency application and a non-emergency<br />
application based on data collected from ambulances in the field.<br />
Test results showed that VCS’s DCA achieves a combined average<br />
fuel consumption saving of more than 500 litres of fuel per vehicle per<br />
year, while emitting 267g/km CO 2<br />
. This represents a 10% fuel saving<br />
and a 5.7% reduction in CO 2<br />
over a one-year period per vehicle.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are also expected to be part of the<br />
zero-emissions ambulance fleet mix. These vehicles, which convert<br />
hydrogen gas to electric energy and produce water as the only<br />
by-product, could help offer zero emissions alternatives to use<br />
cases that have longer range requirements. The hydrogen refuelling<br />
infrastructure is still in its infancy, though, so it is impossible to<br />
say how quickly ambulance services may be able to adopt this<br />
technology wholesale.<br />
However, those ambulance services that need to reduce emissions<br />
and make cost savings today may still find the answer in the humble<br />
diesel engine and a well-engineered ambulance conversion.<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> converter, VCS has long claimed that its unique Core<br />
Capture manufacturing technology reduces the overall weight of the<br />
vehicle, which in turn increases fuel efficiency and limits emissions.<br />
Recently, VCS conducted a comprehensive testing programme on its<br />
dual crewed ambulance (DCA) at UTAC CERAM Millbrook’s worldclass<br />
validation facility in Bedfordshire, and we can share the results<br />
exclusively in <strong>Ambulance</strong> Today.<br />
More on that in a moment, but first, what is VCS’s Core Capture<br />
technology and what benefits does it have on ambulance<br />
construction?<br />
Armed with this data, the benefits for ambulance services across the<br />
country are clear. An NHS Trust ambulance service fleet with around<br />
480 vehicles could see a CO 2<br />
reduction of more than 2,300 tonnes<br />
over five years – the equivalent of removing around 300 new cars from<br />
the road over the same period.<br />
Even more impressive are the potential fuel savings that VCS’s DCA<br />
can offer. The same fleet of 480 ambulances will save more than<br />
1.2 million litres of fuel over five years which, at today’s fuel prices,<br />
equates to a financial saving of more than £1.4 million. Coupled with<br />
the lower maintenance costs due to VCS’s lightweight design, quality<br />
and world class workmanship, ambulance services can expect to save<br />
more than £2,900 per vehicle over the course of its life.<br />
Finally, it is important to acknowledge that CO 2<br />
is not the only emission<br />
that NHS Trusts must concern themselves with. In recent years, we<br />
have all seen the impact that NO x<br />
has had on air quality, and VCS was<br />
keen to know what effect its Core Capture technology had on reducing<br />
this, too. Suffice to say that testing showed a 12.9% reduction,<br />
equating in a fleet reduction of 579kg over five years.<br />
So, it’s clear, that while electric and hydrogen technology is<br />
approaching, VCS’s standard diesel fuelled DCA can still help<br />
ambulance services and communities breathe a little easier.<br />
72<br />
For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
NEWSLINE<br />
NWAS<br />
Colleagues<br />
remembered<br />
with dedicated<br />
ambulances<br />
Steve Hynes, Deputy Director<br />
of Operations at NWAS who<br />
organised the memorial on the<br />
vehicles, said: “Stuart, Phil and<br />
Peter will be remembered for<br />
caring for those at their most<br />
vulnerable and in need. Whilst<br />
for several years. Now is the time<br />
for that challenge to be realised.<br />
By rowing continuously for over 60<br />
days to cross a 3,800 mile ocean<br />
in a 29ft boat, this is an adventure<br />
that will push my mind and body to<br />
the limit.<br />
North West <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
has unveiled three ambulances<br />
in honour of their former<br />
colleagues who sadly died from<br />
coronavirus.<br />
As a lasting tribute to their<br />
memory, two emergency<br />
ambulances and a patient<br />
transport ambulance have been<br />
inscribed with their names along<br />
with “Forever in our hearts”.<br />
Stuart Monk, a paramedic based<br />
in Wigan and Phil Rennie a<br />
Patient Transport Service Care<br />
Assistant based in Oldham, both<br />
passed away last summer. Peter<br />
Millington, a paramedic who<br />
worked in Wigan and recently<br />
worked as a capacity manager in<br />
our Regional Operations Control<br />
Centre (ROCC) passed away in<br />
March this year.<br />
The vehicles will be operational<br />
and helping those within the same<br />
communities each of the men<br />
previously served for many years.<br />
The two emergency ambulances<br />
will be out on the roads of<br />
Wigan and the patient transport<br />
ambulance will be travelling<br />
around the roads of Oldham.<br />
they are sadly no longer with<br />
us, our memories of these three<br />
outstanding colleagues will remain.<br />
“This is why we wanted to<br />
do something that gives their<br />
friends and colleagues a way to<br />
remember them but also to give<br />
others within the communities<br />
they served a chance to find out<br />
who they are by dedicating these<br />
vehicles to each of them.<br />
“This is our small way of us saying<br />
thank you to their professionalism,<br />
dedication and service.”<br />
The family of Peter Millington said:<br />
“We are so overwhelmed and<br />
grateful for this amazing gesture<br />
from the North West <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service.<br />
“We are very proud of our Dad and<br />
everything he achieved during the<br />
34 years he worked for the NHS.<br />
The ambulance is an incredible<br />
tribute to the time he served as a<br />
paramedic and all the hard work<br />
he contributed to the service.<br />
“We will forever be thankful for the<br />
acknowledgment of his dedication<br />
to the NHS and I know he would<br />
be incredibly proud to have an<br />
ambulance named after him and<br />
to know that he is still able to help<br />
people.”<br />
YAS<br />
Four friends, one<br />
boat, 60 days and<br />
3,800 miles<br />
Intrepid North Yorkshire<br />
Paramedic Tom Riley will be<br />
among a four-strong crew<br />
aiming to enter the record<br />
books by rowing non-stop from<br />
mainland Europe to mainland<br />
South America.<br />
The friends will embark on the<br />
3,800-mile journey from Portimao,<br />
on the south coast of Portugal, in<br />
December and will spend the next<br />
two months rowing in notoriously<br />
difficult conditions to Cayenne,<br />
the capital of French Guiana.<br />
Tom, of Northallerton, will be joined<br />
by bike mechanic Rob Lucas,<br />
of Sheffield, Justin Coleman, of<br />
Leicestershire, who has rowed the<br />
Atlantic before but not coast to<br />
coast, and Jim Davidson, a rowing<br />
coach from County Durham.<br />
Tom, who worked for North West<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Service as a paramedic<br />
in Kendal in the Lake District before<br />
joining Yorkshire <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service in January 2020, said: “The<br />
idea of rowing across the Atlantic<br />
was planted some time ago and<br />
has been in the back of my mind<br />
“We will be the first crew of four<br />
to complete the mainland to<br />
mainland Atlantic route in a Pure<br />
class rowing boat which will make<br />
it a record-breaking crossing.<br />
Our row will be longer than<br />
most Atlantic crossings, we will<br />
be starting and finishing on the<br />
mainland rather than islands so<br />
we will cover 800 extra miles.”<br />
Proceeds from the event will go<br />
to Our Blue Light, which supports<br />
emergency/essential services with<br />
their mental health and wellbeing,<br />
and Surfers Against Sewage,<br />
a marine conservation charity<br />
working with communities to<br />
protect oceans, waves, beaches<br />
and marine life.<br />
Tom, a former pupil at Robert<br />
Wilkinson Primary Academy in<br />
Strensall and Huntington School<br />
in York, said: “Our Blue Light is a<br />
charity I’m really passionate about<br />
because I have seen how some of<br />
my colleagues struggle with their<br />
mental health and we also attend<br />
a lot of mental health calls.”<br />
To donate to Our Blue Light,<br />
visit www.justgiving.com/<br />
fundraising/m2m-atlantic-four.<br />
To donate to Surfers Against<br />
Sewage visit www.justgiving.<br />
com/fundraising/M2M-Atlantic.<br />
Further information about the<br />
challenge is available at<br />
www.m2matlanticfour.com<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Newsline? Please contact us and let us know.<br />
73
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NEWSLINE<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
EEAST<br />
“Helping people<br />
in their time of<br />
crisis is incredibly<br />
rewarding”<br />
A community first responder<br />
(CFR) who has helped more<br />
than 500 patients while<br />
volunteering with the East of<br />
England <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
(EEAST) has spoken of the<br />
enjoyment he takes from his<br />
role while encouraging others to<br />
consider following his lead.<br />
Alan Cartz, who is based in<br />
Watford, began volunteering with<br />
the service in 2017 and attended<br />
his 500th patient in mid-March.<br />
During that time, he has helped<br />
with everything from cardiac<br />
arrests to seizures, as well as<br />
supporting people with breathing<br />
difficulties and injuries.<br />
“I really enjoy working as a<br />
CFR – it’s great,” said Alan, who<br />
also volunteers with St John<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> and spent 40 years<br />
as a special with the police. “I find<br />
being able to help people in their<br />
time of crisis incredibly rewarding,<br />
and also enjoy the variety involved<br />
– we do everything from offering<br />
reassurance to performing CPR<br />
and saving lives.<br />
“I remember my very first call for<br />
EEAST, which was to a man who<br />
had been injured when a brick<br />
wall fell on him. I now do two or<br />
three days a week for the Trust,<br />
and three times out of five I will be<br />
the first on scene, arriving before<br />
the ambulance crew. That can be<br />
both exciting and nerve-wracking<br />
at the same time, as you are<br />
never quite sure what you will be<br />
facing.”<br />
Community first responders are<br />
volunteers who are trained to<br />
attend certain types of emergency<br />
calls in the area where they live<br />
or work. Their aim is to reach<br />
a potential life-threatening<br />
emergency in the first vital<br />
minutes before the ambulance<br />
crew arrives.<br />
“The crews are always incredibly<br />
appreciative when they arrive<br />
on scene, even if you’ve just<br />
taken observations and passed<br />
them on,” added Alan. “We also<br />
receive good feedback from<br />
patients and their families, as we<br />
are able to put a figurative arm<br />
round their shoulders during their<br />
darkest moment and help them to<br />
understand what is happening.<br />
“I decided to become a CFR as I<br />
enjoy doing things for others and<br />
have been interested in medicine<br />
ever since getting my first aid<br />
certificate when I was 11. I would<br />
absolutely recommend it to others<br />
– all you need is to be caring,<br />
have some free time and be able<br />
to stay calm under pressure. You’ll<br />
be given all of the medical training<br />
you need and there will always be<br />
someone on the end of a phone<br />
ready to help if you need advice.”<br />
Tom Barker, EEAST’s Community<br />
Response Manager for<br />
Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and<br />
West Essex, said: “Our CFRs<br />
play an incredibly important role,<br />
often reaching patients first and<br />
providing life-saving care before<br />
our crews arrive.<br />
“To attend to 500 patients<br />
in fewer than five years is a<br />
fantastic achievement and our<br />
congratulations go to Alan. He<br />
truly is a credit to the Trust.”<br />
NWAS<br />
NHS 111 pilot<br />
strengthens<br />
specialist care for<br />
children<br />
A partnership between North<br />
West <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
(NWAS) and Cheshire and<br />
Merseyside Children and<br />
Young People (CYP) Network,<br />
which sees specialist paediatric<br />
practitioners working alongside<br />
trained NHS 111 advisors,<br />
has helped to enhance care<br />
for children and their families<br />
when using NHS 111.<br />
When the pandemic hit in<br />
March last year, public concern<br />
grew and access to face-toface<br />
healthcare was restricted.<br />
NHS 111, which is delivered<br />
across the region by NWAS,<br />
experienced a rise of 93%<br />
in calls at the peak of the<br />
pandemic, which included an<br />
increase in calls concerning<br />
unwell children.<br />
In May 2020, six clinicians from<br />
the Cheshire and Merseyside<br />
Children and Young People (CYP)<br />
Network and an NWAS trainee<br />
advanced clinical practitioner<br />
volunteered to form a small team<br />
of paediatric 111 advisors.<br />
The paediatric 111 advisors<br />
focus on handling calls for<br />
children under the age of<br />
five and are on hand to offer<br />
additional clinical expertise<br />
alongside the 111 advisors to<br />
provide the best care and advice<br />
for youngsters and their families.<br />
Jackie Bell, Head of NHS 111,<br />
said: “Our 111 health and<br />
service advisors are highly<br />
trained to handle a wide-range<br />
of calls from members of<br />
the public of all ages, with a<br />
whole host of urgent medical<br />
needs, and they do a fantastic<br />
job. With demand on our<br />
service increasing throughout<br />
the pandemic we noticed an<br />
opportunity to bring in a small<br />
number of specialist roles with<br />
focused knowledge on certain<br />
areas where we were seeing<br />
a rise in calls. The paediatric<br />
clinicians have been a very<br />
welcome addition to the team,<br />
supporting patients and staff<br />
as we worked our way through<br />
a challenging period, and the<br />
scheme shows how partnership<br />
working can benefit patients<br />
across the region.”<br />
This collaboration has proved<br />
successful with data showing<br />
that more than half of the calls<br />
the paediatric clinicians handled<br />
were resolved at home with the<br />
care and advice they were able<br />
to provide over the telephone,<br />
where otherwise these patients<br />
may have turned to the<br />
emergency department, primary<br />
care or hospital services for<br />
support. 111 staff also reported<br />
positive feedback around<br />
working alongside clinicians with<br />
specialist knowledge to call on<br />
for advice if required.<br />
Following the successful trial,<br />
the partnership arrangements<br />
with the Cheshire and<br />
Merseyside CYP Network,<br />
Southport and Ormskirk NHS<br />
Hospital Trust and Alder Hey<br />
Children’s NHS Foundation<br />
Trust. have been extended<br />
throughout <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Kim Williams, Lead Nurse for<br />
the Cheshire and Merseyside<br />
CYP Network said: “The<br />
feedback received was<br />
extremely positive. Commitment<br />
from both organisations and<br />
provider trusts enabled us to<br />
provide an enhanced service to<br />
children, young people and their<br />
families during the peak of the<br />
pandemic. The benefits to the<br />
wider system are significant and<br />
it has raised a genuine interest<br />
and desire to explore how we<br />
might make this permanent in<br />
the future.”<br />
76<br />
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
DS Medical in partnership with Rocksnake supply paediatric<br />
critical care retrieval teams with customised response bags<br />
As all emergency response personnel will tell you, having the right<br />
response bag(s) in all their encountered environments is critical.<br />
When responding to a medical emergency, it is vital that all of the<br />
necessary equipment is easily accessible and logically ordered.<br />
Organisation is crucial and if you’re not organised, you won’t be as<br />
effective as you could or should be.<br />
DS Medical were first approached in <strong>June</strong> 2020 by SORT (Southampton<br />
and Oxford Retrieval Team) seeking a solution to a problem of ageing<br />
bags that no longer met their requirements. DS Medical have long held<br />
a reputation for medical bags and consumables which makes them a<br />
natural point of call for healthcare professionals. The very fact they are a<br />
local supplier meant the team could visit and assess the bags available.<br />
It was determined there was only one real option for the environments<br />
and requirements of the retrieval team, a trolley bag solution from the<br />
manufacturer Rocksnake. The team trialled and packed out the two bag<br />
modular option and sought relevant input from all team members over<br />
a period of a few weeks to ensure it was fit for purpose. The key factors<br />
for the team were ready identification of their bags, modular capability,<br />
ease of use, ease of transportation and ruggedness.<br />
Another extra was the unique capability to personalise each bag with<br />
their wonderful logos. To offer this option on a bag-by-bag basis was a<br />
fantastic extra.<br />
“We wanted them to be personalised for each paediatric hospital. Many<br />
retrieval teams have their own individual logos that are fun and colourful so the<br />
children who are being transported would recognise this and be welcoming<br />
of the bags on their travels, knowing they are for them and will help them,”<br />
comments Richard Bourke, the Managing Director at DS Medical.<br />
DS Medical have an exclusive <strong>UK</strong> agreement with the Austrian<br />
manufacturer Rocksnake.<br />
The Viper trolley bag range from Rocksnake was identified as most suitable<br />
for deployment with retrieval teams, emergency evacuation and community<br />
response teams. The design is modular and flexible which enables key<br />
equipment to be transported with minimal lifting, utilising the heavy-duty<br />
rollers built into the design to take the effort out of transportation.<br />
Traditional bags which are usually carried on their backs, can be<br />
extremely heavy. This not only created a potential risk of back injury,<br />
but it also slowed the response time for the teams. Trolley bags are an<br />
ideal companion within retrieval services, providing flexibility and ease<br />
of movement. They are also effective in hospitals and can be utilised<br />
as evacuation emergency bags. The natural environments of hospital<br />
design permit the bag to easily glide along.<br />
Francesca, Sister, Retrieval Team (SORT) comments, “the quality of the<br />
Rocksnake bags provided to us by DS Medical is excellent. We spent<br />
a long time searching for a replacement bag and these fitted the bill<br />
perfectly. They are robust, spacious bags with handy compartment zip<br />
up pouches. The fact these are customised for our services with our<br />
logo is also a great personal touch.”<br />
So successful have these bags been with the SORT team that two other<br />
paediatric teams have adopted the same style and approach – CATS<br />
(Children’s Acute Transport Services) and PaNDR (Paediatric and<br />
Neonatal Decision Support & Retrieval Services).<br />
Richard adds, “we are delighted to provide the teams at CATS, PaNDR<br />
and SORT with this superb range of bags to help their retrieval teams<br />
in transporting patients. Supplying equipment to benefit and enhance<br />
processes and ensure greater patient outcomes is our key objective to<br />
aid all healthcare professionals we work with.”<br />
DS Medical recognise the importance of superior design and seek<br />
partners that support and enhance their capabilities, and Rocksnake<br />
form an integral part of their supply chain.<br />
DS Medical have manufactured thousands of Response Bags for<br />
many Trusts over the years. Their branded response bags ERB II &<br />
Premier Response bag are utilised in many settings and their response<br />
bags designed for BLS/ALS make excellent crash bags in emergency<br />
departments.<br />
An integral part of their range is the ERB II bag which is ideal as a<br />
Resus bag in dental surgeries as they are excellent for standardising<br />
equipment. They have proven credentials for CFR’s and private<br />
individuals who want their own kit bags at a reasonable price.<br />
All our bags are robust in design, designed from a clinical objective of<br />
layout and function, adhere to infection control demands and can be<br />
used for many different settings including trauma, resuscitation, First Aid<br />
and fleet vehicle support bags.<br />
For more information about the Rocksnake bag, and to view a wider<br />
range of response bags suitable for any incident, please visit<br />
www.dsmedical.co.uk or call 01329 311451.<br />
T: 01329 311451 E: info@dsmedical.co.uk www.dsmedical.co.uk<br />
DS Medical: Eagle Building E2, Daedalus Drive, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire PO13 9FX
NEWSLINE<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
NHS Lothian and<br />
the HELP Appeal<br />
are celebrating an<br />
important milestone<br />
NHS Lothian and the HELP<br />
Appeal are celebrating an<br />
important milestone as the new<br />
helipad located at the Royal<br />
Hospital for Children and Young<br />
People and the Department of<br />
Clinical Neuroscience (RHCYP/<br />
DCN) officially opens.<br />
The helipad, located above the<br />
fourth floor of the RHCYP/DCN will<br />
serve both the Royal Infirmary of<br />
Edinburgh and the RHCYP/DCN<br />
giving direct access to child and<br />
adult emergency departments,<br />
as well as all other clinical<br />
departments based on site.<br />
Hospital helipads play a critical<br />
role in trauma care by helping to<br />
minimise the time it takes to transfer<br />
critically ill patients. Without them,<br />
patient treatment can be delayed,<br />
which can have a devastating<br />
impact on survival rates.<br />
Dr Jon McCormack, Clinical Lead<br />
for Paediatric Major Trauma,<br />
NHS Lothian explained that<br />
having access to a helipad plays<br />
an important role in optimising<br />
patient flow pathways for both<br />
planned and emergency transfers.<br />
He said, “The helipad will<br />
provide access to hospital<br />
services 24 hours a day, seven<br />
days a week, with three trained<br />
helideck responders being<br />
available to ensure safe landing<br />
and departure. This will help<br />
to enhance patient care by<br />
facilitating a seamless transition of<br />
patients from the air ambulance to<br />
in-patient services.”<br />
The helipad was part funded<br />
through the HELP Appeal, an<br />
initiative aimed at ensuring that<br />
patients who sustain life threatening<br />
critical injuries are able to be flown<br />
directly by air ambulance to a<br />
Major Trauma Centre, where all<br />
the specialist clinical skills and<br />
medical equipment are immediately<br />
available, improving their chances<br />
of survival and recovery. The HELP<br />
Appeal is the only charity in the<br />
country funding helipads at key<br />
hospitals.<br />
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive<br />
of the HELP Appeal said, “The<br />
amazing Royal Hospital for Children<br />
and Young People and the Royal<br />
Infirmary of Edinburgh treat<br />
some of the most seriously ill in<br />
Scotland. This lifesaving helipad will<br />
dramatically speed up the time it<br />
takes to transfer these patients from<br />
helicopter to hospital anytime of the<br />
day or night, giving them the best<br />
chance of survival and recovery.<br />
“We had no hesitation in providing<br />
the £700,000 needed to ensure<br />
the hospitals had a state of the art<br />
helipad – a crucial element in their<br />
emergency care offering – as it<br />
will save many lives.<br />
“With brand new helipads opening<br />
in Applecross and Campbeltown,<br />
and the helipad opening in<br />
Edinburgh today, we are so<br />
pleased that the HELP Appeal<br />
is making a positive impact in<br />
emergency care across Scotland.<br />
We look forward to helping many<br />
more hospitals secure helipads in<br />
the future.”<br />
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief<br />
Executive, NHS Lothian said,<br />
“We are incredibly grateful for<br />
the support of the HELP Appeal<br />
in part-funding our new helipad.<br />
It really will make a positive<br />
difference to our patients and<br />
will no doubt save many lives not<br />
just here in Lothian, but across<br />
Scotland.”<br />
SECAMB<br />
Long service and<br />
achievements<br />
celebrated with<br />
virtual awards<br />
South East Coast <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service NHS Foundation Trust<br />
(SECAmb) staff and volunteers<br />
have been recognised for their<br />
long service and achievements<br />
in a virtual online awards<br />
ceremony.<br />
The event was arranged after<br />
SECAmb had to postpone two<br />
of its annual awards ceremonies<br />
in March 2020 due to COVID-19.<br />
Staff were given the choice to<br />
attend the virtual event or attend a<br />
future traditional ceremony when<br />
possible.<br />
The Lord Lieutenants of East<br />
Sussex and Surrey, Sir Peter Field<br />
and Michael More-Molyneux<br />
attended to recognise and<br />
congratulate staff receiving<br />
Queen’s Medals for Long Service<br />
and Good Conduct. The High<br />
Sherriff of Surrey, Shahid Azeem,<br />
was also in attendance. Staff and<br />
volunteers also picked up long<br />
service awards for 10, 20, 30 and<br />
an amazing 40 years’ NHS service<br />
(list of SECamb awards winners<br />
below).<br />
Marking 40 years keeping<br />
ambulances on the road was<br />
vehicle maintenance technician,<br />
Andrew Beech from Chertsey.<br />
Also celebrating 40 years was<br />
Worthing-based paramedic Chris<br />
Williams.<br />
Chris’s four decades with the<br />
ambulance service include<br />
attending numerous note-worthy<br />
incidents including being one of<br />
the first ambulance personnel<br />
in attendance at the Brighton<br />
bombing in 1984 and being part<br />
of the <strong>UK</strong>’s emergency response<br />
to Ebola in Sierra Leone in 2014.<br />
Staff also received Chief<br />
Executive commendations for<br />
their achievements. (Full list<br />
below). Among those receiving<br />
commendations was Brighton<br />
paramedic and operational<br />
team leader, Amy Brooker, for<br />
the support provided to a newly<br />
qualified paramedic struggling<br />
following a relocation from<br />
another ambulance service.<br />
Elsewhere Polegate-based<br />
Operations Manager, Nicole<br />
Barrow was recognised for<br />
the care and compassion she<br />
provided a colleague who was<br />
at the end of her life, following a<br />
battle with cancer.<br />
Team of the Year went to the<br />
Trust’s Mental Health Team for<br />
their dedication to improving<br />
mental health support to both<br />
patients and staff and their<br />
work to introduce mental health<br />
professionals in the Trust’s 999<br />
Emergency Operations Centres.<br />
SECAmb’s Employee of the Year<br />
Award this year went to <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Technician, Steve McIntosh. Steve<br />
has served the Brighton area for<br />
some 25 years and undertakes a<br />
wide range of extra-curricular roles.<br />
He plays a vital role in promoting<br />
the importance of staff welfare<br />
78<br />
For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
through his work as the local<br />
representative for The <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service Charity (TASC), which<br />
fundraises to help staff facing<br />
difficult times get the support they<br />
need.<br />
SECAmb Chief Executive Philip<br />
Astle said: “I am really pleased<br />
that we have been able to<br />
recognise some of the staff who<br />
were unable to receive their<br />
awards in March last year. I am<br />
always extremely humbled by<br />
the dedication of the decades of<br />
service we mark and incredibly<br />
proud of the special achievements<br />
of our commendation winners.<br />
These achievements are just a<br />
small selection of the amazing<br />
work which goes on day-in, dayout<br />
across our region.<br />
“This year has been particularly<br />
challenging for staff and it is vital<br />
that we continue to recognise<br />
the commitment shown to their<br />
communities and each other.<br />
I would like to thank the Lord<br />
Lieutenants of East Sussex and<br />
Surrey, Sir Peter Field and Michael<br />
More-Molyneux as well as the<br />
High Sheriff of Surrey, Shahid<br />
Azeem for being part of this<br />
unique event. I would also take<br />
this opportunity to thank all staff,<br />
whatever their role and length<br />
of service, for commitment they<br />
show and the work they do to<br />
serve patients across our region.”<br />
GNAAS<br />
Test and screening<br />
regime helps keep<br />
air ambulance<br />
charity flying high<br />
The Great North Air <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service has found a clever way<br />
of supporting its fundraising<br />
team in the community – by<br />
partnering with local firm<br />
Circular 1 Health to offer<br />
COVID-19 test and screening<br />
services for any employee<br />
wishing to take part.<br />
More than 400 COVID testing kits<br />
are being donated by Circular<br />
1 Health every four weeks to<br />
GNAAS’ bases at Progress<br />
House, near Eaglescliffe in<br />
County Durham, and Langwathby<br />
in north Cumbria.<br />
A regime of weekly testing and<br />
screening performed by Circular<br />
1 Health scientists is available to<br />
all staff working for GNAAS, since<br />
the offices are shared with the<br />
aircrew and clinical staff.<br />
Jim Entwistle, Head of Marketing<br />
and Communications for GNAAS,<br />
says that all charity fundraising<br />
has been severely hampered by<br />
the pandemic: “Despite the strain<br />
on resources, we still responded<br />
to 1200 incidents last year and<br />
expect this year to be busier<br />
as we come out of lockdown<br />
and visitors and local people<br />
take advantage of our beautiful<br />
countryside.<br />
“We never take the support<br />
of business and the public<br />
for granted and thanks to the<br />
generosity of Circular 1 Health,<br />
we have the option of regular<br />
testing as part of a series of<br />
measures to help our team to<br />
actively resume their fundraising<br />
activities.”<br />
Stuart Maclennan, the founder<br />
of Circular 1 Health which is<br />
headquartered in Carlisle, says<br />
he is delighted to offer the testing<br />
kits and access to his laboratories<br />
for such a worthwhile charity: “It’s<br />
a privilege for me and the team to<br />
know that we’re playing a small<br />
part in helping the air ambulance<br />
to ultimately save lives by offering<br />
a service that supports its people,<br />
its pilots and its clinical teams.”<br />
The Great North Air <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service costs more than £5<br />
million p.a to run and is entirely<br />
funded through charitable<br />
donations. It operates throughout<br />
the North East, Cumbria and<br />
North Yorkshire.<br />
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NEWSLINE<br />
SCAS<br />
SCAS Chief Executive<br />
joins the ultimate<br />
challenge to raise<br />
money for the<br />
ambulance staff<br />
charity<br />
SCAS Chief Executive, Will<br />
Hancock, has joined forces with<br />
colleagues from the College<br />
of Paramedics, Association of<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Chief Executives<br />
and East Midlands <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service to raise money for The<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Staff Charity.<br />
Completing the fastest zipline in<br />
the world and climbing Mount<br />
Snowdon at night might not be<br />
everyone’s idea of fun, but for<br />
Anna Parry, Kerry Gulliver, Tracy<br />
Nicholls and Will Hancock, they<br />
are hoping there will be plenty of<br />
laughs along the way when they<br />
take part in the tough Ultimate<br />
Fundraising Challenge to raise<br />
money for The <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
Charity – TASC – on 17 July, <strong>2021</strong>.<br />
Will, has been joined by Anna,<br />
who is the Deputy Managing<br />
Director of the Association of<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Chief Executives<br />
(AACE), Kerry, the Director<br />
of Human Resources and<br />
Organisational Development<br />
at East Midlands <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service, and Tracy, the CEO of<br />
the College of Paramedics, and<br />
they have decided to team up to<br />
raise £5,000 for TASC which helps<br />
care for the mental, physical and<br />
financial wellbeing of the <strong>UK</strong>’s<br />
ambulance community.<br />
Tracey said: “When I came up with<br />
this challenge it honestly seemed<br />
like a good idea in my head<br />
but now that it’s just over three<br />
months away the thought of the<br />
zip wire is absolutely terrifying me.<br />
It doesn’t help that my fitness isn’t<br />
the best. I walk my dogs a couple<br />
of miles a day but I’m really going<br />
to have to do more than that if I<br />
have any hope of completing this<br />
challenge. That’s why I’m keen to<br />
hear from any kind ambulance folk<br />
who can give me any good tips or<br />
advice on how best to train.”<br />
She added: “To say this challenge<br />
is outside the norm for me is<br />
an understatement but I’m<br />
determined to see it through and<br />
raise as much money as we can.<br />
I have been a lifelong member of<br />
the ambulance family and have<br />
lost friends and colleagues during<br />
the pandemic. But more than<br />
that, there seems to be literally<br />
nowhere else for our profession to<br />
go when they need help, except<br />
for TASC. How can you do a job<br />
like this, at a time like this, and not<br />
be affected? TASC do an amazing<br />
job at helping but I know how<br />
fragile funding streams can be so<br />
anything we can do to assist is<br />
important.”<br />
On 17 July, the foursome will step<br />
out of their comfort zones to take<br />
on Velocity, the fastest zipline in the<br />
world. Travelling at speeds of over<br />
100mph, this adrenalin-inducing<br />
challenge has been described<br />
as the ‘nearest thing to flying’ as<br />
participants soar over Penrhyn<br />
Quarry and get to experience<br />
spectacular views of the North<br />
Wales coastline and beyond.<br />
But the excitement doesn’t end<br />
there. Later that evening, they<br />
will be lacing up their walking<br />
boots, turning on their torches<br />
and trekking up 3560ft to the top<br />
of Mount Snowdon – the highest<br />
mountain in England and Wales<br />
– in a bid to raise much-needed<br />
funds for TASC.<br />
Anna Parry said: “I’ve actually<br />
climbed Snowdonia before but in<br />
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TESTED<br />
daylight. For me, the toughest part<br />
of this challenge is going to be<br />
facing my fear – the zip wire. The<br />
closest I’ve ever come to anything<br />
like this is when I did a tandem skydive<br />
in Australia in my 20s which I<br />
loved….until my parachute failed to<br />
open. Fortunately, the reserve did!<br />
“I’m hoping the zipline won’t be<br />
so nerve-wracking, but even if it is<br />
I knew I had to be involved in this<br />
challenge because ambulance<br />
service staff have done such a<br />
tremendous job over the last 12<br />
months, as they always do. This<br />
is an opportunity to give a little<br />
back and support TASC in the<br />
great work they do for the sector,<br />
alongside trusts, in ensuring staff<br />
are able to access the mental<br />
health and wellbeing resources<br />
they might need.”<br />
Will Hancock agrees. He<br />
explained: “This ticks a lot of<br />
boxes for me – a charity doing<br />
hugely important work at a<br />
time when it has never been<br />
more essential. And personally<br />
speaking, I want to encourage<br />
everyone in the ambulance sector<br />
to ask for help if they need it. We<br />
know it is the hardest step yet it<br />
is the most important. It is vital<br />
to look after people who need<br />
help and who have committed<br />
themselves to helping others.”<br />
Kerry Gulliver says she<br />
wholeheartedly supports the<br />
work of TASC and jumped at<br />
the chance to take part in the<br />
fundraising challenge when<br />
asked. She said: “Our staff in the<br />
ambulance service do a difficult<br />
job, often under very challenging<br />
circumstances, providing care for<br />
patients when they need it most.<br />
This can have an impact on their<br />
mental health and wellbeing,<br />
which is why it is so important<br />
that we focus on doing whatever<br />
we can do to ensure that our<br />
ambulance staff can access<br />
the relevant support when they<br />
need it. TASC play a vital role in<br />
caring for the mental health and<br />
wellbeing of ambulance staff and<br />
their families, and that’s why I’m<br />
taking part in this challenge.”<br />
As someone who has been<br />
helped enormously by TASC,<br />
ambulance technician Wayne<br />
Thomson, is delighted that<br />
the charity will benefit from the<br />
Ultimate Fundraising Challenge.<br />
He said: “Without TASC’s help<br />
I would still be suffering with<br />
my PTSD and on medication to<br />
control my moods. My family<br />
and I are so grateful to TASC, we<br />
can’t thank them enough. Helps<br />
is there, don’t suffer in silence;<br />
just ask.”<br />
To show your support for Anna,<br />
Kerry, Tracy and Will, you can<br />
donate via their JustGiving page<br />
at https://www.justgiving.com/<br />
fundraising/tracy-anna-will-kerry<br />
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AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
For the latest <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com<br />
81
NEWSLINE<br />
NWAS<br />
Meet Team NWAS<br />
siblings Gene and<br />
Lewis Quinn<br />
on their clinical knowledge in an<br />
emergency setting and seeing<br />
them put it into practice. I act as<br />
an extra arm of support – a terribly<br />
exciting and daunting thing all at<br />
the same time.<br />
demand is really key to making<br />
good decisions.<br />
Do you ever get to work<br />
together on anything or see<br />
each other on duty?<br />
on the back of an ambulance where<br />
older people are not afraid to tell me<br />
how much they do not like it, which<br />
keeps me humble! It is a wonderful<br />
vocation that I can no longer see my<br />
life without.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
From the armed forces to life<br />
in performance and singing,<br />
brothers Gene and Lewis Quinn<br />
started their careers on very<br />
different paths! Fast forward 16<br />
years and they are both very<br />
much pillars within our green<br />
family.<br />
Lewis (LQ) joined Team NWAS<br />
in 2015 as a full-time practicebased<br />
educator in our Education<br />
and Training Team. Lewis keeps<br />
connected to his emergency<br />
practice by also working shifts on<br />
the road as a qualified emergency<br />
medical technician (EMT).<br />
Gene (GQ) joined the ambulance<br />
service in 2005 and was the first<br />
direct entry paramedic into the then-<br />
Merseyside Regional <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service and has enjoyed many<br />
roles within his career. Gene has<br />
recently moved roles from interim<br />
head of service for Cheshire and<br />
Merseyside to interim head of<br />
service for Cumbria and Lancashire.<br />
Many ambulance crew colleagues<br />
will see Gene doing the job they<br />
do as he is a qualified paramedic<br />
and also works a shift on the road<br />
each month in addition to his<br />
responsibilities as head of service.<br />
What do you like about your roles?<br />
LQ – It’s being with the new<br />
learners, helping them to build<br />
In terms of being an EMT, I<br />
consider it a privilege to do the<br />
work that we do as we help people<br />
at their most vulnerable moments.<br />
I’m now pursuing further training<br />
to become a paramedic, but the<br />
EMT experience as a foundation<br />
for pursuing paramedic training is<br />
incontrovertible!<br />
GQ – I love working with our teams<br />
across the organisation to provide<br />
support for all. As a paramedic<br />
doing my best for patients, but<br />
also seeing how all the varied parts<br />
of NWAS connect to enable us to<br />
deliver our services.<br />
What can be tough about your<br />
role?<br />
LQ – The notion that I can’t be<br />
with every learner all at once, as<br />
much as I would like to be! So<br />
much of my role involves making<br />
sure that learners have the right<br />
support and so I reinforce this as<br />
much as I possibly can.<br />
GQ – Decisions can sometimes<br />
be tough, you have to consider<br />
lots of competing demands on<br />
the situation you are faced with<br />
and manage any unintended<br />
consequences. So taking time<br />
to sit and think through complex<br />
matters at times when we are<br />
dealing with high levels of activity/<br />
LQ – We have worked together<br />
twice! One was an interesting shift<br />
in the heart of Liverpool when I<br />
first was on the road. Gene was<br />
my boss and I felt really nervous<br />
as I wanted my emergency<br />
response driving to be good! The<br />
second time I was much more<br />
relaxed as we worked together<br />
to provide emergency cover at a<br />
football match.<br />
From my perspective it has been<br />
a really wonderful thing to see<br />
how much respect Gene has as<br />
a clinician on the road. He was a<br />
clinical mentor first and foremost<br />
and he takes that with him<br />
wherever he goes and in whatever<br />
role he operates within. Gene has<br />
predominantly worked in Cheshire<br />
and Merseyside throughout his<br />
career and I am based in Cumbria<br />
and Lancashire which has meant<br />
we have seen less of each other<br />
in work. However with Gene’s new<br />
position as interim head of service<br />
for Cumbria and Lancashire, our<br />
paths may cross a little more!<br />
GQ – Communication plays such<br />
a big part of teamwork between<br />
crews. Working with my brother<br />
is ace, I know from a look or<br />
expression if something isn’t right<br />
or if he needs something. I enjoy<br />
working with family members and<br />
I’m sure now we’re in the same<br />
area of the North West, we will<br />
team up again.<br />
Did you both always want to<br />
join the ambulance service?<br />
LQ – No. I had a life before in<br />
education and training in performing<br />
and singing; I have sung in America,<br />
Europe, and the <strong>UK</strong>. I am an<br />
operatic tenor and so get to sing all<br />
of the romantic/heroic roles which I<br />
love. I often used my singing skills<br />
GQ – I didn’t have a clue what I<br />
wanted to do when I left school,<br />
other than being a wildlife<br />
filmmaker! I found myself qualifying<br />
as a paramedic in the Royal Navy<br />
and it felt a natural progression to<br />
join the ambulance service when I<br />
left the armed forces. I have loved<br />
all my roles in the ambulance<br />
service since the first day I joined<br />
and I would advocate NWAS as a<br />
brilliant employer.<br />
SECAMB<br />
Medway paramedic<br />
recognised for<br />
outstanding service<br />
A South East Coast <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service, (SECAmb), paramedic<br />
from Kent has been recognised<br />
with an Outstanding Service<br />
Award at this year’s <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Leadership Forum (ALF).<br />
Jenna Gibson, based at Medway<br />
ambulance station, picked up the<br />
award at the annual conference<br />
which was held virtually on<br />
Tuesday 18 May.<br />
Jenna, who has a hearing<br />
impairment, was recognised for her<br />
work at SECAmb developing a new<br />
way of informing colleagues and<br />
other emergency services of her<br />
and others disability when working.<br />
Jenna came up with the idea<br />
which sees SECAmb staff with<br />
a hearing impairment able to<br />
request a specially-designed pin<br />
badge to wear on their epaulettes.<br />
The badge will mean any SECAmb<br />
staff with hearing issues can be<br />
identified easily at the scene of<br />
an incident or in the workplace<br />
potentially without having to<br />
explain their impairment each time.<br />
82<br />
For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
NEWSLINE<br />
Jenna, who qualified as a<br />
paramedic eight years ago, was<br />
diagnosed with chronic middle ear<br />
disease prior to starting university<br />
and has had to undergo several<br />
surgeries meaning that she now<br />
requires hearing aids in both ears.<br />
award for her work in raising<br />
awareness and improving<br />
the working environment for<br />
her colleagues. It’s really well<br />
deserved and I was pleased to<br />
present Jenna with her award<br />
last week ahead of today’s<br />
virtual event. It’s also fitting that<br />
a SECAmb paramedic has<br />
been recognised in the year<br />
that we mark 50 years since<br />
the <strong>UK</strong>’s first paramedics<br />
began responding to patients in<br />
Brighton.”<br />
Jenna said: “I am very proud to<br />
receive this award and would like<br />
to thank my colleagues for their<br />
help in making this idea come<br />
to life. I really hope the badge<br />
along with increased awareness<br />
can make communicating at<br />
work easier for staff, our partners<br />
and in turn our patients.”<br />
Jenna produced a short video<br />
to explain how communication<br />
with people with hearing<br />
impairments can be improved –<br />
especially given the difficulties<br />
wearing a mask during the<br />
pandemic creates. The video<br />
can be viewed on YouTube<br />
here: https://www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=wxR9JGGa8Sg.<br />
A further short film focusing on<br />
why Jenna came up with the idea<br />
can also be viewed on YouTube<br />
here: https://www.youtube.com/<br />
watch?v=vP98ZUGjF3A<br />
SECAmb Chief Executive, Philip<br />
Astle said: “I’m delighted Jenna<br />
has received this prestigious<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
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AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Newsline? Please contact us and let us know.<br />
83
NEWSLINE<br />
LAS<br />
London <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service holds<br />
memorial event<br />
held to remember<br />
colleagues who have<br />
passed away<br />
On Thursday 13 May staff<br />
and volunteers across<br />
London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
came together to remember<br />
colleagues who passed away in<br />
the last year.<br />
At an event outside our<br />
headquarters building, Chief<br />
Executive Garrett Emmerson,<br />
our Trust Board Chair Heather<br />
Lawrence OBE, Deputy Chief<br />
Executive and Chief Operating<br />
Officer Khadir Meer and Chief<br />
Medical Officer Dr Fenella Wrigley<br />
joined a small group of staff in our<br />
new memorial garden.<br />
Garrett and Heather spoke of<br />
the immeasurable loss of our<br />
colleagues. A minute silence was<br />
then held.<br />
This was also an opportunity as<br />
a Service to reflect on what has<br />
been an extremely difficult year<br />
and to come together to support<br />
colleagues who have lost a<br />
loved one during the coronavirus<br />
pandemic.<br />
Due to the coronavirus restrictions<br />
on large gatherings of people, the<br />
event took place with a limited<br />
number of attendees – but it<br />
was live streamed to colleagues<br />
across the Service to watch inbetween<br />
taking 999 and 111 calls,<br />
responding to calls and carrying<br />
out other duties and was made<br />
available for staff and volunteers<br />
to watch back at a time of their<br />
choosing.<br />
Sadly, 19 members of London<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Service staff and<br />
contractors have passed away<br />
in 2020 and <strong>2021</strong>, some with<br />
COVID-19.<br />
The event was the first to be<br />
held in a newly-refurbished area<br />
outside our headquarters building,<br />
in a new memorial garden which<br />
was completed in recent weeks.<br />
The memorial garden was<br />
designed to be a space for our<br />
staff and volunteers to be able<br />
to reflect and to remember all<br />
colleagues we have lost over the<br />
years.<br />
A plaque in the garden reads:<br />
“There are special people in our<br />
lives who never leave us, even<br />
after they are gone.”<br />
London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service’s<br />
Chief Executive, Garrett<br />
Emmerson, said:<br />
“The last year has been<br />
extremely difficult for us all,<br />
with the coronavirus pandemic<br />
taking a terrible toll on London<br />
and on communities across the<br />
country.<br />
“Sadly, our organisation<br />
has also experienced the<br />
immeasurable sadness of<br />
losing colleagues – who, as well<br />
as being colleagues, are muchloved<br />
and missed friends.<br />
“This afternoon we came<br />
together to remember them and<br />
to think of their loved ones and<br />
all who have lost someone over<br />
the past year.<br />
“Our new memorial garden will<br />
provide our hard-working teams<br />
a place for quiet reflection<br />
and to remember their late<br />
colleagues and friends for years<br />
to come.”<br />
SWASFT<br />
Assaults against<br />
ambulance<br />
colleagues rise<br />
during pandemic<br />
South Western <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service NHS Foundation<br />
Trust (SWASFT) workers are<br />
continuing to experience an<br />
escalating number of assaults<br />
and abuse by patients.<br />
SWASFT colleagues reported<br />
1,747 incidents of violence and<br />
aggression from patients and<br />
other members of the public<br />
during the 12 months after the <strong>UK</strong><br />
first went into lockdown last year.<br />
The figures, from 24 March 2020<br />
to 23 March <strong>2021</strong>, include 515<br />
verbal abuse incidents, 447<br />
aggressive behaviour incidents,<br />
and 322 physical assaults.<br />
They represent a 33% increase<br />
in reported incidents from the<br />
previous 12 months.<br />
Newly Qualified Paramedics Dan<br />
Williams and Kyiah Ellis were<br />
among those assaulted on duty<br />
by a patient.<br />
They responded to a potentially<br />
serious incident, involving a man<br />
who was reportedly unconscious<br />
on a bus, in the Weston area of<br />
Bath on 12 February.<br />
The man, who appeared to be<br />
under the influence of drugs,<br />
became physically and verbally<br />
aggressive soon after they arrived<br />
around 6.50pm.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
He exited the bus, headbutted its<br />
wing mirror and windscreen, and<br />
punched a parked car.<br />
Dan and Kyiah called for police<br />
assistance and retreated onto the<br />
bus for their safety.<br />
The man re-entered the bus<br />
and spat in Dan’s eye, while<br />
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NEWSLINE<br />
continuing to shout at him and<br />
Kyiah. He was arrested by police,<br />
taken into custody and charged.<br />
The man was convicted at Bath<br />
Magistrates’ Court on 15 February<br />
of three charges of assaulting<br />
emergency services workers, and<br />
one charge of criminal damage.<br />
He was sentenced to 32 weeks<br />
in prison and ordered to pay a<br />
total of £300 compensation to the<br />
victims.<br />
Dan and Kyiah said: “We<br />
welcome the prosecution, and<br />
thank the police and SWASFT<br />
for their support throughout this.<br />
We are disappointed that simply<br />
doing our job, and ultimately<br />
likely saving the life of the patient,<br />
resulted in us being assaulted<br />
and fearing for our own safety.<br />
Assaults against our ambulance<br />
colleagues are never acceptable,<br />
and leave a lasting effect on those<br />
there simply to help.”<br />
Another man was jailed for six<br />
months on 28 January following<br />
his assault on Paramedic Matt<br />
Bryant who was called to treat him<br />
in Plymouth.<br />
Matt said: “We are working so<br />
hard to help people during a<br />
global pandemic. But assaults<br />
are becoming more of a regular<br />
occurrence, and they have a<br />
significant impact on us.”<br />
Paramedic Mike Jones, who is<br />
SWASFT’s Violence Reduction<br />
Lead, said: “Sadly our people are<br />
victim every day to unacceptable<br />
behaviour from a minority of<br />
patients and other members of<br />
the public, while they are serving<br />
the communities of the South<br />
West and saving lives. Any such<br />
incident can have a lasting impact<br />
on them, their loved ones, and<br />
other colleagues.<br />
“We take whatever is necessary<br />
to protect our people from harm,<br />
including doing all we can to<br />
ensure offenders are prosecuted<br />
through the criminal justice<br />
system.<br />
“Please respect our people, and<br />
help them to help you.”<br />
The #Unacceptable campaign,<br />
launched in 2018, aims to<br />
highlight the abuse and assaults<br />
faced by emergency services<br />
workers while on the job.<br />
Bluelight <strong>UK</strong> Ltd<br />
When it comes to ambulance<br />
vehicles, there are very few<br />
with the expertise of Bluelight<br />
<strong>UK</strong> Ltd in their field. When<br />
the business started back<br />
in 2003, it’s purpose was to<br />
assist leasing companies in the<br />
disposal of their ambulance<br />
vehicles. They would arrange<br />
end of lease inspections,<br />
asset valuations and would<br />
purchase the vehicles from<br />
various leasing companies.<br />
They quickly developed a<br />
good reputation for their work<br />
ethic and became market<br />
leaders, having since provided<br />
ambulance and PTS vehicles to<br />
NHS Trusts, private ambulance<br />
services, major industries,<br />
charities and export markets.<br />
The business continued to<br />
grow.<br />
The Covid19 outbreak didn’t<br />
stop them. With their event<br />
cover rental fleet officially “out<br />
of service”, they assisted other<br />
private ambulance services with<br />
rental vehicles, and provided an<br />
outlet for leasing companies to<br />
dispose of their ageing fleets.<br />
Their no-nonsense ability to<br />
change with the times has helped<br />
future-proof their business model<br />
and will keep the wheels turning<br />
for many more years to come.<br />
MD, Simon Forster commented,<br />
“I love to see our customers’<br />
vehicles on the road. For me,<br />
it’s a sign that we are doing<br />
something right. I’m proud too of<br />
our customer base. Most of our<br />
customers are so loyal and help<br />
us where they can. A favour goes<br />
a long way in this industry”. The<br />
family business is dedicated to<br />
“I have been working with the<br />
sales department at O&H for<br />
the last couple of years now<br />
and have never been as excited<br />
about future products as I am<br />
now,” added Simon. “Oliver<br />
and his team have managed to<br />
combine passion with engineering<br />
prowess. That is something this<br />
industry has been missing for too<br />
long. After all, the American box<br />
ambulance was brought in over<br />
20 years ago to be remountable<br />
and was never really a success<br />
because of the lack of interest in<br />
re-engineering”.<br />
Venari’s all new Ford Transit 3.5<br />
tonne box modular ambulance<br />
will be on show at the Emergency<br />
Services Show in September.<br />
With its roomy interior and<br />
class-leading build quality, this<br />
game-changer will be available<br />
in manual or auto with many of<br />
Ford’s options as standard. The<br />
diesel versions will be available<br />
first with hybrid and electric<br />
coming on line soon. If you<br />
are interested in new or used<br />
ambulance or PTS vehicles, you<br />
can contact Bluelight <strong>UK</strong> Ltd<br />
on 01942 888800 or sales@<br />
bluelightuk.co.uk. Alternatively<br />
you can find them on www.<br />
bluelightuk.co.uk or meet Simon<br />
at Stand E51 at the Emergency<br />
Services Show <strong>2021</strong>, NEC<br />
Birmingham.<br />
customer service and loyalty with<br />
a strong emphasis on value for<br />
money. Their site in Atherton near<br />
Manchester is ideally situated for<br />
service, paint and reconfiguring<br />
vehicles, whilst their wider<br />
network allows them to supply<br />
brand new vehicles through their<br />
exclusive agency agreement<br />
with Venari Group who are the<br />
parent company of O&H Vehicle<br />
Technology.<br />
O&H is still the NHS choice for<br />
patient transport service vehicles<br />
and is without a doubt the only<br />
truly British ambulance converter<br />
with any heritage.<br />
“I love to see<br />
our customers’<br />
vehicles on the<br />
road. For me,<br />
it’s a sign that<br />
we are doing<br />
something right.<br />
I’m proud too<br />
of our customer<br />
base.”<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
For the latest <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com<br />
85
NEWSLINE<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
NEAS<br />
Life-saving initiative<br />
for the Tees area<br />
New scheme assists<br />
communities most at need to<br />
purchase defibrillators<br />
Hundreds more lives will be saved<br />
across the Tees Valley in a new<br />
partnership between the North<br />
East <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service (NEAS)<br />
and Labmask.<br />
Money generated by the Labmask<br />
initiative, based at the Stokesleybased<br />
company Labman<br />
Automation, which supplied crucial<br />
personal protective equipment<br />
to the NHS at the height of the<br />
pandemic, is being ploughed<br />
back in to community resuscitation<br />
equipment across the Tees area.<br />
The investment of £50,000 of<br />
Labmask funds over the next<br />
14 months, together with NEAS<br />
charitable Trust Fund backing, will<br />
go towards helping communities<br />
purchase their own defibrillators and<br />
learn vital CPR skills and knowledge.<br />
Fewer than one in 20 people<br />
currently survive a cardiac arrest<br />
in the North East. This is the<br />
lowest rate in England lower<br />
than other European countries<br />
where the rate of survival is as<br />
much as one in two in some<br />
places. Amongst the factors that<br />
contribute to this is people not<br />
recognising that someone’s heart<br />
has stopped, people’s reluctance<br />
to start CPR and also the lack of<br />
early access to a defibrillator.<br />
Rob Hodgson, Senior Manager at<br />
Labman Automation and Labmask<br />
representative said: “We were<br />
looking to assist with a project<br />
that not only helps health care<br />
professionals, but also helps the<br />
community. This partnership with the<br />
NEAS allows us to ensure the North<br />
East is as safe as we can make it.”<br />
The company has manufactured<br />
hundreds of thousands of plastic<br />
face shields for hospitals to help<br />
with protection against COVID.<br />
They chose to work with NEAS<br />
because the ambulance service’s<br />
charitable fund had already been<br />
targeting areas where defibrillators<br />
were lacking in the community<br />
and supporting residents with a<br />
grant to support the purchase of<br />
life-saving equipment.<br />
Kevin Scollay, group director of<br />
finance for North East <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service, said: “By working together<br />
we can help fund public access<br />
defibrillators in areas we have<br />
identified as being in most need,<br />
as well as delivering familiarisation<br />
sessions to the communities,<br />
showing people how to deliver CPR<br />
and use a defibrillator, reducing<br />
peoples’ fears and anxiety about<br />
around cardiac arrest.”<br />
Within five minutes of someone’s<br />
heart stopping beating (cardiac<br />
arrest), there can be irreversible<br />
brain damage as a result of a<br />
lack of blood and oxygen. And<br />
for every minute that passes<br />
without CPR (pumping on the<br />
person’s chest) and defibrillation,<br />
the chance of survival decreases<br />
between 7 to 10 percent.<br />
Alex Mason, community<br />
resuscitation officer for NEAS,<br />
said: “The chance of survival<br />
increases just by someone<br />
realising what’s happened<br />
and calling an ambulance<br />
quickly. If they then start chest<br />
compressions, they are buying<br />
time and keeping the person’s<br />
brain supplied with blood and<br />
oxygen; and increase that chance<br />
of survival by 8 percent. If there<br />
is a defibrillator available and<br />
someone uses it, the chance<br />
increases by 20 percent.”<br />
The aim of this life-saving<br />
scheme is to increase the number<br />
defibrillators across the Tees<br />
Valley area where they are most<br />
needed. As communities in these<br />
identified areas come forward,<br />
NEAS and money from Labmask<br />
will partially fund the purchase of<br />
new defibrillators to be stored in<br />
weatherproof cabinets fixed to the<br />
outside of buildings. They will be<br />
available to the public 24 hours<br />
a day by calling 999. In addition,<br />
information and training for<br />
defibrillator use will be provided<br />
via familiarisation sessions, online<br />
videos and leaflets.<br />
YAS<br />
Prestigious national<br />
award for ambulance<br />
nurses<br />
Two nurses at Yorkshire<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Service have been<br />
honoured for their outstanding<br />
leadership by Ruth May, Chief<br />
Nursing Officer for England.<br />
Clare Ashby, Deputy Director<br />
of Quality and Nursing, and Iffa<br />
Settle, Head of Safety and Infection<br />
Prevention and Control (IP&C)<br />
Lead, have received Chief Nursing<br />
Officer Silver Awards which<br />
recognise major contributions to<br />
patients and the profession by<br />
nurses and midwives.<br />
They were presented with their<br />
accolades by Ruth May via video<br />
link on 28 April.<br />
She said: “I am delighted to be<br />
able to present Clare and Iffa<br />
with Chief Nursing Officer awards<br />
and recognise their inspirational<br />
leadership at Yorkshire<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Service.<br />
“They are both amazing and<br />
inspirational nurse leaders and I<br />
am really pleased that I have been<br />
able to personally thank them for<br />
their work.”<br />
Iffa Settle and Clare Ashby (L-R)<br />
Clare and Iffa were nominated by<br />
Steve Page, Executive Director<br />
of Quality, Governance and<br />
Performance Assurance for<br />
Yorkshire <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service.<br />
He said: “Clare and Iffa are key<br />
leaders in quality and safety and<br />
the Trust’s two qualified infection<br />
protection and control (IP&C)<br />
nurses.<br />
“In 2018-19 they made the<br />
case and led work to champion<br />
a £500,000 development for<br />
replacement of FFP3 masks with<br />
respiratory protective hoods for<br />
frontline staff, then leading the<br />
training and introduction into<br />
practice. This has proven very<br />
prescient and fundamentally<br />
improved our ability to protect<br />
staff against respiratory infection<br />
risks including COVID-19.<br />
“Beyond the impressive delivery<br />
of their day jobs, they have<br />
been amazing as a team during<br />
COVID-19 from its onset. They have<br />
provided specialist (frequently 24/7)<br />
IP&C leadership and have given<br />
intensive support and guidance<br />
for individual staff. They have<br />
supported the Trust and its staff<br />
through extremely challenging and<br />
uncharted situations.<br />
“They display visible and<br />
energised leadership,<br />
demonstrating the value of<br />
nursing skills, experience and<br />
patient-centred ethos in the<br />
multi-professional ambulance<br />
service environment. They have<br />
led developments resulting in<br />
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multiple improvements in patient<br />
care and a sustained reduction<br />
in musculoskeletal injury for<br />
staff. They are champions of our<br />
just, learning culture, constantly<br />
seeking opportunities to improve<br />
patient and staff safety. They<br />
are excellent team players and<br />
dynamic problem solvers, valued<br />
by clinical and non-clinical<br />
colleagues alike.<br />
“They are a massive credit to<br />
their profession and provide<br />
visible, inspirational and trusted<br />
leadership to their colleagues.”<br />
On receiving the award, Iffa, who<br />
lives in York, said: “This award<br />
is so humbling – we have an<br />
amazing team around us and<br />
that’s what makes being a nurse<br />
in Yorkshire <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
such a privilege.”<br />
GWAAC<br />
Great Western Air<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Charity<br />
- Busiest week on<br />
record for our crew<br />
GWAAC saw a record number<br />
of call-outs during the week<br />
12 –18 April with the crew<br />
responding to 52 incidents<br />
across the week.<br />
Our Critical Care Team bring the<br />
lifesaving skills of an emergency<br />
department directly to those<br />
in urgent need. Usually, they<br />
respond to around five patients a<br />
day, however, last week saw that<br />
rise to more than seven a day on<br />
average, with Friday 16th seeing<br />
them respond to 11 incidents<br />
During this time last year, they<br />
saw a significant drop in their<br />
call-outs, with just 77 incidents<br />
across the whole of April, but<br />
the recent ease in lockdown<br />
restrictions has seen numbers rise<br />
even higher than they were before<br />
the pandemic. In April 2019, they<br />
responded to 162 critically ill or<br />
injured patients, this year they<br />
are expecting a 20% increase in<br />
these figures, responding to an<br />
emergency every three hours on<br />
average this month so far.<br />
The team have seen a significant<br />
rise in trauma-related incidents,<br />
with the charity normally<br />
experiencing a 50/50 split between<br />
medical and trauma emergencies.<br />
Last week, 77% of call-outs were<br />
trauma-related, including 13 road<br />
traffic collisions as well as falls,<br />
they have used a broad range<br />
of their pre-hospital emergency<br />
care skills. From emergency<br />
blood transfusions to performing<br />
open chest surgery or placing a<br />
critically ill patient on a ventilator,<br />
the crews worked hard to improve<br />
the chance of a positive outcome<br />
for patients not expected to make<br />
it to hospital alive.<br />
GWAAC receives no day-today<br />
funding from the NHS or<br />
Government and relies on the<br />
communities we serve to raise<br />
the money needed to remain<br />
operational. At the same time as<br />
the demands on our emergency<br />
response service picked up, we<br />
re-opened our shop in Westburyon-Trym,<br />
with the support of the<br />
local community bringing in a<br />
record £4,000 in sales over the<br />
Clare, who lives in Leeds, added:<br />
“I’m very moved to have received<br />
such an award - we have an ethos<br />
of One Team in YAS, which was so<br />
visible during the pandemic and Iffa<br />
and I wouldn’t have been able to do<br />
our jobs if we didn’t have the support<br />
from across the organisation.”<br />
alone in a single day.<br />
The crew have remained right<br />
here and ready to respond<br />
throughout the whole of the<br />
COVID-19 pandemic, stepping<br />
up to support the NHS during<br />
the critical peak of the outbreak.<br />
stabbings, and burns.<br />
The crew’s specialist skills<br />
are incredibly important as<br />
they enable them to perform<br />
procedures usually only found in<br />
an operating theatre at the side of<br />
the roadside. Over the last week,<br />
first week – more than double<br />
what is usually expected. The<br />
charity is keen to say thank you<br />
to everyone who is supporting us<br />
in these times of high demand for<br />
our service and reduced income<br />
due to lack of normal fundraising<br />
activities.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
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NEWSLINE<br />
LNAA<br />
Lincs & Notts<br />
Air <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
receives keys to new<br />
Headquarters<br />
HELP Appeal funds its new<br />
helipad<br />
The Lincs & Notts Air <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
(LNAA) has taken possession of<br />
its new Headquarters based on<br />
A15 Sleaford Road, next to RAF<br />
Waddington.<br />
The new purpose-built home,<br />
which will see staff, crew,<br />
helicopter and Critical Care<br />
Cars under one roof for the very<br />
first time, will provide a unique<br />
opportunity for the charity<br />
to welcome former patients,<br />
schools, volunteers, donors<br />
and fundraisers to see how their<br />
support really makes a difference.<br />
The crew and helicopter moved<br />
into the new headquarters and<br />
airbase in April and staff hope to<br />
join them in their new offices once<br />
Government restrictions have<br />
been lifted at the end of <strong>June</strong>.<br />
Chief Executive Officer Karen<br />
Jobling received the keys from<br />
builders Lindum Construction<br />
this afternoon. She said: “I am<br />
absolutely delighted to have<br />
received the keys for our new<br />
headquarters. Years of planning<br />
has gone into our new, futureproof<br />
headquarters; our new<br />
facility will be fundamental to our<br />
success for a rapidly advancing<br />
operation.”<br />
“With our day-to-day operations<br />
solely funded by donations, we<br />
were delighted when we secured<br />
a capital funding grant for this<br />
new build. It was a real boost and<br />
at a time when we needed it and<br />
has allowed our dream of a new<br />
headquarters to become a reality.<br />
“Our crew and charity staff are<br />
looking forward to moving into<br />
their new home and we cannot<br />
wait to welcome visitors when<br />
restrictions allow.”<br />
A brand-new helipad situated at<br />
the site of the new headquarters<br />
has been funded from the HELP<br />
Appeal, the only charity in the<br />
country dedicated to funding<br />
helipads at NHS hospitals and<br />
also helps with the funding of<br />
helipads at AA bases.<br />
The HELP Appeal covered the<br />
entire £316,152.55 cost of building<br />
the new helipad, which features<br />
state-of-the-art lighting to enable<br />
LNAA to operate around the clock<br />
as the charity carries out more<br />
missions through the night. The<br />
donation also funded a helicopter<br />
manoeuvring area to ensure that<br />
the helicopter is ready for take-off<br />
before its next mission.<br />
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive<br />
of the HELP Appeal said: “The<br />
LNAA’s new airbase helipad will<br />
be a vital element in ensuring<br />
the crew’s success in delivering<br />
a rapid response to critically<br />
ill patients in the region. With<br />
advanced lighting technology,<br />
LNAA crew can fly anytime of the<br />
day or night to the most serious<br />
incidents to transfer patients in<br />
urgent need of specialist care<br />
to hospital. The crew can then<br />
return to land safely back at their<br />
new airbase and be ready for<br />
whenever they are needed again.<br />
“This is the charity’s 9th helipad<br />
to be funded at an air ambulance<br />
air base and the 42nd helipad<br />
across the entire country. It’s a<br />
huge milestone and I’m delighted<br />
that we are able to support the<br />
life-saving work of the team at<br />
LNAA.”<br />
Llewis Enamels, Chief Pilot at<br />
Lincs & Notts Air <strong>Ambulance</strong>,<br />
said: “We’d like to extend a huge<br />
thank you to the HELP Appeal<br />
for their very generous donation<br />
towards our new bespoke helipad.<br />
There is an awful lot of design and<br />
technology that goes into a helipad<br />
for latest generation helicopter<br />
operations like ours, such as<br />
specialised reinforced concrete<br />
without the use of metals, infrared<br />
landing lights for use through night<br />
vision goggles & composite radar<br />
friendly fencing.<br />
“Their generosity has allowed us<br />
to design exactly what we need.”<br />
In 2019, the HELP Appeal<br />
donated £69,000 to fund the<br />
installation and upgrade of<br />
helipad lights at three different<br />
landing sites frequently used<br />
by the LNAA’s life-saving crew,<br />
including Fenland Airfield in South<br />
Lincolnshire and Nottingham<br />
Airport (Tollerton). To date, the<br />
HELP Appeal has donated over<br />
£385,000 to LNAA.<br />
The HELP Appeal and Lincs &<br />
Notts Air <strong>Ambulance</strong> rely solely<br />
on charitable donations and do<br />
not receive any direct government<br />
funding or money from the<br />
National Lottery for day-to-day<br />
operations.<br />
For more information on the HELP<br />
Appeal visit www.helpappeal.<br />
org.uk or call 0800 3898 999.<br />
To find out more about the lifesaving<br />
work of the Lincs & Notts<br />
Air <strong>Ambulance</strong>, visit<br />
www.ambucopter.org.uk<br />
EMAS<br />
Australian<br />
partnership goes<br />
from strength to<br />
strength<br />
Moving away from home to<br />
start a new job in a new area is<br />
always daunting - but imagine<br />
moving over 11,000 miles away<br />
from everything you know to<br />
start a new life in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
That’s exactly what our new<br />
Australian paramedics have<br />
done as they have made the East<br />
Midlands their home and coming<br />
to work for EMAS.<br />
Working predominantly with<br />
Charles Sturt University in<br />
New South Wales and other<br />
universities in the surrounding<br />
areas, EMAS has provided a<br />
number of opportunities over the<br />
last two years for Newly Qualified<br />
Paramedics to come work on the<br />
frontline in the East Midlands.<br />
With over 50 Australian<br />
paramedics now at EMAS,<br />
we asked them about their<br />
experience so far and how they<br />
are finding life in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
Maddison Brown, 21 from<br />
Bathurst, New South Wales is one<br />
of our newest Australian recruits<br />
to the service having arrived only<br />
two months ago on a wintery day<br />
in February.<br />
Leaving behind her exceptionally<br />
proud family, Maddison took the<br />
leap to join the service, seeing the<br />
opportunity as an adventure of a<br />
lifetime.<br />
She said: “Leaving home was<br />
hard, especially as I am only<br />
21 but my family know how<br />
passionate I am about the job<br />
that I do and have told me how<br />
proud they are of me taking this<br />
opportunity.<br />
“As soon as I had my interview<br />
with EMAS, it was sold to me. I<br />
knew it would be more than just a<br />
job, it is like a family.<br />
“I very quickly realised how<br />
different it would be in the <strong>UK</strong><br />
when we were met with snow<br />
as we flew into the country and<br />
everything being on lockdown.<br />
“It has been slightly strange<br />
having to quarantine and not<br />
being able to explore my new<br />
home, but I am so fortunate to<br />
have bonded really well with<br />
my cohort and formed close<br />
friendships with them already.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
For the latest <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com<br />
89
NEWSLINE<br />
“Everyone on station has been<br />
so lovely too and with restrictions<br />
lifting soon, we know that better<br />
days are coming.”<br />
Cameron Roxburgh, 30, from<br />
Young in New South Wales has<br />
also recently joined us arriving<br />
in the <strong>UK</strong> in February along with<br />
Maddison.<br />
He said: “I was lucky enough<br />
to gain an insight into EMAS<br />
thanks to my former lecturers at<br />
university who both used to work<br />
for the service before leaving for<br />
Australia.<br />
“I am really into my travel and so<br />
it sounded like a great opportunity<br />
not to be missed. I get to explore<br />
a new part of the world, while<br />
doing a job that I love.<br />
“The <strong>UK</strong> is a beautiful country and<br />
I was lucky enough to enjoy some<br />
of it before the pandemic hit.<br />
Whilst I am enjoying being here, I<br />
do miss my family, but I am lucky<br />
that we have Facetime to keep in<br />
touch.<br />
“I don’t see myself moving back<br />
to Australia any time soon and I<br />
will be looking to extend my visa<br />
when the time comes. I am really<br />
enjoying myself at EMAS and in<br />
the <strong>UK</strong> so far and can’t wait to see<br />
what the future holds.”<br />
Mitchell Bricklebank, 25 from Nowra<br />
in New South Wales arrived in the<br />
<strong>UK</strong> on the 24 January 2020 just<br />
before the Coronavirus pandemic.<br />
Based in our Leicestershire division,<br />
he has been with EMAS for just<br />
over a year.<br />
gone into this project to make<br />
sure it is a success and that our<br />
Australian paramedics feel at<br />
home in the East Midlands.<br />
testament to the hard work put in.<br />
We not only have our first cohort<br />
renewing their visas for another<br />
two years, but we also have more<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
“Everyone has been so<br />
welcoming since we arrived, and<br />
it feels like you are part of one<br />
big family. Colleagues are always<br />
happy to talk to you and answer<br />
any questions you may have<br />
and that has played a big part in<br />
welcoming us to EMAS. It is great<br />
to now be out and about meeting<br />
the patients and helping them<br />
get the best care and solving any<br />
issues they have.”<br />
Roseanna Soundy, 23 from<br />
the Central Coast of Australia<br />
is one of our original cohort of<br />
Australians who arrived when the<br />
programme kickstarted in 2019.<br />
Living in Leicester, Rose has<br />
worked on the frontline for just<br />
under two years and is planning<br />
on extending her stay indefinitely.<br />
She said: “I was so impressed<br />
with EMAS and what the service<br />
has to offer that it made my<br />
decision to move to the <strong>UK</strong> so<br />
much easier. I knew that I wanted<br />
to pursue a career with the service<br />
with the range of opportunities<br />
and the chance of advancement<br />
given.<br />
He said: “With the full support<br />
of my family, I chose to move<br />
to the East Midlands when<br />
the opportunity to work as a<br />
paramedic presented itself.<br />
“It is safe to say that it was a<br />
strange time to move countries as<br />
I arrived in the <strong>UK</strong> around a month<br />
before COVID hit.<br />
“Dealing with COVID has been<br />
hard but I’ve met a great bunch<br />
of people and I wouldn’t change<br />
this experience at all. Everyone<br />
within the service has been so<br />
welcoming to us coming into the<br />
<strong>UK</strong> and joining the green EMAS<br />
family, and we’ve been loving the<br />
Aussie/British banter.<br />
“I can’t wait to get back to some<br />
sort of normality and being able to<br />
meet with a bunch of mates and<br />
have a beverage in a beer garden,<br />
followed by organising our next<br />
travel destinations.”<br />
Deborah Tweddle, <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Operations Manager and project<br />
lead, said:<br />
“Over the last two years, a<br />
tremendous amount of work has<br />
“It has been a big leap for our<br />
Australian paramedics to travel<br />
over 11,000 miles to come and<br />
work in another country, leaving<br />
their families behind and starting a<br />
new life in the region, but one they<br />
are only excited to take.<br />
“We are exceptionally proud of<br />
everything we have achieved<br />
so far and to now have over<br />
50 Australian paramedics is<br />
Australians asking when our next<br />
vacancies will be advertised.”<br />
Our next cohort of Australian<br />
paramedics are due to arrive<br />
imminently and it is hoped that<br />
in the future, more Australians<br />
will come join EMAS and work<br />
in other regions across the area<br />
so they can experience the<br />
full potential of what the East<br />
Midlands has to offer.<br />
90<br />
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
IN PERSON<br />
EEAST News<br />
EEAST appoints new chief<br />
executive<br />
Following a competitive recruitment<br />
process, the East of England <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service has appointed Tom Abell as its new<br />
permanent chief executive.<br />
Tom, currently Deputy Chief Executive at Mid<br />
and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, will<br />
formally take up his role in the autumn.<br />
Announcing the appointment, EEAST’s Chair<br />
Nicola Scrivings said: “Tom brings significant<br />
experience in the NHS and, just as importantly,<br />
has been a key part in building a positive<br />
culture for staff.<br />
“These qualities will be central to building and<br />
leading a stable and successful executive<br />
team to continue to improve our culture for our<br />
valued staff, and maintain high-quality services<br />
for our patients.”<br />
In a message to EEAST’s staff today, Tom<br />
Abell said: “I’m delighted to have been<br />
appointed as Chief Executive. Having grown<br />
up in Norfolk and spent the vast majority<br />
of my career working across the East of<br />
England, I know the difference our staff<br />
make to the people we serve. I also know<br />
that, despite the professional and personal<br />
challenges we have all faced during the<br />
pandemic, EEAST has performed incredibly<br />
well operationally.<br />
“Many staff have spoken up recently about<br />
how the culture needs to change. Work has<br />
already begun to create positive change at<br />
EEAST and as chief executive, a key part of<br />
my role will be to support and equip staff to<br />
drive the improvements we want to see. These<br />
changes are ultimately the best way to make<br />
sure we provide excellent care to everyone in<br />
the East of England for the long-term.”<br />
Chair Nicola Scrivings also thanked EEAST’s<br />
deputy chief executive and medical director, Dr<br />
Tom Davis, for leading the service as interim<br />
chief executive since September last year. Dr<br />
Davis will return to these roles once Tom Abell<br />
starts.<br />
SECAMB News<br />
SECAmb appoints Executive<br />
Director of Operations<br />
South East Coast <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service NHS<br />
Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased<br />
to announce the appointment of a new<br />
Executive Director of Operations.<br />
Emma Williams, previously SECAmb’s Deputy<br />
Director of Operations, was appointed on an<br />
interim basis when former Executive Director<br />
Joe Garcia retired but now takes on the new<br />
role following an extensive recruitment and<br />
selection process.<br />
Emma joined SECAmb in September 2019 and<br />
began her career in the ambulance service<br />
in 1996 as a trainee qualified ambulance<br />
technician with London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service.<br />
Progressing to qualify as a paramedic in 1999,<br />
she spent the next 10 years operating as a<br />
paramedic practitioner before undertaking a<br />
range of roles including service development,<br />
staff engagement and governance.<br />
In 2014 she became Head of Urgent Care<br />
at South Western <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service<br />
NHS Foundation Trust before leading a<br />
commissioning team in North East Hampshire<br />
prior to joining SECAmb.<br />
SECAmb Chief Executive Officer Philip Astle<br />
said: “I am very pleased to have Emma in this<br />
key role. She faced competition from a strong<br />
field of external candidates and I know she has<br />
the right skills for the Trust. She will be a great<br />
addition to the executive team and the Trust<br />
Board.”<br />
Emma said: “I am delighted to have been<br />
appointed to the role of Executive Director of<br />
Operations for SECAmb. As a paramedic who<br />
has always been committed to delivering high<br />
quality care to patients, and positive leadership<br />
to colleagues, I look forward to being part of<br />
an executive team who will lead SECAmb’s<br />
next steps to a brighter future for all.”<br />
WAAC News<br />
Wales great James Hook<br />
becomes ambassador for<br />
lifesaving charity<br />
Wales Air <strong>Ambulance</strong> is delighted to<br />
announce that former Wales and British<br />
and Irish Lions rugby international James<br />
Hook has become an ambassador for the<br />
lifesaving charity.<br />
James, who retired as a rugby union player<br />
last year, made 6 appearances for the British<br />
and Irish Lions on the 2009 tour of South Africa<br />
and won 81 caps for Wales.<br />
In his club career, he has represented Neath,<br />
Ospreys, Perpignan and Gloucester. He is<br />
currently a coach at the Ospreys.<br />
Wales Air <strong>Ambulance</strong> celebrates its 20th<br />
anniversary this year and James has had<br />
several interactions with the service over the<br />
last two decades, supporting its fundraising<br />
work along the way.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
James, 35, who is married to Kimberley, said:<br />
Do you have anything you would like to add or include? Please contact us and let us know.<br />
91
IN PERSON<br />
“I’m delighted to become an ambassador for<br />
the Wales Air <strong>Ambulance</strong>. It’s a cause that’s<br />
close to my heart as they attended my eldest<br />
son just over 10 years ago when he became<br />
very ill. I think it’s an amazing Charity and you<br />
don’t know how important it is until you need<br />
it. I was also at the scene of the Charity’s<br />
first-ever mission at Glynneath Rugby Club 20<br />
years ago.<br />
“It’s incredible to see how far it’s come over<br />
the last 20 years and it’s a huge honour to be<br />
involved with their lifesaving work.”<br />
James chose the Wales Air <strong>Ambulance</strong> as<br />
one of the charities that would benefit from his<br />
testimonial year in 2020. Unfortunately, due<br />
to the coronavirus pandemic, the testimonial<br />
events could not go ahead.<br />
The father-of-three boys, Harrison, Ollie and<br />
George, is also developing his career as a<br />
TV and radio pundit, working for BBC TV and<br />
Radio, ITV and Channel 4. During the <strong>2021</strong> Six<br />
Nations, he worked for BBC Radio 5 Live.<br />
Sue Barnes, Wales Air <strong>Ambulance</strong> Chief<br />
Executive, said: “We are delighted to<br />
welcome James to the Charity as one of our<br />
ambassadors, especially during our milestone<br />
anniversary. James has first-hand experience<br />
of the essential work that our Charity does,<br />
24/7, for the people of Wales.<br />
“Our ambassadors, who volunteer their time,<br />
play a vital role in helping us to reach new<br />
people, inspiring fundraising opportunities and<br />
activities, and thanking our supporters and<br />
employees for the incredible work that they do.<br />
These are all vital for our Charity as we strive<br />
to raise £8 million every year to maintain our<br />
helicopter operation.<br />
“We hope that being an ambassador for Wales<br />
Air <strong>Ambulance</strong> will give James an enormous<br />
sense of satisfaction and pride knowing<br />
that he will be contributing to our lifesaving<br />
service.”<br />
Since his retirement, James, who lives in<br />
Swansea but grew up in Port Talbot, recently<br />
co-authored a children’s book called<br />
‘Chasing a Rugby Dream’. He has also set<br />
up a business called the ‘Fab Four Coffee<br />
Company’ with fellow ex-international players<br />
Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips and Shane Williams.<br />
SECAMB News<br />
SECAmb appoints new Non-<br />
Executive Director<br />
South East Coast <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service NHS<br />
Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has appointed<br />
a new Independent Non-Executive Director.<br />
Paul Brocklehurst took up his position on the<br />
Trust’s Board of Directors on 1 May <strong>2021</strong> and<br />
will serve a three-year term of office.<br />
Paul, from Bexhill, East Sussex, has more<br />
than 25 years’ board-level experience, most<br />
recently as the Chief Information Officer (CIO)<br />
for the Financial Services Compensation<br />
Scheme. He has spent more than a decade as<br />
a CIO in local authorities and has also worked<br />
with numerous ‘blue chip’ companies in the<br />
private sector.<br />
Paul joins SECAmb to provide scrutiny and<br />
support in the important and growing area of<br />
strategic digital and IT development.<br />
SECAmb Chair, David Astley said: “On behalf<br />
of the Trust Board I’d like to formally welcome<br />
Paul to the team. He is an experienced CIO<br />
with an in-depth understanding of delivery,<br />
governance, risk management and internal<br />
controls. He brings extensive knowledge<br />
including in technology to the Trust. I look<br />
forward to working closely with him over the<br />
coming years.”<br />
Paul will be joining the Trust’s Finance and<br />
Investment Committee which scrutinises<br />
operational and financial performance,<br />
including investment decisions, and ensures<br />
adequate planning and oversight of strategic<br />
programmes requiring effective IT and<br />
technology infrastructure.<br />
Paul said: “The work of SECAmb is vitally<br />
important to the delivery of excellent healthcare<br />
to patients. I am delighted to be joining<br />
the SECAmb team where I hope to use my<br />
experience to make a positive difference.”<br />
SECAmb’s Board meetings are held in<br />
public, and are observable in real time online<br />
currently, using Microsoft Teams. For meeting<br />
papers and a link to the Board meetings, visit<br />
our website, Trust Board meeting dates and<br />
papers | NHS South East Coast <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
Service (secamb.nhs.uk)<br />
LAS News<br />
New appointments to senior<br />
leadership team announced<br />
London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service has announced<br />
the appointment of two non-executive<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
James Hook<br />
Paul Brocklehurst<br />
directors and an associate non-executive<br />
director to support our trust board building<br />
a world-class ambulance service.<br />
Bob Alexander<br />
During a career in finance and accounting<br />
spanning more than 30 years, Bob Alexander<br />
operated at board level across public sector<br />
organisations including the NHS, the Civil<br />
Service and Metropolitan Police.<br />
92<br />
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
IN PERSON<br />
He retired from the role of Deputy Chief<br />
Executive of NHS Improvement in 2018 but<br />
continues to perform numerous non-executive<br />
roles including Independent Chair of Sussex<br />
Health and Care Partnership; non-executive<br />
director of Imperial College Healthcare NHS<br />
Trust (where he is currently Interim Chair), and<br />
non-executive director of Community Health<br />
Partnerships Ltd.<br />
He has an MBA and is a Fellow of the<br />
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and<br />
Accountancy.<br />
Speaking about his appointment, he said:<br />
“As an emergency service operating in one of<br />
the greatest capital cities in the world, London<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Service is a high profile healthcare<br />
organisation delivering important services to<br />
Londoners and visitors alike.<br />
“I want to use my experience of NHS<br />
management and finance to ensure it is best<br />
placed to successfully manage its future<br />
sustainability in the face of the NHS recovery<br />
challenge as we emerge from the Covid<br />
pandemic.”<br />
Dr Anne Rainsberry CBE<br />
With a professional background in HR and<br />
management, Dr Anne Rainsberry has 32<br />
years’ experience working in the NHS at local,<br />
regional and national levels.<br />
Before joining healthcare and life sciences<br />
consultancy Carnall Farrar as managing<br />
partner in 2017, Anne was London regional<br />
director at NHS England for four years where<br />
she led major service changes in the capital<br />
including the reconfiguration of cancer and<br />
cardiac services.<br />
Anne’s tandem role as the national executive<br />
lead for emergency preparedness – ensuring<br />
the NHS has resilience to cope with incidents<br />
from extreme weather to terrorist attacks<br />
– also brought her into frequent contact<br />
with emergency services including London<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong> Service.<br />
Previously, Anne was chief executive of NHS<br />
NW London and Deputy Chief Executive of<br />
NHS London and through her career has held<br />
a number of managerial NHS roles in London<br />
and the south east.<br />
Anne was awarded a CBE in 2017 for services<br />
to the NHS.<br />
Speaking of her appointment as non-executive<br />
director, she said:<br />
“London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service has a huge<br />
opportunity to transform healthcare in the<br />
capital over the next decade and I am excited<br />
to be part of that work.<br />
“I am looking forward to supporting the board<br />
as they deliver on their strategy at such a<br />
profoundly challenging time for the NHS and<br />
its staff.”<br />
Line De Decker<br />
For 24 years, Line De Decker has worked at<br />
senior levels in large corporations leading<br />
them through transformational change<br />
programmes.<br />
Line has been with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)<br />
for over 13 years in HR business partner roles<br />
of increasing responsibility before last year<br />
becoming Head of the GSK Transformation<br />
Office charged with preparing the organisation<br />
for separation and creating two new<br />
companies.<br />
Before GSK, Line worked at DuPont, UCB and<br />
PriceWaterhouseCoopers.<br />
Speaking of her appointment as Associate<br />
Non-Executive Director, Line said:<br />
“I am delighted to be able to use my<br />
experience of cultural change and<br />
transformation to make a contribution to this<br />
wonderful city.<br />
“I want to help guide the board in their<br />
complex role as they lead the thousands of<br />
London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service staff who make a<br />
difference to millions of Londoners each year.”<br />
Heather Lawrence OBE, chair of the Trust<br />
board, said:<br />
“As we emerge from the coronavirus<br />
pandemic, it’s vital we keep driving forward<br />
the strategic change necessary to fulfil our<br />
vision to be a world-class ambulance service.<br />
“I am delighted to confirm these appointments<br />
to the board. All three bring different<br />
perspectives, but each of them appreciate<br />
the importance of supporting our people as<br />
we deliver change during such challenging<br />
times.”<br />
Dr Anne Rainsberry took up her role on 1 May.<br />
Line De Decker takes up her role in <strong>June</strong>, and<br />
Bob Alexander on 1 September.<br />
Their appointments follow the departure of<br />
non-executive directors Fergus Cass and<br />
Jayne Mee.<br />
Thanking them for their service, Trust Chair<br />
Heather Lawrence said:<br />
“I would like to thank Fergus and Jayne for<br />
their dedication and the advice they brought<br />
to the Board throughout this unprecedented<br />
time for London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service.”<br />
The London <strong>Ambulance</strong> Service trust board<br />
is responsible for appointing non-executive<br />
directors through a process of open<br />
advertising and formal selection interview, and<br />
NHS Appointments then ratifies them.<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Bob Alexander Dr Anne Rainsberry CBE Line De Decker<br />
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93
COMPANY NEWS<br />
VCS to produce<br />
new Volkswagen<br />
Crafter Dual Crewed<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
The <strong>UK</strong>’s market-leading<br />
ambulance conversion<br />
specialist, VCS, has<br />
partnered with Volkswagen<br />
Commercial Vehicles to<br />
produce the <strong>UK</strong>’s first Dual<br />
Crewed <strong>Ambulance</strong> (DCA)<br />
based on a Volkswagen<br />
Crafter.<br />
Akhter Computers, provider<br />
of customised computer<br />
solutions. The partnership<br />
will see Akhter selling<br />
Durabook-based solutions<br />
primarily into blue light and<br />
public safety organisations<br />
across the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
Akhter aims to help <strong>UK</strong><br />
ambulance organisations innovate<br />
by enabling them to adopt<br />
the latest rugged devices that<br />
can withstand the often harsh<br />
environments they are used.<br />
These devices can improve<br />
patient care and drive efficiencies<br />
• First Dual Crewed <strong>Ambulance</strong><br />
(DCA) to be built to Lord Carter<br />
Review Specification based on<br />
the Volkswagen Crafter panel<br />
van.<br />
• VCS has worked diligently to<br />
ensure the vehicle operates<br />
under 4 tonnes.<br />
• Further details to be revealed<br />
when the vehicle is officially<br />
launched later this year.<br />
Using VCS’s ultra-lightweight<br />
Core Capture technology, the<br />
Volkswagen Crafter promises to<br />
have an operational weight of<br />
less than 4.0T, without sacrificing<br />
the strength, quality, and<br />
durability for which both brands<br />
are renowned. In addition, its<br />
operational weight will leave no<br />
need for ambulance services<br />
to compromise on the level of<br />
medical equipment they can<br />
carry (calculated at 285kg plus<br />
90kg per person under the<br />
NHS SLA). VCS’s lightweighting<br />
technologies and manufacturing<br />
techniques means the 4.0T<br />
Volkswagen Crafter DCA can<br />
now be considered for front line<br />
emergency duties.<br />
Paul Croom, Sales Director at<br />
VCS, said: “We are delighted<br />
to be working with Volkswagen<br />
Commercial Vehicles on our new<br />
Volkswagen Crafter Dual Crewed<br />
<strong>Ambulance</strong>. The fact that we can<br />
deliver this new ambulance is<br />
testament to the adaptability of<br />
our Core Capture technology and<br />
the ingenuity of our engineering<br />
and production teams and we<br />
are very excited to be able to<br />
offer the Crafter as an option for<br />
the NHS and private sector.”<br />
- even while budgets are<br />
squeezed. For example, the U11I<br />
is the only rugged tablet available<br />
today with the option of adding<br />
a second smart card reader and<br />
RFID reader via an expansion<br />
module.<br />
This allows for secure user<br />
authentication and the safe<br />
collection and transfer of sensitive<br />
data such as electronic patient<br />
records. This feature has proven<br />
essential in assisting ambulance<br />
crews, by enabling them to<br />
quickly access historical patient<br />
information, which may help<br />
treatment, and record a diagnosis<br />
Designed, developed and<br />
produced at VCS’s facility in<br />
Bradford, West Yorkshire, the<br />
first Volkswagen Crafter DCA will<br />
be officially launched later this<br />
year, when further details will be<br />
released.<br />
to be securely sent to the hospital<br />
before arrival.<br />
Alan Laffoley, CEO & Technical<br />
Director at Akhter comments;<br />
“Akhter has served the Ministry of<br />
Defence clients since 1985 and<br />
so understands the pressures of<br />
AMBULANCE <strong>UK</strong> - JUNE<br />
Durabook signs<br />
partnership<br />
agreement with<br />
Akhter Computers to<br />
extend reach into <strong>UK</strong><br />
Blue Light and public<br />
safety sectors<br />
Durabook, the global<br />
rugged mobile solutions<br />
manufacturer, has announced<br />
a distribution agreement with<br />
sourcing to the ‘best-value’ and<br />
‘price-performance’ stipulations<br />
of government procurement<br />
guidelines. Durabook’s extensive<br />
customisation capabilities<br />
enables us to create more<br />
compelling solutions tailored to<br />
the varied needs of emergency<br />
organisations and deliver them in<br />
a timely way.”<br />
For more information please<br />
contact Akhter on durabook@<br />
akhter.co.uk or visit https://www.<br />
akhter.co.uk/durabook/.<br />
94<br />
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95
The Number 1 in the<br />
German Resuscitation Register<br />
In more than 60% of all resuscitation cases, the<br />
Mönchengladbach Fire Department achieved a positive result.<br />
This is one of the highest ROSC rates in Germany.<br />
But how exactly do they achieve this success?<br />
The Mönchengladbach Fire Brigade team measures<br />
the quality of its resuscitations in real time, thus has<br />
the information necessary to save more lives.<br />
In addition, all resuscitation cases are subsequently<br />
analysed in detail with regard to the depth of the<br />
compression, frequency, relief of the chest and<br />
handoff times during resuscitation and used for<br />
training and further education measures.<br />
Here you can see how the Mönchengladbach Fire<br />
Department measures the quality of their resuscitation<br />
and what they have achieved as a result:<br />
www.zoll.com/moenchengladbach<br />
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