Ambulance UK - June 2021

NEWSLINE
AMBULANCE UK - JUNE
NHS Lothian and
the HELP Appeal
are celebrating an
important milestone
NHS Lothian and the HELP
Appeal are celebrating an
important milestone as the new
helipad located at the Royal
Hospital for Children and Young
People and the Department of
Clinical Neuroscience (RHCYP/
DCN) officially opens.
The helipad, located above the
fourth floor of the RHCYP/DCN will
serve both the Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh and the RHCYP/DCN
giving direct access to child and
adult emergency departments,
as well as all other clinical
departments based on site.
Hospital helipads play a critical
role in trauma care by helping to
minimise the time it takes to transfer
critically ill patients. Without them,
patient treatment can be delayed,
which can have a devastating
impact on survival rates.
Dr Jon McCormack, Clinical Lead
for Paediatric Major Trauma,
NHS Lothian explained that
having access to a helipad plays
an important role in optimising
patient flow pathways for both
planned and emergency transfers.
He said, “The helipad will
provide access to hospital
services 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, with three trained
helideck responders being
available to ensure safe landing
and departure. This will help
to enhance patient care by
facilitating a seamless transition of
patients from the air ambulance to
in-patient services.”
The helipad was part funded
through the HELP Appeal, an
initiative aimed at ensuring that
patients who sustain life threatening
critical injuries are able to be flown
directly by air ambulance to a
Major Trauma Centre, where all
the specialist clinical skills and
medical equipment are immediately
available, improving their chances
of survival and recovery. The HELP
Appeal is the only charity in the
country funding helipads at key
hospitals.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive
of the HELP Appeal said, “The
amazing Royal Hospital for Children
and Young People and the Royal
Infirmary of Edinburgh treat
some of the most seriously ill in
Scotland. This lifesaving helipad will
dramatically speed up the time it
takes to transfer these patients from
helicopter to hospital anytime of the
day or night, giving them the best
chance of survival and recovery.
“We had no hesitation in providing
the £700,000 needed to ensure
the hospitals had a state of the art
helipad – a crucial element in their
emergency care offering – as it
will save many lives.
“With brand new helipads opening
in Applecross and Campbeltown,
and the helipad opening in
Edinburgh today, we are so
pleased that the HELP Appeal
is making a positive impact in
emergency care across Scotland.
We look forward to helping many
more hospitals secure helipads in
the future.”
Jim Crombie, Deputy Chief
Executive, NHS Lothian said,
“We are incredibly grateful for
the support of the HELP Appeal
in part-funding our new helipad.
It really will make a positive
difference to our patients and
will no doubt save many lives not
just here in Lothian, but across
Scotland.”
SECAMB
Long service and
achievements
celebrated with
virtual awards
South East Coast Ambulance
Service NHS Foundation Trust
(SECAmb) staff and volunteers
have been recognised for their
long service and achievements
in a virtual online awards
ceremony.
The event was arranged after
SECAmb had to postpone two
of its annual awards ceremonies
in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
Staff were given the choice to
attend the virtual event or attend a
future traditional ceremony when
possible.
The Lord Lieutenants of East
Sussex and Surrey, Sir Peter Field
and Michael More-Molyneux
attended to recognise and
congratulate staff receiving
Queen’s Medals for Long Service
and Good Conduct. The High
Sherriff of Surrey, Shahid Azeem,
was also in attendance. Staff and
volunteers also picked up long
service awards for 10, 20, 30 and
an amazing 40 years’ NHS service
(list of SECamb awards winners
below).
Marking 40 years keeping
ambulances on the road was
vehicle maintenance technician,
Andrew Beech from Chertsey.
Also celebrating 40 years was
Worthing-based paramedic Chris
Williams.
Chris’s four decades with the
ambulance service include
attending numerous note-worthy
incidents including being one of
the first ambulance personnel
in attendance at the Brighton
bombing in 1984 and being part
of the UK’s emergency response
to Ebola in Sierra Leone in 2014.
Staff also received Chief
Executive commendations for
their achievements. (Full list
below). Among those receiving
commendations was Brighton
paramedic and operational
team leader, Amy Brooker, for
the support provided to a newly
qualified paramedic struggling
following a relocation from
another ambulance service.
Elsewhere Polegate-based
Operations Manager, Nicole
Barrow was recognised for
the care and compassion she
provided a colleague who was
at the end of her life, following a
battle with cancer.
Team of the Year went to the
Trust’s Mental Health Team for
their dedication to improving
mental health support to both
patients and staff and their
work to introduce mental health
professionals in the Trust’s 999
Emergency Operations Centres.
SECAmb’s Employee of the Year
Award this year went to Ambulance
Technician, Steve McIntosh. Steve
has served the Brighton area for
some 25 years and undertakes a
wide range of extra-curricular roles.
He plays a vital role in promoting
the importance of staff welfare
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For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com