Ambulance UK October 2021

Volume 36 No. 5 

October 2021 

DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS 

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CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Ambulance UK 

140 EDITOR’S COMMENT 

142 FEATURES 

142 Isn’t it about time we standardised on international 

defibrillator signage? 

144 Drowning 

149 NEWSLINE 

162 IN PERSON 

164 COMPANY NEWS 

This issue edited by: 

Sam English 

c/o Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks, Lockhill 

Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR 

ADVERTISING: 

Terry Gardner, Samantha Marsh 

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COVER STORY 

PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY: 

February, April, June, August, 

October, December 

Leading the Way in Electric Vehicle Development 

Government has set a clear goal to end the of sale of pure petrol and diesel cars and 

vans in 2030. This goal will only be achieved if vehicle manufacturers continue to add 

to the vast number of electrified models available, and remain committed to being 

exclusively zero-emission by the end of the decade. Blue Light Services Specialist 

Vehicles recognises there is no time to waste and with vans already on the market that 

are capable of more than 200 miles we are experiencing a sharp increase in enquiries for 

all-electric ambulances with particular interest in our PTS offerings. 

Blue Light Services have already designed, converted and sold all-electric ambulances 

that are operating in private ambulance fleets alongside their diesel cousins, and with 

over 60 electric vehicles already confirmed to be built for a variety of clients in early 2022 

the necessary momentum required for our industry has already started. 

The front cover highlights a Renault Master Z.E. which is equipped with the latest battery 

technology allowing for an extensive range of 95 miles (city cycle) between charges. 

The second vehicle shown built in partnership with ERS medical has zero tailpipe 

emissions and a range of 219/185 miles (city/combined) electric ambulance which saves 

4000kg of CO2 emissions per year when compared to a diesel vehicle equivalent driving 

10,000 miles per annum, this saving of CO2 per annum is equivalent to 434 gallons of 

diesel consumed or £4769 of coal burned. This Electric Ambulance boasts a charging 

time of just 45 minutes to reach 80% battery with a DC charge - making it convenient and 

practical for continuous use on patient transport journeys. 

Johnny Fieldhouse (Director of Blue Light Services) says that for the demand for 

all-electric ambulances will be hindered unless hospital trusts demonstrate a serious 

commitment to introducing a world-class charging infrastructure where vehicles can be 

charged at hospitals in-between patient transfers. 

To start your EV project or for further information contact Blue Light Services on: 

0208 9658357. 

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139

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

Welcome to the autumnal issue of AUK. 


“Politics 

aside I just 

feel its time 

to re-think 

our value 

system and 

recognise 

the 

importance 

of health 

above 

any other 

aspect of 

our lives.” 

I’ve worked in the NHS long enough to remember the miners’ strike, and the first nurses strike. I’m not sure 

we had a summer this year, but I feel we are definitely moving to a winter of discontent, no Shakespearian 

pun intended. The last year and a half has been horrendous for NHS staff and as I sit here writing this 

comment with Winter imminent, I do feel aggrieved at the 3% pay increase followed swiftly with a 1.5% 

increase in NI. It may be my age and I understand the economics of the public services but, if truth be told, 

I’m struggling to comprehend the logic of the ‘pressure of Covid’ on the NHS this winter when in reality the 

pressure is there because there aren’t enough Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics or Allied Health Professionals. 

Isn’t it time to think carefully about recruitment and retention to the NHS and whilst many will argue that 

a vocation is worth more than money, we still need to at least keep up with price increases. I am truly 

saddened when I hear that a Nurse giving her all has to utilise a food bank, or when young people leave 

the NHS to find better employment in the private sector. Politics aside I just feel its time to re-think our value 

system and recognise the importance of health above any other aspect of our lives. 

So, I’ve completed 35 years this year and it’s worth looking back at my introduction to the Sabre Saturn, Neil 

Robertson and the S&W defibs that had a Sony Walkman attached to make sure you voiced the protocol 

as you applied it. Paramedics were a novelty, we had just two! and there was a clear emphasis on ensuring 

your shoes were polished and your cap worn at all times, even in the heat of a resuscitation. They were 

simpler times when IPC meant gloves and we only wore Tyvek suits for cleaning the ambulance. Its nice 

though to see just how far we’ve come in those years and how opportunities abound for todays ambulance 

staff, not forgetting all the aligned jobs from legal, through procurement to digital and innovation. I don’t 

think 35 years ago I’d ever have imagined ending up looking at things like artificial intelligence to support 

dispatch or video consultation from patient’s living rooms. 

So whilst it might be a glum winter ahead, keep up the good work and look forward to better times to come. 

Sam English, Co-Editor Ambulance UK 

140 

For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

Visit safeguardmedical.com

FEATURE 

ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME WE 

STANDARDISED ON INTERNATIONAL 

DEFIBRILLATOR SIGNAGE? 

CHT is calling for continuity and simplicity in defibrillator signage, and 

the full adoption of ILCOR AED signage throughout the UK. 

In the UK there are currently at least 13 different signage types and 

designs being used for a defibrillator. Throughout the rest of Europe, this 

has pretty well standardised now on the ILCOR signage. Standardised 

ILCOR defibrillator signage 

signage means less confusion in a time dependent rescue, and helps ILCOR defibrillator signage: 

people instantly recognise locations of equipment. 

CHT has called upon all suppliers, councils, RCUK, NHS and also 

manufacturers to agree to use the International ILCOR signage in the 

UK for defibrillator placement. 

www.communityheartbeat.org.uk 

www.communityheartbeat.org.uk 

The HSE has recommended standard signage for fire, emergency exist, 

Isn’t it about time we standardised on international defibrillator signage? 

first aid, electrical safety, yet the plethora of signage for defibrillators 

makes this a potentially confusing area. 

CHT is calling for continuity and simplicity in defibrillator signage, and the full adoption of 

ILCOR AED signage throughout the UK. 

In international locations, such as airports, which have a statistically 

higher prevalence of OHSCA, you would think standard internationally 

recognisable signage is important. Yet at Heathrow, London’s premier 

gateway, there are multiple signage types, and also mostly hidden or 

In the UK there are currently at least 13 different signage types and designs being used for a 

defibrillator. Throughout the rest of Europe, this has pretty well standardised now on the 

ILCOR signage. Standardised signage means less confusion in a time dependent rescue, and 

helps people instantly recognise locations of equipment. 

poorly visible, causing potential delays in obtaining a defibrillator. This 

contrasts sharply with airports on the continent, such as Athens. 

In a study in November 2020, it was shown that most current defibrillator 

signage is non-compliant to standards. In addition, it was demonstrated 

that the BHF signage was only recognisable by around 20% of the 

The HSE has recommended standard signage for fire, emergency exist, first aid, electrical 

safety, yet the plethora of signage for defibrillators makes this a potentially confusing area. 

population compared to over 96% for the ILCOR signage (Study by CHT 

of 949 respondents). 

“The study showed that the UK lags far behind other countries in defibrillator 

In international locations, such as airports, which have a statistically higher prevalence of 

OHSCA, you would think standard internationally recognisable signage is important. Yet at 

Heathrow, London’s premier gateway, there are multiple signage types, and also mostly 

hidden or poorly visible, causing potential delays in obtaining a defibrillator. This contrasts 

sharply with airports on the continent, such as Athens 

signage, and in a stressful situation, ease of recognition is important. The European 

Resuscitation Council has made positive statements about standardisation on 

the ILCOR signage to avoid such confusion, particularly in areas where there 

is international travel, such as airports, conference centres, and shipping”. 

Says Martin Fagan, National Secretary of CHT. “This is about saving lives”. 

Defibrillator 


Heathrow Athens 

(Photo – Heathrow Terminal 2 for international travellers, vs Athens. In terminal 2 there are 3 different signage types, and no sign of the 

Heathrow defibrillator!) Terminal 2 for international travellers, vs Athens. In terminal 2 there are 3 different signage types, and no sign of the defibrillator! 

142 

In a study in November 2020, it was shown that most current defibrillator signage is noncompliant 

to standards. For further In addition, recruitment it vacancies was demonstrated visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com 

that the BHF signage was only 

recognisable by around 20% of the population compared to over 96% for the ILCOR signage

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143

FEATURE 

DROWNING 

Adam Gent 

To begin with, lets just forget “near-drowning”, “dry drowning”, “wet 

drowning”, “freshwater drowning”, “saltwater drowning” and “secondary 

drowning”. (1) 

These terms are outdated and no longer accepted by The World 

Health Organization (2), the United Kingdom Resuscitation Council (3), 

International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (4) , the Wilderness 

Medical Society (5) , the International Lifesaving Federation (6), the 

American Heart Association (7) who all discourage the use of these 

terms. 

Unfortunately, these terms still slip past the editors of major medical 

journals, allowing their use to be perpetuated. These terms are most 

pervasive in the nonmedical press and social media to add an illusion of 

gravitas, where the term drowning seems to be synonymous with death. 

The currently accepted definition of drowning from the World Congress 

on Drowning (8) is: 

“Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from 

submersion or immersion in a liquid.” 

Key to this are: 

Sudden immersion in cold water causes an immediate fall in skin 

temperature which triggers several body reflexes (9) collectively (and 

annoyingly) known as the “cold-shock” response, and they last for 

just the first few minutes after falling in. 

The “cold-shock” responses include: 

1) instantaneous gasping for air 

2) sudden increase in breathing rate 

3) sudden increase in heart rate 

4) sudden increase in blood pressure 

5) dramatic decrease in breath-holding time (from around 60 

seconds to just 20-25 seconds (10). 

A combination of gasping and a decreased ability to hold ones 

breath causes the casualty to inhale water. And this is the 

fundamental cause of drowning – respiratory distress. 

Inhaling water appears to cause laryngospasm in the first instance 

(although this is debated) but real problem occur when water enters 

the lower airway, in particular the alveoli; only a small amount of 

water is required to cause significant problems – less than 4ml/kg 

(11, 12). 


• Drowning is a process, not the end result. The definition of drowning 

does not include death. 

• There must be respiratory impairment. If a casualty is rescued from 

the water with no respiratory distress, they did not drown or ‘near 

drowned’, they were simply rescued. 

• Submersion occurs where the whole body is submersed, including 

the airway. Immersion is where the body is within a liquid but not 

covering the airway. 

• Drowning is limited to liquids. Casualties submersed in powders 

(which behave as free flowing fluids) are asphyxiated. 

Once it is determined a drowning incident has occurred, there are 3 

possible outcomes: 

• Mortality (death) 

• Morbity (illness or injury) 

• No morbidity 

Drowned casualties either die as a result of respiratory impairment, are 

rescued with consequential illness or injury following their respiratory 

impairment or have no lasting illness or injury. 

The Process of drowning 

Stage 1: Cold water Immersion Response (0-2 minutes): 

• Regardless of the salinity of the water, the inflammatory response 

leads to increased permeability of alveoli capillary membrane and 

exacerbates fluid, plasma and electrolyte shifts into the alveoli 

resulting in pulmonary oedema leading to decreased oxygen and 

carbon dioxide exchange and some bronchospasm. 

• Water in the alveoli also causes surfactant washout and 

dysfunction and leading to reduced lung compliance and alveoli 

collapse. 

The fundamental cause of death from drowning is hypoxia, leading to 

arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. 

It is or this very simple reason that lifejackets and PFD save lives by 

keeping the airway above the water during the first few minutes of 

uncontrolled breathing. 

Shallow Water Blackout 

A combination of inhaled water and hyperventilation might, at this 

stage cause shallow water blackout: 

Ordinarily as we hold our breath our oxygen levels are decreasing 

whilst our carbon dioxide levels are increasing. The desire to 

breathe is triggered by elevated CO2 levels which usually occurs 

before our O2 levels drop below a particular threshold at which point 

we go unconscious or ‘blackout’. 

144 


FEATURE 

very cold water this can take over an hour to achieve. If the 

casualty was not wearing a life jacket of PFD, it is likely they died 

of drowning rather than hypothermia. If the casualty’s airway is 

protected by a life-jacket and they are breathing normally, they 

are not a Drowned casualty, they are a hypothermic casualty and 

should be treated as such. 

To rescue or not? 

National Operation Guidance decision tool (14) based on the work 

of Dr Mike Tipton (15) is a model is designed to give casualties 

every reasonable chance of rescue and resuscitation and is 

balanced against the risk of harm to responders when carrying out 

rescues. 

Image source: Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0, File:Shallow water blackout 

diagram 1 revised.svg 

If the casualty has been hyperventilating, they have a normal amount 

of oxygen in their blood stream but vastly reduced CO2 levels. As 

they attempt to hold their breathe, they reach the low 02 threshold 

of blackout before their raising C02 levels have triggered a desire to 

breath. 

The length of time submerged and the temperature of the water are 

the two main factors determining survivability; generally, the longer 

a casualty is submerged and the warmer the water, the lower the 

chances of survival. Other factors affecting survivability include the 

age and/or size of the casualty, as smaller and/or younger people 

can survive longer than larger people or adults. 

1. Start The Clock 

The main factors are the length of time the casualty has been 

submerged and the water temperature. It is not possible to know 

for certain when a casualty became submerged, so the clock 

should start when the first attendance arrives on scene. It should 

not be assumed that the person has been submerged for longer 

than this. 

2. Risk Assess 

A risk assessment should balance the likelihood of casualty 

survival and the likelihood and severity of harm to rescuers. 

The decision will consider whether an immediate rescue can be 

started or if one should await specialist resources. 

Image source: Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0 File:Shallow water blackout 

diagram 2 revised.svg 

3. At 30 minutes 

further Risk Assessment should be considered given the reduced 

likelihood of survival against the danger to rescuers which may 

be increased (darkness, cold, exposure, fatigue, changing tides 

or river levels). 

Stage 2: Functional Disability (2-30 minutes) 

If the casualty has survived the ‘cold-shock’, rapid cooling of the 

muscles reduces contractility preventing normal muscle movement; 

the casualty may be unable to swim or may have lost manual dexterity 

preventing them from grasping rescue lines or ordinarily climbing out. 

It is this loss of muscle control which is why drowning may not appear 

ass drowning: 

1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically 

unable to call out for help due to uncontrolled breathing. 

2. A drowning casualty may not wave for help, favouring suing their 

arms to keep their airway above the water. 

Stage 3: Hypothermia (> 30 minutes). 

After prolonged exposure, the casualty will become hypothermic. 

Unconsciousness can be expected around 30-32oc but even in 

If the water is ‘icy-cold’ (below 7oc) the casualty should be 

considered survivable, although the likelihood of survival reduces 

as time passes. If not, the operation should move to recovery of 

the body, if safe. 


If rescue operations have continued at 60 minutes a further 

assessment should be made. If the water is ‘icy-cold’ and 

the casualty is known to be young and/or small they should 

be considered survivable, although again their chances are 

further reducing as time passes. The risk assessment should be 

revisited to decide if rescue should continue or if the incident 

should switch to body recovery. 


After 90 the decision should be taken to switch to body recovery 

because the circumstances are regarded as no longer survivable. 



145

FEATURE 


Image source: National operational Guidance: Water Rescue and Flooding”. National Central Programme Office. 

https://www.ukfrs.com/pdf/print/node%3A20802 Accessed on 9th January 2021 

146 

For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

FEATURE 

Rescue 

• Avoid entry into the water whenever possible. If entry into the water is 

essential, use a buoyant rescue aid or flotation device. 

• Remove the victim from the water and start resuscitation as quickly 

and safely as possible. 

• Cervical spine injury is uncommon in drowning victims (approximately 

0.5%). Spinal immobilisation is difficult in the water and delays 

removal from the water and adequate resuscitation of the victim. 

• Consider cervical spine immobilisation if there is a history of diving, 

water slide use, signs of severe injury, or signs of alcohol intoxication. 

• Despite potential spinal injury, if the victim is pulseless and apnoeic 

remove them from the water as quickly as possible (even if a back 

support device is not available) whilst attempting to limit neck flexion 

and extension. 

• Try to remove the victim from the water in a horizontal position to 

minimise the risks of post-immersion hypotension and cardiovascular 

collapse. 

Ventilation (3) 

• Prompt initiation of rescue breathing or positive pressure ventilation 

increases survival. If possible supplement ventilation with oxygen. 

• Give five initial ventilations as soon as possible. 

• Rescue breathing can be initiated whilst the victim is still in shallow 

water provided the safety of the rescuer is not compromised. 

• If the victim is in deep water, open their airway and if there is no 

spontaneous breathing start in-water rescue breathing if trained to do so. 

• In-water resuscitation is possible, but should ideally be performed 

with the support of a buoyant rescue aid. 

• If normal breathing does not start spontaneously, and the victim is < 

5 min from land, continue rescue breaths while towing. If more than 

an estimated 5 min from land, give rescue breaths over 1 min, then 

bring the victim to land as quickly as possible without further attempts 

at ventilation. 

Regurgitation (3) 

• Expect the casualty to vomit. 

• If regurgitation occurs, turn the victim’s mouth to the side and remove 

the regurgitated material 

• There is no need to clear the airway of aspirated water as this is 

absorbed rapidly into the central circulation. 

• Do not use abdominal thrusts or tip the victim head down to remove 

water from the lungs or stomach. 

Chest compressions (3) 

• As soon as the victim is removed from the water, check for breathing. 

If the victim is not breathing (or is making agonal gasps), start chest 

compressions immediately. 

• Continue CPR in a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 ventilations. 

• Most drowning victims will have sustained cardiac arrest secondary to 

hypoxia. In these patients, compression-only CPR is likely to be less 

effective and standard CPR should be used. 

Post Rescue Care 

After Drop 

A phenomena known as “After Drop” can occur as a result of aggressive 

rewarming; peripheral vasodilation can lead to a redistribution of blood 

and a drop in core temperature. This can occur during treatment or 

even after recovery. This can be prevented by moderated warming 

techniques; If the casualty has vital signs, is insulated and immobile, 

there is no rush to actively warm them. 

Curcum Rescue Collapse 

Particularly evident in immersion hypothermia casualties, ‘Curcum 

Rescue Collapse’ has been attributed to the aggressive repositioning 

of the casualty from a floating horizontal position to vertical as they 

were winched out of the sea using a hoist. Standing up quickly can 

cause orthostatic hypotension; a drop in blood pressure as the vascular 

system cannot constrict fast enough in the lower limbs and abdomen 

to squeeze oxygenated blood up to the brain; this is noticeable by the 

‘head rush’ or feeling of light-headedness as the brain is momentarily 

deprived of oxygen. 

Combined with the immediate loss of hydrostatic pressure which was 

being exerted on the body whilst the casualty was immersed, this 

drop in blood pressure can reduce cerebral perfusion to the point of 

unconsciousness and cardiac perfusion to the point of cardiac arrest. 

Both immersion and severely hypothermic casualties are now rescued 

horizontally and as such, should remain in this position until rescue. 

References 

1. Hawkings JC, Sempsrott J and Schmidt A (2016) “Drowning in a Sea of 

Misinformation: Dry Drowning and Secondary Drowning” Emergency medicine 

News. https://journals.lww.com/em-news/blog/BreakingNews/pages/post. 

aspx?PostID=377 Accessed 19th January 2021 

2. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning 

3. UK Resuscitation Council (2019) “Cardiac Arrest in Special Circumstances” in 

Advanced Life Support Guidelines. Ch 12. 113:142 

4. Idris AH, Berg RA, Bierens J, Bossaert L, Branche CM et al (2003) 

“Recommended Guidelines for Uniform Reporting of Data From Drowning”. 

Circulation. 108[20]:2565 

5. Schmidt AC, Sempsrott JR, Hawkins SC, Arastu AS, Cushing TA, Auerbach PS. (2016) 

“Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of 

Drowning”. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. June;27(2):236-51. 

6. Szpilman D, Pearn J, Queiroga AC (2019) “Medical Position Statement MPS 

22 – Research Needs for Drowning”. International Lifesaving Fderation Rescue 

Commission 28/08/2019. https://www.ilsf.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ 

MPS-22-2019-Research-Needs-for-Drowning.pdf Accessed 19th January 2021 

7. American Heart Association (2005) “Drowning”. Circulation. 112(2) Supp. 13. 

IV-133-IV-135. 

8. International Lifesaving (2015) “World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2015 

– Malaysia: Program and Proceedings”. ILS. https://www.ilsf.org/wp-content/ 

uploads/2018/11/WCDP2015_ProgramProceedingsLR.pdf Accessed 19th 

January 2021 

9. Datta A and Tipton M (2006) “Respiratory responses to cold water immersion: 

neural pathways, interactions, and clinical consequences awake and asleep”. 

Journal of Applied Physiology. 100:6, 2057-2064 

10. Giesbrecht G. (2000) “Cold stress, near drowning and accidental hypothermia: A 

review”. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 71. 733-52. 

11. Matthew JA. (2016) “Submersion and Diving-Related Illnesses”. In: David S. 

(eds) Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine. Springer, New Delhi. 

12. Schmidt AC, Sempsrott JR, Hawkins SC, Arastu AS, Cushing TA, Auerbach PS. (2016) 

“Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of 

Drowning”. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. Jun;27(2):236-51. 

13. Vittone M and Francesco A. (2006) “Drowning doesn’t look like drowning”. 

On Scene – the Journal of of U. S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue. Fall. P.14. 

https://mariovittone.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/OSFall06.pdf Accessed 

19th January 2021 

14. National operational Guidance: Water Rescue and Flooding”. National Central 

Programme Office. https://www.ukfrs.com/pdf/print/node%3A20802 Accessed 

on 9th January 2021 

15. Tipton MJ, Golden FS. (2011) “A proposed decision-making guide for the 

search, rescue and resuscitation of submersion (head under) victims based on 

expert opinion”. Resuscitation. Jul;82(7):819-24 



147

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NEWSLINE 

WMAS 

Jo Gideon MP 

officially opens ERS 

Medical’s West 

Midlands site 

National health and social 

care transport company ERS 

Medical officially opened its 

Campbell Road site in Stokeon-Trent 

on 17th September, 

with Jo Gideon MP for 

Stoke-on-Trent Central as the 

honorary guest. Adding to 

the company’s widespread 

national coverage, this site 

further expands ERS Medical’s 

presence in the West Midlands, 

servicing a non-emergency 

patient transport contract for 

Staffordshire CCGs and a 

high-dependency and nonemergency 

patient transport 

contract for University 

Hospitals North Midlands NHS 

Trust, respectively. 

The site’s formal opening was 

conducted by Jo Gideon MP who 

was given a behind the scenes 

tour of the Campbell Road site 

and shown the vehicles being 

used to transport patients. Jo 

also got an opportunity to talk 

to ERS Medical colleagues 

and learn more about the 

service being provided for the 

contracted regions. 

She said, “It is great to get to 

know ERS Medical who will be 

providing a non-emergency 

transport service to many people 

in Stoke-on-Trent Central. By 

bringing their service to our 

region, they have also helped 

protect around 200 jobs while 

creating further employment 

opportunities in the patient 

transport sector. It’s important to 

have specialist providers like this 

who are progressive in supporting 

our NHS with the service they 

deliver. I’ve enjoyed finding out 

more about ERS, looking at their 

vehicles and meeting their team. 

It is my great pleasure to welcome 

them to the region and officially 

open their new site.” 

Andrew Pooley, ERS Medical’s 

Chief Executive Officer, said: “We 

were delighted to welcome Jo 

to our Campbell Road site for 

the formal opening event. Our 

new site is home to around 200 

colleagues and houses around 

50 patient transport vehicles. A lot 

of work has gone in to regenerate 

and develop the building, making 

it specifically suitable to service 

our contracts in the region. It was 

our pleasure to share the details 

of how we work with Jo and give 

her an insight into our operations.” 

ERS Medical’s Campbell Road 

site is one of its three new bases 

in the West Midlands. 

SCAS 

South Central 

Ambulance Service 

shortlisted for NHS 

Trust of the Year 

South Central Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SCAS) has been shortlisted 

for NHS Trust of the Year 

in the HSJ Awards 2021 in 

recognition of the contribution 

made by the organisation and 

its staff to regional, national 

and global healthcare. 

The award recognises trusts 

which are offering excellent 

patient-centred care built on 

strong engagement between 

clinicians within and outside of 

an organisation and takes into 

account the effects of one of the 

most challenges years since the 

NHS was formed. 

Among the areas of focus for 

the judging panel were initiatives 

which deliver performance 

against targets, clinical quality 

and safety, as well as how 

trusts have managed their way 

through the pandemic along 

with financial pressures, staff 

wellbeing and integrated care. 

In recent years SCAS has 

taken a leading role in the 

delivery of regional healthcare 

by shaping and defining 

emergency and urgent care 

services and positioning itself 

as a ‘care navigator’ for the 

needs of patients through close 

collaboration with partners. 

Other service transformation has 

included a pioneering initiative 

to help patients receive the 

right treatment more quickly 

– the urgent care pathways 

project – which has so far 

seen more than 30,000 people 

avoid unnecessary transfers to 

emergency departments. 

The project, established in 

2019, sees ambulance service 

clinicians take a leading role in 

assessing and treating patients 

over the phone or in their homes 

when handling 111 or 999 calls 

and determining their next 

destination for ongoing care. 

It has led to many patients 

being treated at home, referred 

onto their GP, transported to a 

treatment centre or admitted 

directly into a specialist hospital 

service covering medical, 

surgical, paediatric, respiratory, 

frailty or mental health needs 

– by-passing busy emergency 

departments. 

As the NHS 111 provider for the 

South Central region, SCAS has 

also led the successful rollout 

of NHS 111 First, a triage and 

booking system for emergency 

departments to help manage 

demand and capacity at 

hospitals across the region. 

In addition, SCAS took on 

a significant national role 

establishing COVID Response 

Services on behalf of NHS 

England including a dedicated 

arm of NHS 111 – the COVID 

Clinical Assessment Service 

(CCAS) – made up of GPs, 

This has included the 

SCAS-led development and 

implementation of integrated 

urgent care models which 

facilitate enhanced clinical 

guidance in areas such as 

mental health, maternity and 

dental care via NHS 111, 

demonstrating further expansion 

from the traditional model of 999 

ambulance care. 

nurses and pharmacists to help 

manage the needs of patients 

with COVID symptoms. 

During 2020, SCAS also 

pushed ahead with its launch 

of a healthcare consultancy 

initiative in India – the first NHS 

partnership of its kind in the 

country – to improve healthcare 

provision and ambulance 


Do you have anything you would like to add or include in Newsline? Please contact us and let us know. 

149

Leading the Way in Electric Vehicle Development 

ERS Medical Debuts First Electric Ambulance 

ERS Medical debuted its first Electric Ambulance at this year’s 

Emergency Services Show. Built by Blue Light Services, the zero tailpipe 

emissions patient transport vehicle is the first in ERS Medical’s fleet, 

paving the way for the company’s cleaner and greener transport vision. 

With a range of 219/185 miles (city/combined), the electric ambulance 

saves over 4000kg of CO 2 

emissions per year when compared to a 

diesel vehicle equivalent driving 10,000 miles per annum. This saving of 

CO 2 

per annum is equivalent to 424 gallons of diesel consumed or 4769 

pounds of coal burned. 

The electric ambulance boasts a charging time of 45 minutes to reach 

80% battery with a DC charge – making it convenient and practical for 

continuous use on patient transport journeys. 

UK’S First Electric Patient Transport Ambulance 

Working in Partnership BLS and HATS developed the first electric 

Patient Transport Ambulance into the UK market. The vehicle is the 

successful culmination of a year-long project involving many people 

and departments across both companies. It’s just one element of a 

broader range of initiatives that HATS is undertaking, aimed at reducing 

our carbon footprint: especially in London where HATS are the largest 

provider of transport services in this sector. The vehicle joined HATS 

multi-service fleet of over 800 vehicles in early February 2021. 

Interior features of the vehicle include a hygiene station, a wipe clean 

interior, a twist and recline seat for the passenger, two oxygen pipe 

outlets situated in the off and near side of the interior cabin, a cabinet for 

storage of essential medical equipment and a wheelchair restraint that is 

built into the wheel arch for a streamlined look. 

These two all-electric vehicles converted by Blue Light Services required 

a major re-think of the design and materials used in the conversion to 

ensure the vehicles were as light as possible to ensure the range of the 

vehicles could be maximised. The impressive end result could have only 

been achieved by working collaboratively with our clients and this really 

has been a ‘team effort’. 

The vehicle, a Renault Master Z.E. is equipped with the latest battery 

technology, allowing for an extensive range of 95 miles (City cycle). 

Made by Renault at their Cléon plant, Northern France, the vehicle uses their 

latest 57-KW Master Z.E. Powertrain, allowing HATS to transport patients 

safely and in comfort, as well as delivering a significant positive impact on 

the environment, as it produces zero noise and zero tailpipe emissions. 

On the vehicle’s introduction to the HATS Fleet, HATS Director of Fleet 

Services, Karl Bailey commented: ‘The introduction of this new Electric 

Ambulance is a significant moment, and we are hugely excited about 

how it can positively impact our operation, as we look to lessen the 

impact that our services have on the environment. 

HATS and BLS have just agreed terms on a further 20 Renault Masters 

ZEs and further 100 patient transport vehicles for the first quarter of 2022.

NEWSLINE 

services in the south-eastern 

coastal region of Andhra 

Pradesh. 

a wonderful achievement for 

everyone involved to make the 

shortlist. 

i-view 

SCAS has also been shortlisted 

in the Military and Civilian 

Health Partnership category 

alongside the Ministry of 

Defence for the work of 

Military Co-Responders who 

work with SCAS clinicians to 

respond to emergencies in their 

communities. 

A total of 160 MoD volunteers 

operate 13 blue light ambulance 

response cars across the South 

Central region, volunteering an 

average of 650 hours at more 

than 140 incidents a month – 

bolstering the service at times 

of need. 

“I want to say a personal thank 

you to all of our staff and 

volunteers for helping us get 

there – each and every one 

of them should be immensely 

proud of the role they have 

played in achieving this 

recognition.” 

HSJ editor Alistair McLellan 

said: “On behalf of all my 

colleagues I’d like to take this 

opportunity to congratulate 

SCAS on being nominated in 

the categories of Trust of the 

Year and Military and Civilian 

Health Partnership in this year’s 

HSJ Awards. 

Among the other shortlisted 

entries to involve staff at SCAS 

are Portsmouth Hospitals 

University NHS Trust’s project to 

automate ambulance handovers 

for faster, safer and less 

stressful patient information 

processing and Southern 

Health NHS Foundation Trust’s 

NHS 111 mental health crisis 

pathway across Hampshire and 

the Isle of Wight. 

These feature in the Driving 

Efficiency through Technology 

and Mental Health Innovation of 

the Year categories respectively. 

“The applications we receive 

always present our panel of 

judges with a very difficult task 

as the standard is unfailingly 

high and the breadth of 

innovation and passion for 

patient care is always so 

inspiring. 

“This year we really have been 

overwhelmed with the level 

of entries, particularly when 

set against the backdrop of 

the COVID-19 pandemic and 

the huge challenges faced 

by our health and social care 

workforce.” 

 

Single-use 

No reusable components 

Fully disposable 

No reprocessing 

Minimises the risk 

of cross contamination 

Will Hancock, Chief Executive 

of SCAS, said: “We are thrilled 

to be shortlisted for these 

distinguished national awards, 

particularly as the Trust of Year 

encompasses all of the work 

we have been doing and our 

partnerships – including with 

the military and neighbouring 

trusts – are so valuable to us 

and our patients. 

“This recognition really does 

reflect the collaborative efforts 

and dedication of colleagues 

across SCAS and within our 

partner organisations and it is 

More than 1,000 entries were 

submitted for this year’s HSJ 

Awards, with 205 organisations, 

projects and individuals making 

it to the final shortlist. SCAS is 

the only ambulance service and 

one of only nine trusts in the 

country to make the Trust of the 

Year shortlist. 

The full list of nominees for the 

HSJ Awards 2021 can be found 

on https://awards.hsj.co.uk/ 

shortlist-2021. Winners will be 

announced during a ceremony 

at Evolution in London on 18 

November. 

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wherever and whenever you intubate 

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www.intersurgical.co.uk 

151

NEWSLINE 

Why do some people 

get Covid worse 

than others? Expert 

reveals breakthrough 

research 

The number of Covid cases in 

the UK has risen 12% this week, 

but while some people may be 

hospitalised, others will suffer 

little more than a loss of smell. 

London Medical Laboratory 

says new research is now 

revealing everyone’s immune 

system is as unique as their 

fingerprint. 

Dr Quinton Fivelman PhD, Chief 

Scientific Officer at London 

Medical Laboratory says over 82% 

of UK adults have now received 

two jabs, but that doesn’t mean 

everyone will be saved from the 

worst effects of the virus. New 

research is revealing why some 

Covid patients may still die from 

the disease, while others barely 

know they have had it. 

Dr. Fivelman has authored the 

White Paper ‘Has your vaccine 

worked? Are you immune to 

Covid-19?’. He says that, though 

the number of deaths and 

hospitalisations has reduced 

significantly for fully vaccinated 

people, new research has 

determined that everyone’s 

immune system is unique, and 

some individuals will still become 

very ill with the disease. 

Says Dr Fivelman: ‘Everyone’s 

immune system is different. 

Our antibody testing has shown 

everyone responds differently to 

vaccinations. Some people create 

a very effective immune response, 

while others fail to do so. 

‘We now believe that everyone’s 

antibody profile is as unique 

as their fingerprint. Exactly how 

many different antibodies are 

in our blood at any one time 

was previously unknown; many 

scientists estimated it to be over 

several billion. In fact, we now 

know most people, whether sick 

or well, have just a few tens to 

hundreds of distinct antibodies 

present at high concentrations. 

‘London Medical Laboratory’s 

own tests have revealed a 

growing number of people who 

have been jabbed now have 

lower values (50 to 500AU/ml) of 

antibodies. If someone takes a 

test and their score is low, their 

unique immune system may not 

have responded as well as other 

peoples’ to the vaccine, and 

their antibody levels may have 

significantly declined over time. 

That means they may be more 

susceptible to the virus as time 

passes. 

‘Our findings are supported by 

new research from Professor 

Albert J.R. Heck, Professor of 

Chemistry and Pharmaceutical 

Sciences, Utrecht University. 

Using mass spectrometry, his 

team measured antibody profiles 

in about 100 people, including 

Covid-19 patients and people 

receiving different Covid vaccines. 

They did not find the same 

antibodies in any individuals, 

even if they had received the 

same vaccine. The team found 

that, even though the differences 

in antibodies are small, it 

appears that this can have a 

significant impact. If someone 

makes antibodies that are less 

effective at killing the disease, 

then they may suffer more severe 

symptoms, or catch Covid again 

within a short time. 

The results also showed that 

every individual’s concentrations 

of these antibodies changed in 

a unique way during illness or 

after a vaccination. This certainly 

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152 


NEWSLINE 

helps to explain why some people 

become more ill from Covid-19 

than others. 

We already know that the jab 

doesn’t work for everyone. 1 

in 100 fully vaccinated people 

fail to develop any antibodies 

at all after vaccination. That 

means that, even if every UK 

adult is vaccinated, half a million 

adults will have no protection 

whatsoever, and not even realise. 

Identifying those people is crucial, 

which is why widespread antibody 

testing is vital. 

‘If anyone is concerned about 

their own immune response to the 

jabs and how well they continue 

to produce antibodies, the new 

generation blood tests we offer 

are highly accurate, quick and 

simple to carry out, either in their 

own home or at a clinic. These 

tests are available privately for 

those who don’t qualify for the 

Government’s new limited testing 

programme. 

‘For the latest information about 

the level of protection vaccinations 

offer against Covid-19, see 

London Medical Laboratory’s 

new White Paper at: https://www. 

privatecoronavirustests.com/ 

page/vaccine-immunity 

Object Thrown At 

Ambulance On 

Emergency Call Out 

An ambulance crew on an 

emergency call for a patient 

with a suspected stroke had to 

pull over after an object was 

thrown through the vehicle’s 

windscreen. 

The object damaged the vehicle’s 

windscreen in Handsworth, 

Birmingham (UK), and an 

alternative ambulance was 

dispatched 

It “delayed the response” to the 

patient by about 10 minutes, 

the West Midlands Ambulance 

Service said. 

The incident on Worlds End Road 

on Saturday was captured on 

the vehicle’s CCTV, which will be 

passed on to police. 

UK ambulance emergency 

operations director Nathan 

Hudson’s dismay 

“There is only one thing that an 

ambulance travelling on blue 

lights is doing and that is trying to 

get to a patient in need. 

“Given where the damage is, I 

am just so glad that none of the 

crew were hurt. It doesn’t bear 

thinking about, what could have 

happened.” 

He added the service would work 

with police to try and find and 

prosecute the person responsible. 

St John’s Ambulance 

benefit from remote, 

efficient immunity 

testing for hepatitis B 

with Medichecks 

Around 250 people at St 

John’s Ambulance have 

taken advantage of a remote 

blood testing service, after 

the first aid charity teamed up 

with Medichecks and Boots 

Corporate Healthcare. 

Since August 2020, the 

partnership has delivered quicker 

and more convenient immunity 

testing for hepatitis B for St John’s 

Ambulance employees and 

volunteers. 

This new centralised system for 

provision of hepatitis B checks, 

supported by Medichecks’ 

customer care team, has 

significantly reduced admin time. 

It’s also an essential service, 

given the potential for exposure to 

the virus from contact with bodily 

fluids from another person. 

Single use vouchers mean that 

blood collection kits can be 

ordered by individuals and posted 

directly to their homes. 

The test looks for hepatitis B 

surface antibodies in the blood. 

Samples are analysed by 

Medichecks’ UKAS-accredited 

partner laboratories, and individuals 

receive their results via an online 

dashboard, with commentary from 

a Medichecks doctor. 

A Clinical Project Officer with St 

John Ambulance said: “The health 

and safety of our employees and 

volunteers is a top priority for St 

John Ambulance. By working 

with Medichecks, we can provide 

hepatitis B immunity testing kits 

posted directly to our volunteer’s 

homes, which is a great bonus. 

“By centralising the process 

we’ve saved countless volunteer 

hours and have peace of mind 

knowing that the results are all 

easily accessible in one place. 

We find the order process very 

simple, and the tests are available 

to our employees and volunteers 

in a very acceptable timeframe. 

The customer care team at 

Medichecks are always very quick 

to respond to our emails and offer 

a great standard of customer 

service to us.” 

Dr Sam Rodgers, Chief Medical 

Officer at Medichecks adds: 

“Medichecks’ service means that 

St John’s Ambulance volunteers 

and employees can focus on 

what they do best - responding 

to emergencies, supporting 

communities and saving lives, with 

the reassurance from knowing their 

immunity status for hepatitis B. 

“Because our tests are posted 

out centrally, it means that 

individuals don’t have to travel to 

a specific location to collect their 

test in their personal time. Use of 

the Medichecks’ online system 

with vouchers also removes 

any requirement for St John’s 

Ambulance to share personal 

data of these frontline heroes. 

“It’s a model we can roll out to a 

range of businesses who need to 

provide healthcare tests to their 

teams. It’s also beneficial that 

we can offer both venous blood 

draws and at-home, remote fingerprick 

collection methods, with 

hepatitis B one of a whole range of 

biomarkers we can monitor.” 

About hepatitis B virus 

Hepatitis B is an infection caused 

by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), 

which causes inflammation and 

enlargement of the liver. HBV 

infections can vary from a mild 

form that lasts a few weeks, to a 

more serious, chronic, form which 

can cause lasting liver damage. 

HBV is spread through contact 

with blood or other body fluids 

from an infected person. 

For more information about 

Medichecks’ testing for 

employers, visit: https://services. 

medichecks.com/ 


For the latest Ambulance Service News visit: www.ambulancenewsdesk.com 

153

NEWSLINE 

SCAS 

Ambulance service 

urges people 

to familiarise 

themselves with 

symptoms of sepsis 

infection 

A leading ambulance service 

clinician has urged people to 

familiarise themselves with the 

signs and symptoms of lifethreatening 

sepsis, sometimes 

known as blood poisoning. 

Mark Ainsworth-Smith MBE, 

a consultant pre-hospital care 

practitioner at South Central 

Ambulance Service (SCAS), said 

anyone can potentially develop 

the condition, which occurs when 

the immune system overreacts 

to an infection – including viral 

infections such as COVID-19. 

However, those at higher risk of 

developing sepsis are people 

aged over 75 or young children 

under a year old, as well as those 

who have experienced physical 

trauma such as fractures. 

Patients who have compromised 

immune systems, such as 

patients who have undergone 

recent chemotherapy, are 

particularly at risk. 

Symptoms can be vague 

and initially often feel like flu, 

gastroenteritis or a chest infection 

but people can worsen very 

quickly. This can cause their 

blood pressure to fall and shock 

the body which, if not treated 

immediately, can result in organ 

failure. 

There are around 245,000 cases 

of sepsis in the UK every year, 

causing at least 48,000 deaths 

and around 40% of all sepsis 

survivors suffer permanent, lifechanging 

after-effects. 

However, if recognised and 

diagnosed early it can be treated 

effectively with medicines such 

as antibiotics and intravenous 

fluids, avoiding such severe 

consequences. 

“Most of us who develop an 

infection will be fine; we will 

recover and go completely back 

to normal, but certain people will 

suffer a dysregulated response in 

the body which means they can 

become very unwell very quickly,” 

said Mr Ainsworth-Smith, who 

spoke out as part of World Sepsis 

Day today (Monday). 

“This is of concern as, although 

there are higher risk groups, 

sepsis can affect anyone and it 

can sometimes be hard to spot, 

so it is really important people 

familiarise themselves with the 

signs and take action when they 

need to. 

“The pandemic has been a 

complicating factor because 

some patients have attributed 

their symptoms to COVID-19 and 

some have been scared to attend 

hospitals and GP surgeries to 

be assessed in fear that they are 

going to catch COVID-19. 

“This has led some patients to 

delay seeking medical attention. 

We want to take the opportunity to 

highlight the condition and again 

raise awareness of sepsis.” 

Mr Ainsworth-Smith said it 

was important for anyone 

who develops a fever and 

high temperature or shivering 

to take it seriously and seek 

medical advice. He also said the 

development of new confusion 

was a particularly worrying sign. 

“Symptoms such as a high fever 

or feeling really unwell or shivering 

badly are absolutely things that 

should be addressed and we 

would recommend people contact 


154 

AVS STEPS_Ambulance UK Half Page Advert_June 2021_FINAL.indd 1 01/07/2021 18:04 


NEWSLINE 

their GP, phone 111 or use 111 

online if they are experiencing 

these symptoms and want to 

get a professional opinion,” he 

explained. 

“However, if they truly think 

they’ve got sepsis – particularly 

if they are a person in a high risk 

group – that is an emergency and 

it’s perfectly appropriate to phone 

999 in those circumstances where 

our expert staff will ensure they 

get the treatment they need as 

quickly as possible.” 

Mr Ainsworth-Smith said 

ambulance services across 

the UK have developed 

extensive guidance and training 

programmes for staff on 

recognising sepsis, with SCAS the 

first to adopt the second version 

of the National Early Warning 

Score 2 (NEWS2) system in the 

UK to identify a person’s need for 

hospital treatment. 

“We have done a lot of education 

with our staff to help them to 

recognise patients with sepsis. 

When sepsis is diagnosed, our 

staff are well trained to start initial 

treatment before transporting 

seriously unwell patients rapidly to 

hospital. Our crews will alert the 

hospital so that sepsis specialists 

are ready and waiting when they 

arrive. 

“When we assess a patient we’ll 

have a look at their vital signs, 

including their blood pressure, 

heart rate, temperature and blood 

sugar. NEWS2 is a scoring matrix 

we use to identify the sickest 

patients; the higher the score 

the more unwell they are and the 

more likely they are to require 

intensive care. 

“If patients have a score less than 

that then we can decide what to 

do and some of those patients, 

particularly if they don’t have signs 

of sepsis, may be suitable to stay 

at home under close supervision 

from their GP. Patients who do 

actually have sepsis will end up 

being transported to hospital.” 

For more information, 

visit the SCAS YouTube 

channel (www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=JK56CUU3TkE) to hear 

more from Mr Ainsworth-Smith or 

visit www.worldsepsisday.org. 

SECAmb 

Work starts on 

new multi-purpose 

ambulance, 999 and 

NHS 111 centre in 

Medway 

Building work has started on 

South East Coast Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust’s 

(SECAmb’s) new multi-purpose 

ambulance, 999 and NHS 111 

centre in Gillingham. 

The development will include 999 

and 111 call centre operations 

as well as a Make Ready Centre 

- the only one of its kind to bring 

all three functions together 

under one roof. Building work at 

the Bredgar Road site follows 

planning permission being 

granted last year. 

The contractor, Westridge 

Construction, is now on site 

carrying out groundworks ahead 

of construction. The centre 

is expected to become fully 

operational in Autumn 2022. 

SECAmb’s Make Ready vehicle 

preparation and maintenance 

system will occupy the two lower 

floors while staff currently based 

at the Trust’s East 999 Emergency 

Operations Centre (EOC) in 

Coxheath and Trust NHS 111 staff, 

currently based in Ashford, Kent, 

will benefit from modern openplan 

offices above. 

Integrating both 999 and 

111 services is a key part of 

SECAmb’s strategy to deliver 

more joined up integrated care 

and to increase efficiency. The 

development will also bring the 

east of SECAmb’s region in 

line with its West Emergency 

Operations Centre (including NHS 

111), based in Crawley, which 

opened in 2017. 

SECAmb’s Make Ready system, 

which is already in place across 

much of its region, is a vehicle 

preparation system which sees 

specialist teams of staff employed 

to clean, restock and maintain the 

Trust’s fleet. 

Ambulance crews currently 

starting and ending their shifts at 

Medway Ambulance Station in 

Chatham will, instead, start and 

finish at the new centre. They will 

then respond from ambulance 

community response posts 

across the region with suitable 

rest facilities for crews between 

calls and when on a break. 

Staff based in Sheppey will 

continue to start and end their 

shifts from the ambulance 

station on the island, which has 

undergone a major refurbishment 

and upgrade to provide new 

educational and training facilities. 

SECAmb currently operates nine 

Make Ready Centres across its 

region with Brighton the latest 

centre to open in December 2020. 

SECAmb Executive Director of 

Operations Emma Williams said: 

“It’s really great that building 

work is now under way on this 

important development for 

SECAmb. Our current building 

at Coxheath is outdated and not 

adequate for our requirements. 

Having operations centres for 

999 and 111 under one roof 

will ensure we further optimise 

functions between the services. 

“The new centre provides us 

with greater capacity, means 

we can improve the ratio of 999 

call taking across our two EOCs 

and will bring local recruitment 

opportunities for people across 

both 999 and 111 services. 

“Not only is our Make Ready 

system more efficient but the new 

building will also provide staff 

with access to modern facilities 

for training. We understand any 

change has an impact on staff 

and we will continue to fully 

engage with everyone affected 

ahead of the move next year.” 

What is Make Ready? 

• SECAmb’s Make Ready 

initiative significantly enhances 

and improves the service it 

provides to the community 

• It minimises the risk of crossinfection, 

frees up front-line 

staff – who traditionally cleaned 

and re-stocked ambulances 

– to spend more time treating 

patients, and keeps vehicles on 

the road for longer 

• The initiative ensures that 

specially-trained operatives 

regularly deep-clean, restock 

and check vehicles for 

mechanical faults 

• Make Ready Centres are 

supported by a network 

of Ambulance Community 

Responses Posts (ACRPs) 

across the area with staff 

beginning and ending their 

shifts at the new centre 

• During their shifts, staff will 

respond from the ACRPs which 

will provide facilities for staff. 

These are located based on 

patient demand 

• Crews continue to respond 

from the same towns under the 

system but begin and end their 

shifts at staggered times with a 

vehicle that is fully prepared for 

them 

• The system ensures crews have 

access to improved training 

facilities and opportunities 

and increased support from 

managers. 



155

NEWSLINE 


Research shows 

the valuable role of 

Helicopter Emergency 

Medical Services 

(HEMS) in responding 

to incidents of 

penetrating torso 

trauma in semi-rural 

areas 

Research by Air Ambulance 

Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) 

and the University of Surrey 

also highlights a prevalence of 

incidents along known County 

Lines. 

Research from life-saving charity 

Air Ambulance Kent Surrey 

Sussex (KSS) in partnership 

with the University of Surrey has 

shown the significant benefits 

of HEMS in responding to 

penetrating torso injuries suffered 

by patients in rural or semi-rural 

areas. Penetrating trauma is 

most commonly associated with 

stabbing or shooting. 

The retrospective study, which 

analysed data over a sixyear 

period, also highlights a 

prevalence of these incidents 

along known County Lines, 

networks established by citybased 

drug dealers to supply and 

sell drugs to users in towns and 

rural areas. 

The findings demonstrate the 

value of HEMS in expediting 

critical treatment for this group 

of penetrating trauma patients in 

rural and semi-rural areas and will 

inform multi-agency knife crime 

prevention strategy in these areas. 

The study identified that between 

1st January 2014 and 31st 

December 2019: 

• KSS attended 363 patients who 

had sustained a penetrating 

torso injury; 

• 88% of these patients were 

male with a median age of 30 

years; 

• 62% of these incidents 

occurred during the night; 

• 121 HEMS-specific 

interventions were performed 

in 14% of patients, with chest 

surgical decompression the 

most common (n=31); 

• The median time from incident 

occurring to arriving in hospital 

was 1.5 hours, with HEMS 

arriving in a median of 39 

minutes to start critical care, 

before the patient arrived in 

hospital; 

• Heat map incidence data 

closely correlated with County 

Lines. 

Penetrating trauma patients 

pose a significant challenge to 

pre-hospital emergency medical 

care providers. Time-critical 

non-compressible hemorrhage 

requires rapid assessment and 

typically transport to a Major 

Trauma Centre (MTC). In this 

study, 54 patients required one or 

more HEMS-specific time-critical 

interventions in the pre-hospital 

setting, and in total 78% of 

patients were transferred to a 

MTC. 

Penetrating trauma has been a 

substantial part of the trauma 

workload in urban areas in the 

UK for the last decade [1] and 

more recently it has increased in 

rural and semi-rural areas, where 

patients are frequently significantly 

further away from a tertiary care 

centre. In this study, the town 

of Margate in Kent, located 73 

miles and two hours away from 

its nearest MTC, had a significant 

number of penetrating torso 

trauma patients. The involvement 

of KSS resulted in transfer time for 

these patients being halved. 

Professor Richard Lyon MBE, 

Associate Medical Director at KSS 

and Professor of Pre-Hospital 

Emergency Care at the University 

of Surrey, said: 

“We know that time is absolutely 

critical to patients who have 

suffered penetrating torso trauma 

from a knife or gunshot injury. It 

can be challenging to discern 

which injuries require immediate 

intervention. Penetrating trauma 

patients can initially present as 

stable but can quickly deteriorate 

into a life-threatening condition. 

Getting the advanced clinical 

skills and clinical decision-making 

of HEMS teams to patients 

as quickly as possible can 

significantly improve outcomes for 

these patients.” 

“From their significant clinical 

experience, HEMS teams are 

more aware of underlying injuries 

and, in addition to providing 

emergency treatment at the 

scene, also have the capability 

to intervene en route to hospital if 

required. 34 patients in our study 

required a blood transfusion 

whilst being transferred by KSS to 

hospital.” 

He continued: 

“Previous studies have 

demonstrated that the accuracy 

of clinical examination to establish 

the degree of bleeding and 

potential for internal damage 

after penetrating injury is poor, 

making it difficult to predict which 

patients will deteriorate before 

they reach hospital. Our study 

confirms this, and also shows 

that HEMS attendance can be 

crucial. Several of the patients in 

this study received pre-hospital 

interventions, without which they 

would not have survived.” 

The research also highlighted 

the geographical distribution of 

penetrating trauma across KSS’s 

region over the six-year study 

period and identifies a specific 

pattern which mirrors existing 

drug trafficking County Lines. 

This information will help knife 

crime prevention strategy and will 

also support the safeguarding of 

vulnerable people at risk. 

The research has been published 

in the Scandinavian Journal 

of Trauma, Resuscitation and 

Emergency Medicine. 

NWAS 

New major multisports 

event, The 

Gratitude Games, 

launches to support 

the mental health of 

emergency service 

and NHS workers 

• The Gratitude Games aims 

to generate £10 million 

in funding to support 

Emergency Responders’ 

mental health over the next 

five years 

• The Cities of Manchester 

and Salford will hold the 

inaugural games next year 

for over 20,000 Emergency 

Responders and their families 

The Gratitude Games, a new 

sporting event to support the 

mental health of emergency 

service and NHS workers is 

calling on the British public and 

businesses to donate to their 

fundraising appeal. 

1 in 4 (27%) emergency service 

workers have considered ending 

their lives due to stress and other 

factors 1 , and this has only been 

amplified by the pandemic, with 

69% 2 reporting that their mental 

health has worsened since the 

start of Covid-19. 3 

The first Gratitude Games 

will be hosted by the Cities of 

Manchester and Salford from 27th 

April – 29th May 2022 at leading 

venues, including the iconic 

Etihad campus. The Games will 

unite over 20,000 Emergency 

Responders and their families, 

across 20 different sports. From 

the whole of the NHS and the Fire 

and Rescue Service, to RNLI and 

Cave Rescue, workers from 17 

different Emergency Services will 

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NEWSLINE 

be able to take part. The event will 

be open to all sporting abilities, 

and the triathlon and road running 

events (including a 5k and 10k), 

will also be open to the public. 

The funds raised will be deployed 

through four existing specialist 

organisations – Police Care UK, 

The Fire Fighters Charity, The 

Ambulance Staff Charity and Duty 

to Care (NHS) - who collectively 

support all emergency responders 

to improve their mental health. 

Duty to Care, for example, 

provides NHS workers with free 

one to one online consultations. 

This is followed by wellbeing 

support including coaching, yoga 

and other holistic interventions. 

The Gratitude Games is 

the brainchild of serving 

Buckinghamshire fire fighter Mike 

Downard and sports industry 

veteran Simon Rider, who founded 

the charity UK Emergency Services 

Giving (UKESG) to help ensure 

every Emergency Responder 

has access to the tailored mental 

health support they need. 

The expectations and demands 

placed on our emergency 

services and NHS workers are 

higher than ever. Whether caring 

for a patient in an ICU, telling 

someone that their loved one 

has died or dealing with the 

aftermath of a car crash, our 

Emergency Responders witness 

more trauma on a daily basis than 

most of us do in a lifetime. It has 

been estimated that whilst most 

ordinary people will encounter 

serious trauma no more than 

three or four times in their life – for 

police officers it is 400-600 times. 

Commenting on the issues that 

drove him to develop the Gratitude 

Games as the key fundraising 

platform for UKESG, Mike said “In 

my 18 years as a fire fighter, I have 

seen first-hand the devastating 

impact that working on the front line 

can have on your mental health. 

You can be dealing with multiple 

traumatic events on a daily basis 

and that can really take its toll. 

“The pandemic has affected 

the mental health of many, but 

especially those of us in the 

emergency services - so there 

is an urgent need to make sure 

the specialist support is readily 

available. To help make this a 

reality, we are calling upon the 

British public and businesses to get 

behind the Gratitude Games - by 

donating to the fundraising appeal 

and sharing the message of the 

Games to friends and family.” 

One of the first supporters of 

the Gratitude Games is Ricky 

Nuttall, a fire fighter who recently 

appeared on Channel 4’s 

SAS: Who Dares Wins. Ricky 

experienced a steep decline in his 

mental health after the Grenfell 

fire. 

He recalls: “I began to feel 

depressed and anxious and my 

relationships started to crumble. 

One evening, I sat on my living 

room floor and cried for four hours 

straight. I then realised that I 

couldn’t handle feeling this sad for 

the rest of my life. I didn’t see how 

I could recover. That was the first 

time I wanted to kill myself and it 

scared me”. 

Chloe Kitto, Occupational 

Therapist and Wellbeing Lead 

at Royal National Orthopaedic 

Hospital, who used the Duty to 

Care services during her time on 

the front line commented: 

“I spent the first few months of the 

pandemic developing wellbeing 

training to critical care staff across 

London, helping psychologically 

prepare thousands of NHS staff 

for the uncertainties, risk and 

trauma of Covid-19 frontline 

work. Healthcare workers and 

emergency responders are used 

to being the care providers, not 

the care receivers. However, 

after a few months it was clear 

I was not practising what I was 

preaching. I was ignoring signs of 

stress and trauma within myself, 

I closed off from people close 

to me, became obsessive about 

the news, eventually leaning on 

alcohol to cope. 

“I didn’t feel ready to seek 

psychological support at that 

stage, and instead came across 

the Duty to Care charity. Almost 

immediately I was offered access 

to coaching sessions, yoga 

practice, breathing sessions, 

nutritional support, and a variety 

of other holistic wellbeing 

interventions.” 

The Gratitude Games will raise 

public awareness of the mental 

health challenges faced by 

so many of our Emergency 

Responders, whilst enabling 

people to show their appreciation 

for the essential work they do. 

To donate to the fundraising 

appeal, please visit: 

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ 

gratitudegames 

To find out more and register your 

interest visit: 

www.gratitudegames.uk 

1 

Mind data: April 2016 

2 

Of Emergency Responders 

3 

Mind: Blue Light “Behind The 

Mask” Report, published May 

2021 

LAS 

An open letter 

to London and 

Londoners 

As the country marks 999 Day, 

I would like to pay tribute to the 

dedicated staff and volunteers 

at London Ambulance Service 

and to all our emergency 

services partners who support 

us in our work. We also 

remember the ten colleagues 

who have died from the virus 

during this pandemic, as well as 

their families and friends. 

I am extremely grateful to 

everyone – from our call handlers 

and ambulance crews to our fleet 

teams and corporate staff – who 

continue to work so hard caring 

for this city of more than nine 

million people. They’ve worked 

tirelessly and continue to give their 

all to Londoners after 20 months 

of responding to COVID-19 and 

associated pressures. 

Our staff and volunteers, 

alongside other health and 

social care workers, have had to 

cope with so many changes to 

how we work, wearing hot and 

restrictive PPE, enduring lengthy 

separations from family, and 

losing loved ones and cherished 

colleagues to the virus. 

Throughout, it has taken almost 

superhuman effort to maintain 

the strength and professionalism 

to be there for London when it 

needed us most. 

For London Ambulance Service, 

our winter has arrived early. July 

was our second busiest month 

ever. We’ve also just had our 

busiest August. At peak times we 

are receiving calls every seven 

seconds to our 999 and 111 

control rooms. 

We are planning for one of our 

longest winters. It’s going to 

be gruelling for everyone in our 

Service but I know we will not 

stop going the extra miles. I’m 

determined to do all I can to 

support our people to deliver 

the best possible care for our 

patients. 

To all London Ambulance Service 

staff and volunteers on this 999 

Day: thank you for all you do. I 

am inspired by your passion and 

dedication and look forward to 

supporting you in the important 

work we still have ahead of us. 

Daniel Elkeles 

Chief Executive, London 

Ambulance Service 



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NEWSLINE 


SECAmb 

Little Lila and 

lifesavers special 

guests as Duke of 

Cambridge marks 

Emergency Services 

Day 

A 5-year-old girl from Rainham, 

Kent, and the off-duty SECAmb 

and Kent Fire and Rescue 

Service members of staff who 

saved her life were special 

guests as HRH The Duke of 

Cambridge marked Emergency 

Services Day on 9 September. 

Lila Page attended the royal 

engagement at Dockhead Fire 

Station, South London, with 

mum Tracey Bell, ambulance 

technician, Charlotte Speers along 

with on call fire-fighters Marc 

Rustage and James Knight. 

Lila was successfully resuscitated 

by the trio after she collapsed in 

March 2020. Charlotte was at The 

Railway pub in the town when she 

heard a commotion and the pub 

manager shouting for someone to 

call an ambulance. 

Upon investigating, Charlotte 

found little Lila on the floor, 

unconscious and not breathing 

and immediately started CPR. 

By luck, also in the pub off duty 

were Marc and James, who are 

part of the joint ambulance/fire 

co-responder scheme. Marc 

supported Charlotte in treating 

Lila while James fetched a 

defibrillator from the nearby fire 

station (although this wasn’t 

needed). 

Ahead of the ambulance crew 

arriving they managed to get 

Lila breathing again. Following 

further treatment and tests, it was 

subsequently discovered that 

Lila has a heart condition. She 

has since had surgery at Great 

Ormond Street Hospital and is 

doing very well. 

Charlotte, who was on maternity 

leave at the time but who has 

since returned to duty for 

SECAmb at Medway Make Ready 

Centre said: “It was a real honour 

to meet the Duke and to represent 

all my colleagues. I had never 

done a paediatric resus before 

and having no equipment as well, 

I was feeling rather overwhelmed. 

Having the support of Marc and 

James made the situation easier. 

They should be very proud of 

everything they did. I’m really 

pleased that Lila is doing so well 

and it was lovely to meet her 

and her mum. It’s a day we’ll all 

remember forever.” 

Tracey said: “We were honoured 

to be invited to meet the Duke 

and celebrate the well-deserved 

recognition of our heroes. 

Words could never express how 

grateful we are that they saved 

our daughters life. Seeing my 

daughter’s lifeless body lying 

there was the worst experience of 

my life. 

“I will never forget the help that 

Charlie, Marc and James gave 

while off duty, nor will I ever 

forget Charlie grabbing my hand, 

placing it on Lila’s chest and say, 

‘she’s breathing’. One silver lining 

from this horrendous event has 

not only brought back my little girl 

but it’s also given me a life-long 

friend in Charlie.” 

Charlotte, Marc and James will 

receive a special award for their 

actions at SECAmb’s annual staff 

awards ceremony which takes 

place in October. 

Frontline Coffee 

Launches ‘Lift Off’ 

Blend in Support of 

Air Ambulances UK 

An online coffee charity 

founded by firefighters for 

frontline workers launches ‘Lift 

Off’ coffee in support of the 

UK’s air ambulance charities 

Frontline Coffee was set up by 

firefighters Matt Broxton and Tom 

Taylor in 2018 and took off during 

last year’s national lockdowns. 

Their mission is to raise money for 

frontline charities and so far have 

raised over £20,000 for charities 

that support the people of our 

emergency and health services. 

As part of Air Ambulance Week, 

they have announced their 

support for Air Ambulances UK 

with their latest product the ‘Lift 

off’ blend. This is a medium 

roast coffee with a classic Italian 

espresso taste offering an after 

taste of chocolate. 

Air Ambulances UK champions, 

represents, and supports the 

lifesaving work of the UK’s air 

ambulance charities, enabling 

them to save even more lives 

every day. 

When the public purchase 

Frontline Coffee’s ‘Lift Off’ blend, 

a minimum of £1.50 per 250g bag 

is donated. 

Air ambulance charities are 

collectively dispatched to 

over 80 lifesaving missions 

each day across the UK; each 

mission is funded almost 

entirely by donations. Though 

air ambulances are part of the 

regional 999 response service and 

work closely with NHS hospitals, 

each of the 21 air ambulances 

in the UK are charities. By 

purchasing Frontline Coffee’s 

Lift Off blend, customers will be 

helping air ambulance charities 

save even more lives. 

Emma Carter, Head of 

Fundraising and Sustainability for 

Air Ambulances UK said 

“We are very excited for Frontline 

Coffee to launch Lift Off coffee in 

support of Air Ambulances UK. It 

is well known that air ambulances 

crews across the country are 

fuelled by coffee, so it is great 

to be able to work with Frontline 

Coffee to develop a coffee in 

support of the UK’s air ambulance 

charities.” 

Matt Broxton, Founder of Frontline 

Coffee says “We are delighted to 

announce our partnership with 

Air Ambulances UK by adding 

‘Lift Off’ to our charity coffee 

range. Supporting air ambulance 

charities across the UK is so 

important as they rely almost 

entirely on donations. Money 

raised from the sale of this coffee 

is going to really help with the lifesaving 

work carried out by these 

amazing teams every day.” 

To purchase ‘Lift Off’ coffee and 

support Air Ambulances UK, visit 

the Frontline Coffee website: 

https://frontlinecoffee.co.uk/. 

Increased antibody 

testing will avert 

Plan B, says expert 

Increased antibody testing 

will give a far clearer picture 

of how well our resistance to 

Covid-19 is maintained this 

winter. That’s vital to help the 

Government avoid imposing 

passports, working from home 

and compulsory masks, says 

London Medical Laboratory. 

Concern is growing that 

the number of Covid-19 

hospitalisations could suddenly 

soar this winter. That would 

trigger the Government’s ‘Plan 

B’ response, this ‘last resort’ 

would include measures such 

as requiring people to work 

from home, introducing vaccine 

passports and reintroducing 

compulsory face masks. 

The leading Covid-19 testing 

expert, Dr Quinton Fivelman, 

Chief Scientific Officer at London 

Medical Laboratory, says more 

widespread antibody testing will 

flag diminishing resistance and 

identify many of the individuals 

most at risk of hospitalisation, 

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NEWSLINE 

well before the NHS finds itself 

under unsustainable pressure. 

It will also determine whether 

the planned six-month gap for 

booster jabs is the best option for 

everyone, or needs to be brought 

forward for some people. 

Says Dr Fivelman: ‘The 

Government’s new Plan A, which 

includes booster jabs for the over 

50s and frontline health workers, 

and vaccinating 12–15-yearolds, 

will undoubtedly reduce 

hospitalisations this winter. 

However, to be sure to avoid the 

imposition of the Government’s 

Plan B measures, the NHS Test 

and Trace PCR programme needs 

to be supplemented with regular 

testing of Covid antibody levels. 

‘So far, the only Government 

action on this has been the limited 

antibody testing programme 

introduced by the UK Health 

Security Agency (UKHSA). This 

only gives free antibody tests 

to a proportion of those testing 

positive for Covid following a PCR 

test. Anyone else who wants to 

measure their antibody levels 

must still go private. 

‘The best way to avoid a sudden 

upsurge in hospitalisations is to 

have a far clearer idea of how 

well antibody levels are holding 

up across the population. That 

means we need to increase the 

number of IgG (immunoglobulin 

G) antibody tests being carried 

out, and a shared database 

needs to be created so 

information from Government 

and private labs can be bought 

together. 

‘Why is this vital? Antibodies 

don’t guarantee immunity, but a 

2020 British study in healthcare 

workers concluded that the 

presence of anti-virus IgG 

antibodies was associated with 

a substantially reduced risk of 

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in the 

ensuing six months. 

‘Our research reveals that 1 in 

100 fully vaccinated people fail 

to develop any antibodies at all 

after vaccination. That means 

that, even if every UK adult 

is vaccinated, half a million 

adults will have no protection 

whatsoever, and not even 

realise. 

‘Of equal concern is the fact that 

our most recent tests are finding 

a growing number of people 

who have been jabbed now have 

lower values (50 to 500AU/ml) 

of antibodies and the clinical 

significance of this is still being 

researched. The “cut-off value” 

is still not known and how long 

protection will last is still being 

fully understood. If someone 

takes a test and their score is 

low, their antibody levels may 

have significantly declined over 

time, and they may be more 

susceptible to the virus as time 

passes. 

‘To avoid Plan B, we need to 

have a far clearer idea of the 

speed at which antibody levels 

are waning. We are beginning 

to develop a better picture 

of how long they survive and 

what kind of protection they 

offer over time. Researchers in 

Australia have found correlations 

between the efficacy of flu jabs 

and coronavirus vaccinations. It 

appears probable that immunity 

to severe infection may be much 

more durable over time than 

overall immunity to reinfection, 

but that any reinfection is usually 

mild. The protective efficacy was 

found to decline by about 7% 

per month after the influenza 

vaccination. This might give 

some indication of how Covid-19 

vaccines will perform over time. 

‘It’s not only severe infections 

that we need to prevent. Long 

Covid symptoms may also 

put the NHS under increasing 

pressure. New Government 

data released yesterday shows 

the ongoing impact of Long 

Covid. 9.4% of people reported 

symptoms ranging from 

fevers and aches to diarrhoea, 

shortness of breath and loss of 

smell up to eight weeks after 

infection, with 5% still suffering 

some of these after 16 weeks. 

‘If anyone is concerned about 

their own immune response 

to the jabs and how well they 

continue to produce antibodies, 

the new generation blood tests 

we offer are highly accurate, 

quick and simple to carry out, 

either in their own home or at a 

clinic. These tests are available 

privately for those who don’t 

qualify for the Government’s new 

limited testing programme. 

‘For the latest information 

about the level of protection 

vaccinations offer against 

Covid-19, see London 

Medical Laboratory’s new 

White Paper at: https://www. 

privatecoronavirustests.com/ 

page/vaccine-immunity 

SECAmb 

Free Premier League 

and WSL tickets for 

emergency services 

Brighton & Hove Albion are 

giving away more than 1000 free 

Premier League and 500 free 

Women’s Super League match 

tickets to NHS and emergency 

services workers this season. 

As promised in the early part of the 

pandemic, the club committed to 

1000 free tickets to NHS workers, 

once the season resumed 

and fans were able to return to 

stadiums across the county. 

However, the football club has now 

increased the number of available 

tickets for NHS workers to attend 

even more men’s and women’s 

first team league matches. 

An additional 500 tickets have 

also been donated by the club to 

enable other emergency service 

workers the chance to apply to 

get their hands on the free tickets. 

Albion men’s first-team head 

coach Graham Potter said: “We 

are hugely grateful to the amazing 

work our emergency services 

undertake and never more so than 

the previous 18 months. As a club 

we have shown our gratitude and 

support wherever we can, and we 

are delighted to be able to offer 

these tickets.” 

Women’s first-team manager 

Hope Powell added: “We 

are really looking forward to 

welcoming fans back into 

stadiums for the new season, 

and I am delighted we, as a club, 

can show a small token of our 

appreciation to those emergency 

services heroes.” 

Will Campbell-Lamerton, 

Partnerships and Operations 

Manager at Blue Light Tickets, 

said: 

“The return of the Premier League 

will feel even more exciting this 

year, now that fans can once 

again show their support from 

the stadiums. The UK’s NHS and 

emergency workers have been the 

true heroes of the pandemic in the 

last 18 months. It’s thanks to their 

tremendous efforts to support the 

vaccine roll out that restrictions 

are now able to be lifted, and the 

whole nation owes them a great 

deal of thanks. It’s fantastic to be 

partnering with Brighton & Hove 

Albion to show our thanks by 

giving fans the chance to watch 

their football team for free.” 

Emergency service and NHS 

workers can now sign up to 

Blue Light Tickets and apply 

for the tickets here: https:// 

bluelighttickets.co.uk/event/244 

All tickets are for Premier League 

and WSL fixtures over the course 

of the 2021/22 season and tickets 

will be distributed through the 

Blue Light Tickets website. 



159

NEWSLINE 

LAS 

London Ambulance 

Service workers 

nominated for 

national award 

A paramedic who helped a 

teenager in cardiac arrest, a 999 

dispatcher who educates young 

people about the dangers 

of knife crime, and a group 

of medics who saved their 

colleague’s life have all been 

nominated for a national award. 

London Ambulance Service staff 

were put forward for a Who Cares 

Wins award, which recognises 

people working in the health 

service. 

Among them is Raj Mann, who 

drives one of our fast response 

cars and has been shortlisted 

for his part in saving the life of 

18-year-old Omar when he went 

into cardiac arrest at home. 

Paramedic Raj, who is based 

at Kenton and has worked at 

London Ambulance Service for 11 

years, recalls being called out to 

the incident in May last year and 

arriving first on the scene. 

He kept Omar’s parents, Diane 

and Jeff, involved and updated 

while working with his colleagues 

to restart the teenager’s heart. 

Raj said: I remember that night 

really clearly. Everyone came 

together, and I’m so pleased 

we were able to give Omar that 

chance. 

Now he has his whole life ahead 

of him. It just shows how important 

CPR is and how it can make 

a difference to the survival of 

someone who is in cardiac arrest. 

Having already heard from the 

hospital that Omar had survived, 

Raj decided to visit the teenager’s 

family a few weeks later to see 

how they were. He couldn’t and 

still can’t explain why, but he had 

felt a connection with them and 

was particularly moved by the 

experience. 

His visit marked the start of a 

special friendship, with Raj since 

being invited to family gatherings 

and birthday celebrations. 

Diane said: Raj became a friend 

because he invested his time and 

energy with the whole family. He 

would check to see how Omar and 

our family were. He saw us for who 

we are – not just a family with a 

son that had a cardiac arrest. 

Raj added: They really are the 

nicest family, and I’m so glad we 

were there in their moment of 

need. I’m very touched that Diane 

nominated me for this award. 

I don’t see what I do as a job – I 

love what I do, and this is one of 

the reasons why. 

It’s an honour to be shortlisted, 

but this is for the whole team. 

From the call handler who took 

the 999 call, to the other people 

who attended that night, and all 

the health professionals at the 

hospital and in the aftermath – this 

is on behalf of all of them.” 

Ambulance dispatcher Mandy 

Cassidy and medics from our 

Hazardous Area Response Team 

(HART) and Tactical Response 

Unit (TRU) also received 

nominations for an award but just 

missed out on being shortlisted. 

Mandy joined London Ambulance 

Service 18 years ago after 

suffering the traumatic loss of her 

son – a victim of knife crime. 

She now delivers knife crime 

presentations to Year 7 children 

at school and dedicates her 

time teaching them about the 

consequences of carrying a knife. 

She also teaches basic first aid 

and what to do if you come across 

someone who has been stabbed. 

Stuart said: It was as if the lights 

just went out. Luckily there were a 

lot of experienced paramedics in 

the room with me. 

Had I not been at work, had this 

happened elsewhere, I don’t think 

I would be here now. 

Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive 

of London Ambulance Service, 

said: Raj, Mandy, and Stuart’s 

colleagues richly deserve this 

recognition, and I would like 

to congratulate them all. They 

are wonderful ambassadors for 

London Ambulance Service and 

we are very lucky to have them. 

To have three nominations for 

a Who Cares Wins award is 

fantastic and testament to the 

incredible staff and volunteers 

we have working here at London 

Ambulance Service. Best of luck 

to Raj on the night, we will all be 

rooting for you. 

Over 23k NHS 

employees to receive 

access to platform to 

report problematic 

behaviour 

The NHS Leicester, 

Leicestershire and Rutland 

(LLR) Academy has partnered 

with tech-for-good developer, 

Speaking about why she joined 

Culture Shift, to offer more 

London Ambulance Service, she 

than 23,500 NHS employees 

said: I wanted to do something for 

access to its reporting platform, 

me. My world was turned upside 

designed to give staff improved 

down and it appealed to me to do 

opportunities for reporting 

something to help people. 

experiences of discrimination, 

bullying, harassment and 


Meanwhile, HART medic Stuart 

Law nominated his colleagues for 

saving his life when he stopped 

breathing at work. 

When they were unable to find a 

pulse they immediately started chest 

compressions – and one colleague 

also drove to his home to tell his 

partner, Heather, who also works for 

London Ambulance Service. 

victimisation in the workplace. 

Launching in September 2021, the 

online platform will provide NHS 

staff with a safe space to disclose 

incidents - anonymously or 

non-anonymously – and is set to 

enhance LLR’s existing approach 

to creating a safe workplace free 

from bullying, harassment and 

discrimination. 

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NEWSLINE 

The reporting platform will be 

available to approximately 

17,800 staff at NHS University 

Hospitals of Leicester, 5,500 at 

Leicestershire Partnership Trust 

and 278 across LLR Clinical 

Commissioning Groups. As 

part of the implementation of 

the new system, NHS Leicester, 

Leicestershire and Rutland will be 

working hard to raise awareness 

of all reporting routes available to 

its employees. 

Jen Mulloy, Equality and Inclusion 

Business Partner at NHS 

Midlands and Lancashire CSU, 

commented: “The Leicester, 

Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) 

Academy is pleased to be working 

with Culture Shift to launch the 

LLR YourVoice report and support 

tool. The YourVoice report and 

support tool will enhance our 

existing approach to creating a 

safe workplace free from bullying, 

harassment and discrimination.” 

NHS leaders will be given access 

to the platform’s data analytics 

dashboard to gain actionable 

insights and identify patterns 

of behaviour in their workplace. 

The reporting platform will also 

give key stakeholders access 

to workshops to ensure they 

have the knowledge needed to 

implement it successfully and 

develop a bespoke strategy, 

policy review and communications 

plan off the back of it. 

“This online platform will give 

our workforce a confidential, 

anonymous and convenient 

way to report their experiences 

in order for us to prevent and 

tackle discrimination, bullying, 

harassment and victimisation. The 

analytics part of the system will be 

fundamental in helping us identify 

trends and target interventions 

as well as providing robust 

information to support our current 

reporting systems. The platform 

also enables a fully integrated 

case management process,” 

continued Jen Mulloy. 

Gemma McCall, CEO of Culture 

Shift, added: “We’re proud to 

be offering NHS staff access to 

anonymous reporting and helping 

to drive positive change. The 

NHS has been under immense 

pressure this past year and 

access to the platform will give 

much needed additional support 

to NHS staff. The launch of our 

platform will help break down 

barriers to reporting and ensure 

LLR is taking a proactive and 

preventative approach to any 

problematic behaviour. Our 

aim with the system is to create 

an environment where staff 

feel empowered to speak up 

about any instances of bullying, 

harassment or discrimination.” 

Culture Shift exists to lead 

positive change in organisational 

culture, through building products 

that empower them to tackle 

harassment and bullying. Its 

reporting platform is already 

providing support to almost one 

million people in workplaces and 

higher education institutions and 

is currently used in over 70 of the 

UK’s universities. 

To find out more about how 

Culture Shift is collaborating with 

organisations to monitor and 

prevent problematic behaviour or 

to request a demo of the software, 

visit culture-shift.co.uk. 

WAS 

WAS is seeking to 

re-enlist military 

support 

The Welsh Ambulance Service 

is seeking to re-enlist military 

support to assist with its 

Covid-19 effort. 

The Trust has submitted a request 

for additional support to Welsh 

Government under the Military 

Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) 

arrangement. 

If approved, it will be the third time 

that soldiers have supported the 

service through the pandemic. 

Chief Executive Jason Killens 

said: “Covid-19 has presented 

a challenge like no other, but 

the last couple of months in 

particular have meant significant 

and sustained pressures on our 

ambulance service. 

“The Trust is starting to return 

to some of the arrangements 

we had in place at the height of 

the pandemic to better manage 

the increase in Covid-19 related 

activity that we’re feeling the 

impact of once again. 

“As part of this, we’re seeking to 

re-enlist the military, who did a 

superb job of assisting us on two 

occasions previously last year. 

“Winter is our busiest time, and 

this will enable us to get a head 

start on what we foresee will be 

a tough period, especially when 

you couple Covid-19 demand with 

seasonal flu and our usual winter 

pressures. 

“This is about bolstering our 

capacity as far we can and putting 

us in the best possible position 

to provide a safe service to the 

people of Wales.” 

More than 200 British Army 

soldiers have already assisted 

the Trust’s Covid-19 effort by 

driving and decontaminating 

ambulance vehicles as part of 

Operation Rescript. 

Among them were 90 soldiers 

from 9 Regiment Royal Logistic 

Corps, who were enlisted on 

Christmas Eve at the height 

of the second wave of the 

pandemic. 

More broadly, more than 20,000 

military personnel have been 

supporting public services 

across the UK during the 

pandemic as part of a ‘COVID 

Support Force’. 

A spokesperson for Joint Military 

Command Wales said: “Defence 

remains ready to offer support 

to civil authorities in the UK 

and we will work with the Welsh 

Government and the Welsh 

Ambulance Services NHS Trust 

to understand their requirements 

and offer assistance where 

appropriate. 

“Since March 2020, Defence 

has supported more than 450 

Military Aid to Civilian Authority 

(MACA) requests as part of the 

Covid Response Force.” 



161

IN PERSON 

SECAMB News 

Trust welcomes new Non- 

Executive Director 

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased 

to announce the appointment of a new 

Independent Non-Executive Director. 

A registered nurse by background, Liz Sharp 

was appointed by SECAmb’s Council of 

Governors and began a three-year term 

of office on 19 September. With more than 

30-years’ background in both the public and 

private health sectors, she brings with her a 

huge wealth of knowledge in delivering and 

improving patient outcomes and experience. 

Until 2018, Liz was the National Director of Clinical 

Services for BMI Healthcare, an independent 

provider running 54 hospitals. Her executive 

career includes her working in partnership with the 

clinical education team to develop an in-house 

associate practitioner programme, enhancing 

governance through introducing an electronic 

risk-based reporting system for staff, and leading 

large-scale change programmes including 

building a care and rehabilitation centre and 

developing clinical strategy. 

An experienced non-executive, she remains a 

Trustee of the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation 

for Disabled People and is both Chair of its 

Care, Quality and Safety Committee and the 

Board’s Safeguarding Lead. 

Chair of SECAmb, David Astley, said: “I would 

like to formally welcome Liz to SECAmb 

and know that her appointment will bring 

additional support and challenge to the Board, 

in particular regarding patient experience. 

Her three decades in the health sector will 

be of real value to the us and I look forward 

to working closely with her over the coming 

months and years.” 

Liz said: “It will be a great privilege to work 

with my fellow NEDs, the senior management 

team and everyone at SECAmb to shape and 

influence services that make such a difference 

to people’s lives. I strongly believe that I can 

help shape, support and drive the patient 

experience agenda and strengthen clinical, 

governance and commercial developments that 

will 

further enhance and build the reputation of 

the Trust on a local and national level.” 

SECAmb’s Board meetings are held in 

public, and are observable in real time online 

currently, using Microsoft Teams. For meeting 

papers and a link to the Board meetings, visit 

our website: Trust Board meeting dates and 

papers | NHS South East Coast Ambulance 

Service (secamb.nhs.uk) 

KSS News 

Air Ambulance Kent Surrey 

Sussex announces changes 

to board of trustees 

The Board of Trustees of Air Ambulance 

Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) has elected 

Barney Burgess as Chair in succession to Dr 

Helen Bowcock OBE, DL. Professor Andrew 

Rhodes and Michael Docherty succeed 

Barney Burgess as joint Vice Chairs. The 

appointments take effect from December 2021. 

Barney Burgess, who joined the Board of KSS 

in 2017, has a broad business experience, 

having worked for McKinsey & Co as a 

consultant before joining Tesco plc where he 

ran their grocery home shopping business 

and was a Commercial Director. Barney is now 

a partner in a private equity firm, Hattington 

Investment Partners. 

George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation 

Trust and a past President of the European 

Society of Intensive Care Medicine. Andrew is 

also a member of the Executive Committee of 

the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. 

Michael Docherty became a Trustee at KSS in 

2017. Michael was formerly Director of Digital 

and Supporter Experience at Cancer Research 

UK, leading the digital transformation of the 

UK’s largest charity and building its fundraising 

and event platform. Michael has extensive 

experience in the digital, media, telecoms and 

charity sectors. 

Dr Helen Bowcock OBE, DL joined KSS in 

2014, and has led the charity through a period 

of significant growth, enabling KSS to increase 

its impact and to diversify its sources of income. 

In 2016, KSS became the first UK Helicopter 

Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) to 

introduce the AW169 helicopter as an air 

ambulance, allowing 360 degree in-aircraft 

access to patients for the first time. 

During that year a research partnership was 

established with the University of Surrey. 

Subsequently a dedicated research fund 

has led to KSS becoming internationally 

recognised for its pioneering work in furthering 

the understanding and development of prehospital 

emergency care. 

Today, KSS has one of the highest pre-hospital 

research outputs in the UK and is supporting 

two PhDs. 

In March 2020, the charity became the first 

HEMS to be rated outstanding by the Care 

Quality Commission (CQC) across all five 

of its inspection key lines of enquiry: safe, 

effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Also 


Significantly, in 2015, Barney’s life was saved 

by KSS when he collapsed with a cardiac 

arrest whilst running a half-marathon. KSS 

delivered pre-hospital emergency treatment 

at the scene before flying Barney to King’s 

College Hospital. Barney brings enormous 

passion and commitment to the charity which 

saved his life. 

Professor Andrew Rhodes was appointed 

to the KSS Board in 2019. He is Professor of 

Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine at St 

Barney Burgess 

162 


IN PERSON 

Dr Helen Bowcock OBE 

in 2020, KSS was honoured to welcome Her 

Royal Highness, The Princess Royal to visit the 

charity’s Redhill base. 

Under Helen’s leadership and despite the 

unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, KSS 

has remained fully operational 24/7 throughout 

the pandemic. As a result of the charity’s strong 

governance and wholehearted support from the 

communities it serves, KSS was able to quickly 

launch a successful emergency appeal. 

The charity also worked with a number 

of key strategic partners including the 

National Director of Major Trauma to develop 

procedures for the safe transfer of the most 

seriously ill COVID-19 patients by helicopter. In 

partnership with South East Coast Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb), to 

date KSS has been able to transfer over 100 

patients between Intensive Care Units across 

its region. 

In recognition of these achievements, in 

September 2020 KSS won the Charity Times 

Charity of the Year Award (income over £10M) 

and in September 2021 the charity won the 

Kent Charity of the Year Award. 

Barney Burgess said: “I owe my life to KSS, 

and it is a real privilege to have been elected 

as the new Chair of the charity. I would like 

to thank Helen for the hugely beneficial and 

lasting contributions to KSS that she has 

made. Our reach, breadth of support and 

governance have never been stronger thanks 

to Helen’s excellent leadership. I’m very 

excited to be taking up the chairmanship 

of KSS in December, and I look forward to 

working with David and the Board of Trustees 

to continue Helen’s great work.” 

Helen Bowcock said: “It has been a great 

honour to have served as Chair of KSS, an 

exceptional charity which has delivered an 

outstanding performance. My successor Barney 

Burgess brings superb qualities and experience 

to this role and I wish him, the other trustees 

and the Senior Leadership Team, so ably led by 

David Welch, the very best for the future.” 

Andrew Rhodes said: “It is a huge honour 

for me to serve the charity as a trustee and I 

am very much looking forward to supporting 

Barney in his new role. KSS has excelled 

during the last few years under Helen’s 

leadership, with being graded as Outstanding 

by the CQC one of a great number of 

exceptional achievements, and will have a very 

exciting future under Barney’s leadership.” 

Michael Docherty said: “It has been a privilege 

to serve alongside and learn from Helen who 

has made such an incredible contribution to 

KSS. I hope to support Barney in continuing 

Helen’s legacy of elevating the impact of the 

organisation while enhancing governance.” 

David Welch, CEO of KSS, said: “On behalf 

of Team KSS, I convey sincere thanks to 

Helen for her transformative leadership, which 

has been a catalyst for the extraordinary 

achievements of this charity over the past six 

years. Helen has been pivotal in developing 

a culture of continuous improvement at KSS, 

crucial to achieving our vision. We would not 

be where we are without Helen’s dedication to 

KSS, and I am extremely grateful.” 

“I now look forward to Barney’s leadership, 

which I know will help us to build on our 

achievements to date. Barney’s expertise and 

first-hand experience of KSS will be highly 

valuable as we continue to grow.” 

WHY NOT WRITE FOR US? 

Ambulance UK welcomes the submission of 

clinical papers and case reports or news that 

you feel will be of interest to your colleagues. 

Material submitted will be seen by those working within the public and private 

sector of the Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance Operators, BASICS Doctors etc. 

All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com 

If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via: 

info@mediapublishingcompany.com 


Do you have anything you would like to add or include? Please contact us and let us know. 

163

COMPANY NEWS 

EBERSPAECHER AIRTRONIC 3: 

NEW GENERATION OF AIR HEATERS 

FOR ALL PERFORMANCE CLASSES 

• Compact, comfortable, and efficient 

• Four model variants in 12 versions for 2 to 8 kW heating performance 

• Pleasant warmth in commercial and special vehicles 

In 2021 Eberspaecher will be rolling out the third-generation 

Airtronic. The new generation of air heaters is entirely newly 

developed and available across all performance classes (2 to 

8 kW) for commercial and special vehicles. The product family 

will include four model variants in 12 versions and therefore, 

offer the right heating solutions for every demand. Userfriendly 

operating elements ensure simple and flexible control 

of heaters. 

For the third generation of the Airtronic, thermal management expert 

Eberspaecher is relaunching its proven fuel operated air heater family 

and raising it to a new technical level across all performance classes. 

Four model variants will cover deployment in many commercial 

and special vehicles. Whether in recreational vehicles, transporters, 

ambulances, trucks, boats, or in driver’s cabs in the off-highway-sector: 

The all-rounder from Eberspaecher provides comfortable heat. 

Features for functionality and comfort in a new design 

All product variants come with the proven brushless motor for a longer 

service life as well as the stepless heat output control and the optimized 

metering pump for quiet operation – an advantage when traveling in 

a camper or during break times in a truck. The combustion chamber, 

which has been fully redesigned across all versions, gives greater 

flexibility in installing the heater in the vehicle. The new heat exchanger 

ensures better flow ratios within the heater itself and therefore, higher 

efficiency. The modified positioning of the temperature sensor has 

further improved the temperature control. Sensor-controlled sequences 

make the start-up phase even more efficient. The Airtronic 3 variants 

come with the electronic interfaces CAN (12/24V), LIN (12V), and S+ 

(12/24V). The further integrated automatic altitude adjustment makes 

the Airtronic 3 ideal for trips in the mountains: The integrated barometric 

pressure sensor optimizes consumption levels and enables automatic 

adjustment at altitudes of up to 5,500 meters, depending on the version. 

A newly designed exterior also sets the new air heater apart from its 

predecessors. 

Four model variants in 12 versions 

The third Airtronic generation comprises four model variants in a total 

of 12 versions: The Airtronic S3 (2 kW), the Airtronic M3 (4 kW), the 

Airtronic L3 (6 kW) and the Airtronic XL3 (8 kW). Thus, the product family 

meets all requirements, no matter the size of the vehicle or how cold the 

outside temperature. The Airtronic S3 and Airtronic M3 is available as 

a Diesel or gasoline version. For applications with longer air ducts, the 

Airtronic M3 Recreational is especially suitable, thanks to its increased 

air flow. 

Airtronic 3 product family: Overview of performance classes and application areas: 


Airtronic S3 

Commercial 

Commercial 

Airtronic M3 

Recreational 

Airtronic L3 

Commercial 

Airtronic XL3 

Commercial 

Fuel type Gasoline Diesel Gasoline Diesel Gasoline Diesel Gasoline Diesel 

Voltage (in V) 12 12 / 24 12 12 / 24 12 12 / 24 12 / 24 24 

Heating 

performance 

(in kW) 

Examples for 

application 

areas 

1 – 2 0.85 – 2.2 1.3 – 4 1.05 – 4 1.3 – 4 1.05 – 4 1.5 – 6 2 – 7.6 

• Recreational vehicles 

• Boats 

• Driver’s cabin of trucks 

• Off-highway vehicles 

• Ambulances 


• Driver’s cab of trucks 

• Transporters 

• Applications with the 

need of higher air 

flow, e.g. recreational 

vehicles or boats 

• Transporters 

• Ambulance 

• Mini-/ Midi-Busses 


• Big boats (e.g. 

sightseeing boats) 

• Cargo 

164 


COMPANY NEWS 

Suitable operating element for every application 

Depending on requirements, the heaters of the Airtronic 3 product family 

are controlled with the appropriate element. These include EasyStart 

Pro: The pre-heater can be controlled easily and comfortably using the 

permanently installed operating element. The desired start time and 

heating duration can be set in advance with a timer. The display and 

an LED color ring around the control knob indicate the current function 

status. In Europe, digital control via EasyStart Web is also available: 

Using a digital device – for example a smartphone, Amazon’s Alexa, 

or any other Internet-enabled device – the pre-heater can be operated 

no matter the range. The heater can also be integrated into preexisting 

vehicle systems via the various interfaces. 

About Eberspaecher: 

With approximately 10,000 employees at 80 locations worldwide, 

the Eberspaecher Group is one of the automotive industry’s leading 

system developers and suppliers. The family business, headquartered 

in Esslingen am Neckar, stands for innovative solutions in exhaust 

technology, automotive electronics and thermal management for a broad 

range of vehicle types. In combustion or hybrid engines and in e-mobility, 

the components and systems from Eberspaecher ensure greater comfort, 

higher safety and a clean environment. Eberspaecher is paving the way 

for future technologies - mobile and stationary fuel cell applications, 

synthetic fuels as well as the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. In 

2020, the Group generated revenue of more than 4.9 billion euros. 

AVS SUPPLY STEPS FOR MAJOR 

UK AMBULANCE FLEET! 

Producer of side steps for passenger and emergency service 

vehicles, AVS Steps, are pleased to have worked with longserving 

ambulance manufacturer, O&H Vehicle Technology, 

to supply a major UK ambulance fleet with their new manual 

folding step! 

AVS Steps have been leading the way in the production of vehicle side 

steps for passenger and emergency service vehicles since 2002 and 

have proven to be some of the most popular on the market. Since the 

acquisition of AVS in 2017 by the Rhino Products Group, the company 

has undergone extensive improvements to ensure increased reliability 

and functionality. 

The Fold Step is a completely new product for AVS and is a striking 

new folding step design. It’s all new features include single action 

dampers to slow the step during deployment, a built-in easy grip 

handle to aid stowing and deployment, easy maintenance thanks to 

easily replaceable pivots and much more. The new and upgraded step, 

thanks to its premium look and feel, is now the step of choice for many 

emergency service and passenger fleets across the UK. 

All AVS steps are manufactured at their dedicated factory in Deeside, 

Flintshire. This factory houses all AVS production, as well as a team 

of talented engineers and designers, who ensure innovation and 

continuous product development. 

O&H Vehicle Technology (part of the Venari Group) is the UK’s longestserving 

ambulance manufacturer, supplying the NHS and wider 

emergency and specialist vehicle market. Partnering with O&H, AVS 

Steps recently worked with a major UK ambulance fleet, to supply and 

fit the latest addition to the AVS catalogue, the all-new FoldStep. 

AVS are set to announce a further new product to market in 2022, with 

details to be announced later this year. The full AVS Steps range can be 

found on a newly redesigned website (www.avsteps.co.uk), alongside 

product data sheets, technical information and further high resolution 

imagery. 



165

COMPANY NEWS 

ERS MEDICAL SUPPORTS 

ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY WITH 

RECYCLING SCHEME 

National health and social care transport company ERS 

Medical is supporting Alzheimer’s Society with a recycling 

scheme to turn unwanted items into vital funds for the charity. 

Run by Alzheimer’s Society and Recycling for Good Causes, the 

scheme provides businesses with recycling boxes to donate unwanted 

technology products, old and broken jewellery, foreign coins, cameras 

and stamps. A free courier pickup can be arranged for donated items 

with a combined weight over 10kgs. 

Rolled out across over 20 ERS Medical sites across the country, the 

scheme welcomes donations of: 

• Old jewellery - Jewellery of any kind, including broken and unwanted 

items 

• Foreign coins - All coins and notes accepted, including obsolete 

currency 

• Cameras - Old film, digital and video 

Andrew Pooley, Managing Director at ERS Medical, says: “Alzheimer’s 

Society is our corporate charity partner and we’re always looking at 

new ways to raise awareness and funds to support them. This recycling 

scheme is a huge positive in the right direction as it encourages 

environmentally friendly behaviours while generating vital funds for the 

charity.” 

Julie Lee, Community Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are 

thrilled that ERS Medical are supporting our recycling campaign with 

staff donating their unwanted items and converting them into much 

needed funds.” 

“We rely heavily on our kind supporters taking on such activities to 

enable us to support people living with dementia, campaign on their 

behalf and fund research. 

More information can be found regarding the Alzheimer’s Recycling 

scheme at www.alzheimers.org.uk/recycling 

• Stamps - Loose stamps, albums, first day covers, presentation packs, 

collections, postcard collections 

• Technology - Sat-navs, iPods, MP3 players, DVD players, games 

consoles, laptops, tablets, iPads and more 


166 


COMPANY NEWS 

WHY 4,438 DAILY FALLS IN UK CARE 

HOMES DESERVE OUR ATTENTION 

A recent report,’ “Responding to falls in care homes: two 

innovations” by Dr Mark Hawker and River Rea from Involve, 

discusses how best practice in post fall management can provide 

time and cost savings to the wider health and social care system. 

Combining benefits of assistive lifting technology and video-based 

clinical support could return costs savings of up to £3,911 per fall, whilst 

also safeguarding residents’ lives. 

The report goes on to discuss the importance of reducing the risk 

of spreading infectious diseases by eliminating avoidable contacts. 

There are clear benefits of using technologies that reduce the 

number of external contact such as those that would be required 

to pick up a resident following a fall. While difficult to quantify, the 

reduction of contacts with healthcare workers such as paramedics, 

GPs and district nurses with residents is seen as essential during a 

pandemic. 

Across the 15,000 + care homes registered by the Care Quality 

Commission there are between 270,000 – 1,620,000 falls per year. As 

one of the most frequently reported accidents among residents, falls 

represent a pressing issue for providers of care, particularly as demand 

for places is expected to rise as the population ages. 

Author, Dr Mark Hawker says, “the risk factors for falls in care setting are 

diverse and the multiplicity of elements influencing the likelihood of falls 

makes them incredibly difficult to eliminate entirely. For the individual, the 

consequences of a fall are numerous and distressing, while the repetitive 

lifting requirement of carers puts them at risk of musculoskeletal injury. 

“The pilot studies we’ve examined demonstrate that by giving care 

home staff the tools to empower safe lifting reduces the time residents 

spend on the floor after a fall waiting for an ambulance and help to 

arrive. Organised and safe post fall care is better for the resident and 

more cost effective for the NHS.” 

Mangar Health CEO Simon Claridge adds, “we have been working 

with NHS Ambulance Trusts for nearly 20 years and yet this report 

has been incredibly eye opening for us. We know lifting fallen care 

home residents is a daily challenge to prioritising ambulance calls, 

yet equipment and technology could easily lift the considerable 

pressures they are under and save the NHS millions annually. 

“We would like to call on NHS England, NICE and CQC to review 

the dynamics involved in a resident fall detailed in this report and 

consider alternative care models in a post pandemic environment.” 

Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the report should email 

hello@involve.vc. 

For more information email cbirt@mangarhealth.com 

Mangar Health 

Tel: 01544 267674 

VCS WELCOMES IAN SCHOFIELD AS 

SALES ENGINEERING MANAGER 

The UK’s market-leading ambulance and police vehicle 

conversion specialist, VCS, has appointed experienced 

technical sales and aftersales specialist, Ian Schofield, to 

the role of Sales Engineering Manager. 

Having started work in the automotive sector as an apprentice in the 

early 1980s, Ian has held numerous service and sales-focused roles 

in his near-40-year career. These this includes more than a decade’s 

experience working in the emergency services sector, where he held 

senior sales, aftersales and quality-focused roles. 

As Sales Engineering Manager at VCS, Ian will be a crucial conduit 

between VCS’s sales and technical teams. This ensures that it 

can provide an even greater depth of clarity and detail for VCS 

customers, especially when working on complex and large-scale 

projects. 

Speaking about his appointment, Ian Schofield said: “I really am 

very pleased to be working with VCS. It’s great to be part of such a 

forward thinking, innovative company. After a decade of working in 

the emergency services sector, I’ve come to admire VCS, and it’s 

great to finally be working on some of its ground-breaking projects.” 

Mark Kerrigan, Managing Director at VCS, said: “The wealth of 

experience demonstrated by Ian is outdone only by his incredible 

ability and understanding of the emergency service sector. I have 

known Ian for many years and am sure that he be a great credit to 

the entire VCS team and our customers.” 



167

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United States and/or other countries. 

MCN EP 1811 0246

Ambulance UK October 2021

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