Ambulance UK August 2022

Volume 37 No. 4 

August 2022 

DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS 

Real-time feedback on 

manual ventilation 

ZOLL INTRODUCES THE 

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Reduces 

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Penthrox is indicated for the emergency relief of moderate to severe pain in conscious adult 

patients with trauma and associated pain. 2 

PENTHROX 99.9%, 3 ml inhalation vapour, 

liquid: Please refer to the Summary of Product 

Characteristics (SmPC) before prescribing. 

Abbreviated Prescribing Information. 

Presentation: Each bottle of PENTHROX contains 3 ml 

of methoxyflurane 99.9%, a clear, almost colourless, 

volatile liquid, with a characteristic fruity odour. Each 

PENTHROX combination pack consists of one bottle of 

3 ml PENTHROX, one PENTHROX Inhaler and one 

Activated Carbon (AC) chamber. Indications: Emergency 

relief of moderate to severe pain in conscious adult 

patients with trauma and associated pain. Dosage and 

administration: PENTHROX should be self-administered 

under supervision of a person trained in its 

administration, using the hand held PENTHROX Inhaler. 

It is inhaled through the custom-built PENTHROX 

inhaler. Adults: One bottle of 3 ml PENTHROX as a 

single dose, administered using the device provided. A 

second bottle should only be used where needed. The 

frequency at which PENTHROX can be safely used is 

not established. The following administration schedule 

is recommended: no more than 6 ml in a single day, 

administration on consecutive days is not recommended 

and the total dose to a patient in a week should not 

exceed 15 ml. Onset of pain relief is rapid and occurs 

after 6-10 inhalations. Patients are able to titrate the 

amount of PENTHROX inhaled and should be instructed 

to inhale intermittently to achieve adequate analgesia. 

Continuous inhalation of a bottle containing 3 ml 

provides analgesic relief for up to 25-30 minutes; 

intermittent inhalation may provide longer analgesic 

relief. Patients should be advised to use the lowest 

possible dose to achieve pain relief. Renal impairment: 

Methoxyflurane may cause renal failure if the 

recommended dose is exceeded. Caution should be 

exercised for patients diagnosed with clinical conditions 

that would pre-dispose to renal injury. Hepatic 

impairment: Cautious clinical judgement should be 

exercised when PENTHROX is to be used more 

frequently than on one occasion every 3 months. 

Paediatric population: PENTHROX should not be used 

in children and adolescents under 18 years. For detailed 

information on the method of administration refer to 

the SmPC. Contraindications: Use as an anaesthetic 

agent. Hypersensitivity to methoxyflurane, any 

fluorinated anaesthetic or to any of the excipients. 

Patients who are known to be or genetically susceptible 

to malignant hyperthermia. Patients or patients with a 

known family history of severe adverse reactions after 

being administered with inhaled anaesthetics. Patients 

who have a history of showing signs of liver damage 

after previous methoxyflurane use or halogenated 

hydrocarbon anaesthesia. Clinically significant renal 

References: 

1. Data on file MAPIT study. 2.Penthrox UK Summary of Product Characteristics. March 2021. 

impairment. Altered level of consciousness due to any 

cause including head injury, drugs or alcohol. Clinically 

evident cardiovascular instability. Clinically evident 

respiratory depression.Warnings and Precautions: To 

ensure the safe use of PENTHROX as an analgesic the 

lowest effective dose to control pain should be used 

and it should be used with caution in the elderly or other 

patients with known risk factors for renal disease, and 

in patients diagnosed with clinical conditions which may 

pre-dispose to renal injury. Methoxyflurane causes 

significant nephrotoxicity at high doses. Nephrotoxicity 

is thought to be associated with inorganic fluoride ions, 

a metabolic breakdown product. When administered 

as instructed for the analgesic indication, a single dose 

of 3 ml methoxyflurane produces serum levels of 

inorganic fluoride ions below 10 micromol/l. In the past 

when used as an anaesthetic agent, methoxyflurane at 

high doses caused significant nephrotoxicity, which was 

determined to occur at serum levels of inorganic fluoride 

ions greater than 40 micromol/l. Nephrotoxicity is also 

related to the rate of metabolism. Factors that increase 

the rate of metabolism such as drugs that induce hepatic 

enzymes can increase the risk of toxicity with 

methoxyflurane as well as sub-groups of people with 

genetic variations that may result in fast metaboliser 

status. Methoxyflurane is metabolised in the liver, 

therefore increased exposures in patients with hepatic 

impairment can cause toxicity. PENTHROX should be 

used with care in patients with underlying hepatic 

conditions or with risks for hepatic dysfunction. Previous 

exposure to halogenated hydrocarbon anaesthetics 

(including methoxyflurane when used as an anaesthetic 

agent), especially if the interval is less than 3 months, 

may increase the potential for hepatic injury. Potential 

effects on blood pressure and heart rate are known 

class-effects of high-dose methoxyflurane used in 

anaesthesia and other anaesthetics. Caution is required 

with use in the elderly due to possible reduction in blood 

pressure. Potential CNS effects such as sedation, 

euphoria, amnesia, ability to concentrate, altered 

sensorimotor co-ordination and change in mood are 

known class-effects. The possibility of CNS effects may 

be seen as a risk factor for potential abuse, however 

reports are very rare in post-marketing use. PENTHROX 

is not appropriate for providing relief of break-through 

pain/exacerbations in chronic pain conditions or for the 

relief of trauma related pain in closely repeated episodes 

for the same patient. PENTHROX contains the excipient, 

butylated hydroxytoluene (E321) which may cause local 

skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), or irritation to 

the eyes and mucous membranes. To reduce 

occupational exposure to methoxyflurane, the 

PENTHROX Inhaler should always be used with the AC 

Chamber which adsorbs exhaled methoxyflurane. 

Multiple use of PENTHROX Inhaler without the AC 

Chamber creates additional risk. Elevation of liver 

enzymes, blood urea nitrogen and serum uric acid have 

been reported in exposed maternity ward staff when 

methoxyflurane was used in the past at the time of 

labour and delivery. Interactions: There are no reported 

drug interactions when used at the analgesic dosage (3 

– 6 ml). Methoxyflurane is metabolised by the CYP 450 

enzymes, particularly CYP 2E1, CYP 2B6 and to some 

extent CYP 2A6. It is possible that enzyme inducers 

(such as alcohol or isoniazid for CYP 2E1 and 

phenobarbital or rifampicin for CYP 2A6 and 

carbamazepine, efavirenz, rifampicin or nevirapine for 

CYP 2B6) which increase the rate of methoxyflurane 

metabolism might increase its potential toxicity and they 

should be avoided concomitantly with methoxyflurane. 

Concomitant use of methoxyflurane with medicines (e.g. 

contrast agents and some antibiotics) which are known 

to have a nephrotoxic effect should be avoided as there 

may be an additive effect on nephrotoxicity; tetracycline, 

gentamicin, colistin, polymyxin B and amphotericin B 

have known nephrotoxic potential. Sevoflurane 

anaesthesia should be avoided following methoxyflurane 

analgesia, as sevoflurane increases serum fluoride levels 

and methoxyflurane nephrotoxicity is associated with 

raised serum fluoride. Concomitant use of PENTHROX 

with CNS depressants, such as opioids, sedatives or 

hypnotics, general anaesthetics, phenothiazines, 

tranquillisers, skeletal muscle relaxants, sedating 

antihistamines and alcohol may produce additive 

depressant effects. If opioids are given concomitantly 

with PENTHROX, the patient should be observed 

closely. When methoxyflurane was used for anaesthesia 

at the higher doses of 40–60 ml, there were reports of 

drug interaction with hepatic enzyme inducers (e.g. 

barbiturates) increasing metabolism of methoxyflurane 

and resulting in a few reported cases of nephrotoxicity; 

reduction of renal blood flow and hence anticipated 

enhanced renal effect when used in combination with 

drugs (e.g. barbiturates) reducing cardiac output; and 

class effect on cardiac depression, which may be 

enhanced by other cardiac depressant drugs, e.g. 

intravenous practolol during cardiac surgery. Fertility, 

pregnancy and lactation: No clinical data on effects of 

methoxyflurane on fertility are available. Studies in 

animals have shown reproduction toxicity. As with all 

medicines care should be exercised when administered 

during pregnancy especially the first trimester. There is 

insufficient information on the excretion of 

methoxyflurane in human milk. Caution should be 

exercised when methoxyflurane is administered to a 

nursing mother. Effects on ability to drive and use 

machines: Methoxyflurane may have a minor influence 

on the ability to drive and use machines. Patients should 

be advised not to drive or operate machinery if they are 

feeling drowsy or dizzy.Undesirable effects: The 

common non-serious reactions are CNS type reactions 

such as dizziness and somnolence and are generally 

easily reversible. Serious dose-related nephrotoxicity 

has only been associated with methoxyflurane when 

used in large doses over prolonged periods during 

general anaesthesia. The following adverse drug 

reactions have either been observed in PENTHROX 

clinical trials in analgesia, with analgesic use of 

methoxyflurane following post-marketing experience 

or are linked to methoxyflurane use in analgesia found 

in post-marketing experience and in scientific literature 

(refer to the SmPC for further details): Very common 

(≥1/10): dizziness; common (≥1/100 to

CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Ambulance UK 

100 EDITOR’S COMMENT 

102 FEATURES 

102 Sepsis 

104 Five tips for a perfect pre-alert 

108 NEWSLINE 

137 IN PERSON 

140 COMPANY NEWS 

This issue edited by: 

Dr Matt House 

c/o Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks, Lockhill 

Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR 

ADVERTISING: 

Terry Gardner, Samantha Marsh 

CIRCULATION: 

Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks, Lockhill 


Tel: 01886 853715 

E: info@mediapublishingcompany.com 

www.ambulanceukonline.com 

COVER STORY 

ZOLL RELEASES ADVANCED MONITOR/DEFIBRILLATOR WITH 

GROUNDBREAKING NEW TECHNOLOGY 

ZOLL Medical Corp. released the latest addition to its portfolio, the X Series ® Advanced*. 

ZOLL’s new monitor/defi brillator helps emergency care providers manage patients more 

effectively than ever before. 

PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY: 

February, April, June, August, 

October, December 

COPYRIGHT: 

Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks 

Lockhill 


The X Series Advanced includes two new technologies: 

• Real BVM Help guides to deliver high-quality ventilations and reduce 

hyperventilation by providing real-time feedback on both volume and rate of bag-valve 

mask ventilation for intubated/non-intubated patients. 

• TBI Dashboard allows emergency care providers effectively manage traumatic 

brain injury (TBI) by providing a dashboard with trending data for the most critical 

parameters to TBI patients. 

The two new features come in addition to a full range of well-established technologies 

on the X Series. Fast and accurate vital sign readings, real-time feedback on chest 

compressions and seamless integration with the mechanical CPR system AutoPulse ® . 

Comprehensive data capabilities complete the ZOLL EMS solution: 

• Remote View enables effective decision support to help EMS providers meet their 

telehealth needs. 

• RescueNet ® CaseReview allows to review data from the X Series Advanced post-case 

for effective QA/QI. Data includes case-individual ventilation and CPR performance 

reports as well as comprehensive team reports. 

“With X Series Advanced, we continue our tradition by introducing proprietary Real BVM 

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Learn more at www.zoll.com/xseriesadvanced 

*Currently not available for sale in the U.S. and other non-European countries. 

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99

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

July 8th saw the first International Paramedic Day. Social media saw Paramedics 

of all persuasions take to the threads and celebrate their roles in healthcare. 

Arguably the day could have been more inclusive, to include those who work with 

Paramedics, such as Ambulance Care Assistants, Emergency Care Technicians 

etc. Nevertheless, the day showcased just how far the profession has come in 

the 40 years or so since Professor Douglas Chamberlain first introduced the 

Paramedic role to Brighton. 


“So whatever 

their role or 

employer, 

International 

Paramedics 

Day was a 

chance to 

celebrate 

the success 

of the role 

over the last 

forty years. 

Here’s looking 

forward to the 

next forty!” 

In those early days the Paramedics were taught to intubate and defi brillate cardiac arrest cases. The 

roles and skillsets now available to Paramedics would have been inconceivable during those early days 

of paramedicine. Within the traditional ambulance role, we have seen a huge increase in the scope and 

responsibility of Paramedics. This had led to Paramedics being utilised in other settings, both within and 

outside of ambulance trusts. Now there is barely an area of healthcare where Paramedics do not have a 

part to play. 

This is great for the profession; Paramedics are no longer limited to ambulance roles, or even ambulance 

trusts. We now regularly see Paramedics move through various roles and employers throughout their career. 

The downside to this, from some perspectives is that ambulance trusts lose a lot of their experienced 

paramedics to other employers. This can be frustrating for those of us trying to develop teams; just as you 

think you’ve got a settled team, someone else takes an opportunity from another trust, or employer. There is 

absolutely nothing wrong with this: people should take the opportunities when they present themselves. In 

fact, we have probably been in a unique position in the past, where people would spend their entire career 

in one trust, often doing the same job and even at the same station. Having a more mobile workforce is 

something we just need to expect and adjust for. At the same time, we need to ensure that people have 

opportunities within the ambulance to advance and progress, so that we encourage people to stay. 

So whatever their role or employer, International Paramedics Day was a chance to celebrate the success of 

the role over the last forty years. Here’s looking forward to the next forty! 

Dr Matt House, Co-Editor Ambulance UK 

100 

For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

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FEATURE 

SEPSIS 

5 people die every hour from sepsis in the UK. Worldwide, sepsis 

takes more lives per year than breast, bowel and prostate cancer 

combined. The charity Sepsis Research FEAT stresses that sepsis 

is a medical emergency and is working to raise greater awareness 

of this deadly condition among the public and the medical 

community. 

“Sepsis remains a major cause of serious illness and death in the UK 

and across the globe,” says Dr Colin Begg, a trustee of the charity and 

a Consultant Paediatric Intensivist at the Royal Hospital for Children 

in Glasgow. “20% of all deaths worldwide are associated with sepsis. 

Depending on the country, mortality varies between 15% in developed 

countries like the UK and over 50% in poorer nations. Its main impacts 

are on the very young and the very old, but it still remains one of the few 

disease processes that can kill a healthy young adult in hours.” 

Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to an infection spirals rapidly 

out of control, injuring its own tissues and organs which can result in 

multiple organ failure and death. The biological processes that cause 

sepsis are not well understood and it is for that reason that Sepsis 

Research FEAT is dedicated to funding research into the condition, 

alongside raising awareness of it. The charity is working with some of 

the best researchers in the world to understand the processes that lead 

to sepsis and identify new drugs, treatments and equipment which will 

lead to better outcomes for patients. 

When dealing with suspected sepsis cases, Dr Begg stresses the need 

for urgency. “Acting fast and early medical treatment can save lives, 

particularly for primary sepsis in otherwise healthy people.” However, 

he warns that recognising and diagnosing is not always easy. “Sepsis 

usually begins with an infection - for example, chest, skin, urine, 

meningitis - but, in the early stages, symptoms can be vague and hard 

even for doctors and nurses to recognise.” 

The fi ve key symptoms of sepsis which Dr Begg and Sepsis Research 

FEAT advise people to look for are: 

• Confusion 

• Not passing as much urine as normal 

In its early stages, sepsis can have similar symptoms to common 

conditions like the fl u and chest infections. However, if someone has 

any of these symptoms becoming noticeably worse, this could indicate 

sepsis. 

“I’m well aware that colleagues in primary care or in the community 

setting face great challenges in separating sepsis patients out from 

those with a simple infection.” says Dr Begg. “I think the key is risk 

assessment and good basic observations. Gut feeling plays a big part. 

If a patient looks seriously ill, think ‘could this be sepsis?’ and voice 

your concerns when referring on. Early administration of parenteral 

antibiotics, IV fl uids and oxygen will save lives and can prevent organ 

failure requiring ICU admission.” 

246,000 people are affected by sepsis in the UK each year and of 

that fi gure, around 50,000 people lose their lives. However, even if 

someone is fortunate enough to recover, the impact of sepsis can still 

be devastating for them. Up to half of those who survive are left with 

serious consequences such as having limbs amputated or long-term 

mental trauma. According to Dr Begg “many surviving patients suffer 

from the consequences of sepsis for the rest of their lives.” 

September is Sepsis Awareness Month and it is a key time of year for 

Sepsis Research FEAT to spread the word so that more people are 

aware of the fi ve key symptoms of sepsis and understand how serious 

the condition is. If members of the public can recognise the signs, they 

can quickly seek medical help and improve their chances of recovery. 

For those in the medical community, it is vital to keep the key symptoms 

at the forefront of your mind and ensure early diagnosis so that patients’ 

chances of survival increase. 

The charity’s Chief Operating Offi cer, Colin Graham, is calling on 

everyone across the UK to mark Sepsis Awareness Month this year. 

“It seems unthinkable that in 2022 there still exists a condition that can 

kill a previously healthy adult in hours. Please get involved in any way 

you can this Sepsis Awareness Month, whether that be by spreading 

the word among family and friends or fundraising with colleagues to 

support research into this deadly condition. Whatever you do will play an 

important part in the fi ght against sepsis.” 


• Very high or low temperature 

• Uncontrolled shivering 

• Cold or blotchy arms and legs 

Someone with sepsis might not show all of these symptoms at once 

and other symptoms they could have include: 

• diffi culty breathing 

• rapid heartbeat 

Find out more about Sepsis Research FEAT and ways to get involved 

this Sepsis Awareness Month at https://sepsisresearch.org.uk 

• feeling dizzy or faint 

102 

For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

THE CORPULS SYSTEM: 

FROM RESCUE CHAIN TO RESCUE NETWORK 

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103

FEATURE 

FIVE TIPS FOR A PERFECT 

PRE-ALERT 

Harrison Young 

Introduction 

The famous political activist George Bernard Shaw once said that 

‘the single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that 

it has taken place’. Research shows that better communication 

within clinical settings could save the National Health Service 

(NHS) at least £1bn per year (Marie Curie, 2016). This staggering 

figure, which could fund an additional 29,000 paramedics, 26,000 

nurses or 12,000 doctors per annum (National Health Service, 

2021), represents a sizeable opportunity to reduce the current 

work-related stress, burnout and sickness associated with staff 

shortages, overworking and seasonal pressures. 

However, further research has confirmed that both confidence and 

posture are directly correlated to one another (Nair et al, 2015). This 

means that just as your mindset can influence your posture, your 

posture can also influence your state of mind (Nair et al, 2015). So the 

next time you are delivering a handover and you are feeling anxious, trick 

your mind into feeling confident by forcing your shoulders back, pushing 

your chest out and keeping your head up! 

The handovers of time-critical patients, often referred to as ‘pre-alerts’, 

arguably involves some of the most important clinical communications a 

paramedic will ever have during their career. 

If delivered improperly, patients can suffer from a range of different issues 

such as drug administration errors, untreated injuries and even severe 

harm or death (Manias et al, 2015). All of which, have the potential to 

cause serious incidents (SIs) and even, in extreme cases, medico-legal 

litigation following allegations of malpractice and negligence (Bradshaw, 

2019). The financial costs associated with these complications 

are significant (Bradshaw, 2019). Therefore, I have compiled 5 top 

tips for a perfect pre-alert which should help to reduce the risk of 

miscommunication, misspending, and keep you and your patients safe. 

Be more Einstein 


Watch your posture 

A study has confirmed that 77% of adults suffer from glossophobia, 

or ‘speech anxiety’ (Hereen et al, 2013). This suggests that 3 out of 4 

of your colleagues will have significant anxiety when delivering a prealert 

or handing over to a hospital team. This type of social anxiety, 

which has skyrocketed 20% in the last year (ONS, 2020), has been 

well documented to cause numerous issues for a speaker such as 

forgetfulness, an inability to articulate thoughts into words and difficulty 

answering spontaneous questions (NHS, 2018). 

Not only this, social anxiety can also cause individuals to mumble, speak 

too quietly or too quickly which can fuel further miscommunication, 

mistakes and confusion (NHS, 2020). 

It is widely accepted that confidence, which clearly is an essential 

ingredient for an effective handover, has a strong impact on your body 

posture (Briñol et al, 2009). For example, if you are an anxious speaker, 

this can translate to an individual rounding their shoulders, avoiding eye 

contact and looking down (NHS, 2020). 

The notable theoretical physicist Albert Einstein once said ‘never 

memorise something that you can look up’. This is exactly the reason 

why we check our JRCALC pocket books before administering 

medication, treating patients with special circumstances or making 

referrals to other healthcare professionals. Despite this culture of ‘gross 

error checking’ that many of us have become accustomed to in the 

ambulance service, the pre-alert or handover of time critical patients 

doesn’t appear to be subjected to the same degree of risk aversion. 

At present, this process is hugely unstandardised and varies between 

different clinicians, trusts and services. For example, some clinicians will 

choose to give their pre-alert handover from memory without writing 

anything down. Others, will write some brief notes on their glove and 

some will read from their Toughbook or iPad device. The problem with 

each of these methods is that they are hugely unreliable. 

For example, you can forget important information if you attempt to 

commit it to memory, your glove notes can smudge and become 

unreadable and your Toughbook or iPad can suddenly fail due to various 

issues such as power, software or hardware faults. This can leave you 

104 


FEATURE 

stood there embarrassed, stressed and without any information to 

handover to the team that you asked for. Not ideal. 

Something that saves you from this nightmare scenario is the use of 

handover cards. These A6 pocket-size cards, which are usually reusable, 

give you the ability to gather all of the necessary information to deliver a 

perfect handover in a recognised format such as CATMISTER (Loseby, 2013). 

They don’t break, smudge or run out battery and can be used over and over 

again throughout the lifetime of your career. There are many different styles on 

the market but the best, by far, can be found by scanning the QR code (with 

a phone camera) below or visiting https://offers.mtscourses.co.uk/pre-alerthandover-cards52878526. 

If you want to be consistent and deliver perfect 

handovers every time, remember, be more Einstein and don’t try to memorise 

something that you can write down and refer to. 

Many UK hospitals, for good reason, have their ambulance A&E entrances 

protected by electronic pin code devices in order to maintain security, 

exclusivity and control. Therefore, it is vital that you are aware of any 

access codes that are needed to gain entry to the hospital. Otherwise, 

this could see you standing outside of the hospital with a time-critical 

patient and no way of entering. Not good. If you are pre-alerting to a new 

hospital, it is always worth asking at the end of your alert if there are any 

access codes that you need to be aware of. That way, you remove the 

risk of being stuck outside with a deteriorating patient. 

Honesty is key 

Current figures indicate that there is a significant shortage of Doctors 

and Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) within the UK (BMA, 2021). 

This is due to many reasons such as an imbalance between those 

entering medicine and those who are leaving, retiring or taking extended 

leave (Taylor, 2020). 

The pay is also considered by many as ‘unattractive’ relative to the years 

of study that is required to secure these roles and those who do decide 

to enter the medical profession are avoiding roles related to general 

practice which is where they are needed most (Taylor, 2020). 

Know the code 

The ever-increasing pressure on UK ambulance trusts could see more 

and more frontline crews being pulled from their locality to assist in other 

geographical areas. This means that you could end up pre-alerting a 

patient to an unfamiliar hospital, of which, you have no idea where the 

A&E is or how to access the resuscitation department. 

This has a direct effect on the modern day paramedic’s workload and 

they may find themselves, along with other Allied Health Professionals 

(AHPs), filling this gap until these numbers have been restored. The 

problem is that paramedics, primarily, are specialists in emergency 

medicine, but due to the fact that they are frequently treating patients 

that fall outside of this speciality, many of them are ending up feeling 

overwhelmed, disparaged and ineffective as clinicians. 

To combat this, paramedics often put unrealistic pressure on themselves 

to know everything and in reality this is utterly unachievable, unrealistic 

and unnecessary. When delivering a pre-alert handover and you are 

asked a question that you don’t know the answer to, it is always best 

to say that you don’t know instead of providing an answer based on 

a nonfactual assumption, of which, has the capability to cause your 

patient, their family and caregivers a multitude of clinical, logistical and 

operational issues further down the road (Manias et al, 2015). 



105

FEATURE 

Take a breath 

References 

Arnsten, A. F. (2009). Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal 

cortex structure and function. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 10(6), 

410–422. https:// doi.org/10.1038/nrn2648. 

Bradshaw, P. (2019) Good communication reduces risk of a complaint 

or claim. BMJ 2019;367:l6160. 

Briñol, P., Petty, R., and Wagner, B. (2009). Body posture effects on 

self-evaluation: A self-validation approach. European Journal of Social 

Psychology. 39. 1053 - 1064. 10.1002/ejsp.607. British Medical 

Association, (2021) Medical staffi ng in England report. Available at 

(Accessed 4th January 2022). 

Emergency medicine is amongst the most stressful, challenging, and 

demanding specialities within healthcare. It’s faced paced, dynamic with 

life and death responsibilities bestowed upon clinicians who are often 

working long, unsocial, and mentally taxing shifts. Handovers, especially 

pre-alerts, within this department often involve individuals wanting lots of 

information from you in a short space of time and expect you to deliver it 

clearly, accurately, and concisely. 

However, when placed under conditions of stress, the brain’s primal fi ght 

or fl ight center (amygdala) activates and suppresses the brain’s thinking 

center (neocortex) meaning that it is very diffi cult to think logically when 

you’re stressed (Arnsten, 2009). This explains ‘exam phenomenon’ 

where individuals can easily recall knowledge outside of an assessment 

setting, but once placed under stress (exam conditions) they can 

become unable to think, act and perform. 

In order to combat this, experts recommend engaging in box breathing. 

Box breathing, or deep breathing exercises, have been proven to 

stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system and calm your 

amygdala (Ma et al, 2017). By doing so, it allows your neocortex to 

reestablish dominance and provide you with the ability to think clearly 

(Ma et al, 2017). So, when you arrive at hospital, start deep breathing 

so that by the time you are ready to deliver your handover you are calm, 

confi dent, and focused. 

Hereen, A., Ceschi, G., Valentiner, D.P., Dethier, V., and Philippot, 

P. (2013) Assessing public speaking fear with the short form of the 

Personal Report of Confi dence as a Speaker scale: confi rmatory factor 

analyses among a Frenchspeaking community sample. Neuropsychiatr 

Dis Treat. 2013;9:609-618. 

Loseby, J. (2013) Clinical handover of the trauma and medical patent: a 

structured approach. Journal of Paramedic Practice. 

Ma, X., Yue, Z. Q., Gong, Z. Q., Zhang, H., Duan, N. Y., Shi, Y. T., Wei, 

G. X., and Li, Y. F. (2017). The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on 

Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Frontiers in 

psychology, 8, 874. https://doi. org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874. 

Manias, E., Geddes, F., Watson, B., Jones, D., and Della, P. (2015) 

Communication failures during clinical handovers lead to a poor patient 

outcome: Lessons from a case report. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 

3:2050313X15584859. 

Marie Curie. (2016) A long and winding road. Improving communication 

with patients in the NHS. Available at (Accessed 3rd January 2022). 

Nair, S., Sagar, M., Sollers, J., 3rd, Consedine, N., and Broadbent, E. 

(2015) Do slumped and upright postures affect stress responses? A 

randomized trial. Health Psychol. 2015 Jun;34(6):632-41. doi: 10.1037/ 

hea0000146. Epub 2014 Sep 15. PMID: 25222091. National Health 

Service. (2018) Overview - Generalised anxiety disorder in adults. 

Available at (Accessed 4th January 2022). 


National Health Service. (2021) Agenda for change - pay rates. Available 

at (Accessed 3rd January 2022). 

National Health Service. (2020) Social anxiety (social phobia). Available 

at (Accessed 4th January 2022). 

Offi ce for National Statistics. (2020). Personal and economic wellbeing in 

Great Britain. Available at (Accessed 4th January 2022). 

Taylor, M. (2020). Why is there a shortage of doctors in the UK? The 

Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 102. 78-81. 

10.1308/rcsbull.2020.78. 

106 


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107

NEWSLINE 


WAS 

Ambulance stalwart 

retires after 35 years 

A Welsh Ambulance Service 

stalwart who retired in May will 

leave a legacy of transformation 

and improvement across the 

whole UK ambulance sector. 

Andrew Challenger, the Trust’s 

Assistant Director of Professional 

Education and Training, started his 

career with the ambulance service 

in 1987. 

By 2017, he had been awarded 

the prestigious Queen’s 

Ambulance Medal for his 

contribution. 

Speaking of his early career, 

Andrew, 57, from Abercrave, 

Powys, said: “The only way into 

the ambulance service in the 

1980s was to join the Non- 

Emergency Patient Transport 

Service, and progress to the 

emergency service from there.” 

Andrew quickly qualified as an 

Emergency Medical Technician 

and Paramedic working out of 

Neath ambulance station during 

the 1990s, and in 1998 became a 

Station Supervisor, later qualifying 

as a Driving and Clinical Instructor 

in 2001. 

He also led Emergency Response 

Driver Training for 15 years from 

2003, designing bespoke Driver 

Training Units. 

He said: “When I took over driver 

training, we had three Ford Galaxy 

people carriers and I was fortunate 

to receive support to develop driver 

training units with state-of-the-art 

technology, a classroom area in 

the rear and carry emergency 

response equipment, the third 

generation of which we will have 

delivered this month.” 

Whilst leading driver education, 

Andrew co-wrote the first edition 

of the current river Education 

Textbook, and the current driving 

programme with UK colleagues. 

He then introduced accredited 

programmes for all clinical grades 

of staff. 

Andrew has been pivotal to the 

modernisation of ambulance 

education and has represented 

the Welsh Ambulance Service in 

UK ambulance education forums, 

both driving and clinical, for the 

last 19 years. 

It was during this time that he 

co-wrote the Swansea University 

Paramedic Diploma in 2006/7 

which commenced in 2008 and 

has influenced the transition to 

Paramedic Degree within the last 

18 months. 

Other achievements Andrew 

has led and delivered in the last 

five years include developing 

the Trust’s Transforming 

Education and Training Strategy, 

designing and developing three 

state-of-the-art education and 

development centres with 

immersive technology and 

introducing formal teaching and 

assessing awards up to diploma 

level facilitated in WAST. 

In 2017, Andrew was recognised 

in the Queens New Year’s 

Honours List receiving the 

Queens Ambulance Medal, which 

was presented by the Queen for 

his distinguished service. 

The proud father, stepfather and 

grandfather said: “This was one 

of my proudest achievements, 

sharing the Buckingham Palace 

investiture ceremony with my 

partner Ann and my parents. 

“It has been an honour and 

privilege to work for the Trust, 

experiencing the best and worst 

in life. 

“I am grateful for the many friends 

I have made during my career 

and the fun we shared to get 

through challenging times. 

“I have had a fantastic career and 

take pride in seeing colleagues 

progress, I have seen generations 

of new colleagues enter the 

profession which is a world apart 

from the one I joined in 1987. 

“I will miss the service, however 

I look forward with excitement to 

the next chapter in my life.” 

Dr Catherine Goodwin, Interim 

Director of Workforce and 

Organisational Development for 

the Welsh Ambulance Service, 

said: “Andrew will be hugely 

missed by so many colleagues 

and friends. 

“He leaves a legacy of 

transformation and true 

leadership. 

“I am so grateful to Andrew 

for his continued support and 

commitment to the Trust and 

wish him all the best for a long, 

happy and healthy retirement.” 

SECAMB 

SECAmb achieves 

Armed Forces Silver 

Award 

South East Coast Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust, 

(SECAmb) is pleased to have 

achieved an Armed Forces 

Silver Award. 

The award is a progression on 

the Bronze Award it was granted 

in 2018/19 and reaffirms the 

Trust’s commitment to employing 

and supporting those with a 

current or previous roles in the 

armed forces. 

SECAmb is proud of its close 

links with the armed forces with 

many staff and volunteers having 

served in a previous career or 

continuing to serve as reservist 

alongside their ambulance role. 

SECAmb signed up to the Armed 

Forces Covenant in 2018. The 

covenant is a commitment to 

member of the reserves, armed 

forces, veterans, or a family 

members and outlines how the 

Trust will support them, officially, 

as a military-friendly employer. 

The commitments set out in 

the covenant include promoting 

SECAmb as an armed forcesfriendly 

organisation, seeking the 

employment of veterans young 

and old and endeavouring to 

offer flexibility in granting leave 

for service spouses and partners 

before, during and after a 

partner’s deployment. 

Employees are also able to 

access to the Trust’s awardwinning 

wellbeing hub and its 

services. Staff can also benefit 

from support provided by the 

Trust’s staff equality networks 

which champion the needs of 

those who are part of the armed 

forces family and which are 

supported by a number of trained 

Armed Forces Champions. 

SECAmb Interim Chief 

Executive, Dr Fionna Moore, 

said: “We are extremely proud of 

our strong links with the armed 

forces and we are committed to 

strengthening this association 

further. 

“I would like to take this 

opportunity to thank all our 

staff and volunteers who have 

or continue to serve in the 

armed forces. I would also like 

to pay tribute to their families. 

Having a member of your family 

who works for the ambulance 

service can be difficult and 

having that same family member 

also committed to serving in 

the forces must be especially 

challenging.” 

Further details of the covenant 

can be found here: https://www. 

secamb.nhs.uk/how-we-do-it/ 

armed-forces-covenant/ 

108 


LAS 

A very special 

Father’s Day for man 

who delivered his 

baby daughter 

A young dad marked Father’s 

Day by thanking the London 

Ambulance Service call 

handler for the clear and calm 

instructions which allowed him 

to help deliver his baby safely 

at home. 

Fatima Mohammed was a week 

overdue with her third baby 

when her husband Ahmed 

needed to call 999 for help. 

Ahmed, 26, said: “We had 

been to hospital earlier but had 

come back home to wait. Soon 

after, we realised the baby was 

defi nitely coming and I just 

freaked out. 

“I was panicking so much when 

I called 999 but the call handler 

was just so good. She kept 

me calm, she gave me clear 

instructions and kept reassuring 

me. She was very kind, even 

though I was understandably 

really worried and upset.” 

Ahmed estimates that Baby 

Aria was born just fi ve minutes 

into the call and the call handler 

continued to give instructions 

throughout, including wrapping 

the baby in a towel and fi nding 

something to tie the umbilical 

cord with. 

Two ambulance crews and a 

paramedic in a fast response car 

arrived at Ahmed and Fatima’s 

home in north London a few 

minutes after Aria was born, 

weighing a healthy 7lbs 4oz. 

Ahmed said: “All the crews were 

brilliant. They took such good 

care of us, making sure we were 

alright and the baby was well, 

and they took us to hospital 

so the baby could be checked 

over.” 

Because staff working in our 999 

control rooms need to be ready 

for anything, they are given expert 

training from midwives on how to 

handle similar situations. 

London Ambulance Service 

midwife Camella Main said: 

“Needing 999 services during 

a labour or birth can be a really 

frightening thing to experience, 

but our staff and volunteers are 

here to help, whenever you need 

us. Call handlers take a wide 

range of maternity-related calls 

and they are trained to calmly and 

professionally inform the parents 

of what to do whilst they wait for 

paramedics to attend. 

“When a call handler helps in the 

delivery of a baby they receive 

a stork badge as a small sign of 

appreciation for the impact they 

have had on a safe arrival.” 

Chief Medical Offi cer Dr Fenella 

Wrigley said: “Everyone at London 

Ambulance Service is well trained 

to face the unexpected, but a 

call from a worried parent-to-be 

can still be a bit nerve-wrecking! 

I would like to say a thank you 

to the teams who supported the 

family, and a huge well done to 

Ahmed for helping his wife Fatima 

safely deliver their child. 

“It means a great deal for our call 

handlers to get recognition for the 

incredible work they do for our 

patients in medical emergencies. 

Wishing baby Aria a very warm 

welcome to the world, and 

Ahmed a very Happy Father’s 

Day.” 

Dr Wrigley continued: “I would 

also like to say a big thank 

you to all the dads at London 

Ambulance Service who worked 

on Father’s Day and were unable 

to spend the day with their 

families, and to all those staff 

and volunteers who did’nt get 

the chance to spoil their own 

dads while they worked to help 

Londoners in need.” 

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109

NEWSLINE 

NWAS 

Australasian 

paramedics set 

to join North West 

Ambulance Service 

(NWAS) 

Fifteen paramedics who 

have trained in Australia and 

New Zealand will soon begin 

responding to 999 calls across 

areas of the North West as 

part of a brand new Health 

Education England (HEE) 

Ethical Migratory Pathway. 

Developed through HEE’s 

Directorate of Global Health 

Partnerships (DGHP), the pilot 

gives an exciting opportunity 

for internationally educated 

paramedics in prehospital 

emergency care to join the NHS 

– the world’s largest single heath 

system. 

There are three UK ambulance 

services taking part with around 

75 paramedics joining the 

NHS across the UK. They have 

emigrated from all over Australia 

and New Zealand to work in 

England. 

NWAS Director of People, Lisa 

Ward says: “The North West has 

so much to offer and for those 

making the move, the job here 

is like no other. Not only is the 

North West one of the most 

vibrant places to live in, it is also 

one of the most challenging 

and varied environments you 

can work in as a clinician. We 

are committed to providing 

services which embrace diversity, 

and which promote equality of 

opportunity and we welcome 

our latest recruits to our green 

family.” 

The pilot is a positive partnership 

which will help to address the 

national shortage of paramedics 

in the UK as their skills are 

sought after across other parts 

of the health service. This is just 

one of the initiatives NWAS is 

looking at to continue to boost 

its paramedic workforce and 

respond to growing patient 

demand, alongside its UK 

recruitment. 

Lisa continues: “Our colleagues 

at London Ambulance Service 

have had similar initiatives to 

recruit paramedics from Australia 

and it now has a community 

of Australian paramedics all of 

whom are vital in helping care for 

patients. We would like this pilot 

to build on their successes.” 

Ian Buczynski, Senior Programme 

Manager for Ethical Migratory 

Pathways at HEE says: “When 

identifying countries to partner 

with, HEE looked for countries 

in which paramedics were 

trained to a similar standard to 

UK-educated paramedics and 

could meet the Health and Care 

Professionals Council (HCPC) 

registration requirements. 

“Also high on the agenda was 

to fi nd countries which had an 

oversupply of paramedics and 

a history of migration from the 

country. Australia and New 

Zealand were identifi ed as being 

the most closely aligned to these 

criteria and was selected for this 

pilot.” 

HEE has run international ethical, 

sustainable, and educationbased 

migratory pathways for 

several years to allow nurses, 

doctors, and radiographers to 

join the NHS. This has paved 

the way for the pilot to target 

newly qualifi ed paramedics from 

universities in Australia and New 

Zealand which run a paramedic 

practice, paramedic science 

and paramedicine bachelors 

programme like those offered by 

UK universities. 

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110 


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

111

NEWSLINE 

EEAST 

Care Quality 

Commission Report 

recognises ‘marked 

improvement’ at 

EEAST 

The results of the Care Quality 

Commission (CQC) inspection 

into the East of England 

Ambulance Service Trust 

earlier this year have now been 

published. 

Inspectors carried out a 

comprehensive inspection of the 

Trust’s emergency and urgent 

care service and emergency 

operations centre in April before 

returning to inspect the ‘well-led’ 

element of the Trust in May. 

The CQC found the Trust had 

made a ‘marked improvement’ 

on signifi cant and long-standing 

cultural issues that had led to it 

being placed in special measures 

just under two years ago, and, as 

a result, the Trust moves from an 

inadequate rating for ‘well-led’ to 

requires improvement. 

The inspection found; 

• Staff working effectively as a 

team to provide safe, kind and 

compassionate care to patients 

• The Trust was making it easier 

for people to give feedback 

and raise concerns about care 

received. 

• Staff were treating concerns 

and complaints seriously, and 

learning from them 

• A stronger leadership team with 

a stable Executive team and 

Board in place, which will drive 

improvements in the Trust in the 

years ahead. 

EEAST chief executive offi cer Tom 

Abell said: 

“I am pleased the CQC has 

recognised that hard work of our 

people under signifi cant pressure 

– and that we have made marked 

improvements on what we have 

needed to address from previous 

inspections, which highlighted 

signifi cant issues with our culture 

that left staff feeling unable to 

raise concerns. 

“We have focussed on providing 

our people with a safe and 

supportive workplace and 

there are early indicators this 

is beginning to have a positive 

impact – making signifi cant 

progress to tackle bullying and 

harassment. 

“However, we recognise that this 

is only the fi rst step in our work 

to improve our culture and our 

service and we have a 3-5 year 

plan in place to fully address all 

of the challenges we face. The 

CQC rightly identifi ed several 

areas for improvement that we are 

continuing to address, including 

improving staff morale and access 

to training, the impact of the Trust 

being on heightened surge levels 

for extended periods of time, 

and the challenges of staffi ng our 

ambulance operations centres. 

“We have taken this feedback very 

seriously and will continue to work 

hard to address these issues.” 

EEAST Chair Nicola Scrivings 

said: 

“We have made some positive 

early steps to improve the culture 

of the Trust, but we recognise 

there is much more still to be 

done. We have strengthened 

our leadership team and have a 

stable Board in place, which will 

progress the improvement and 

change needed across the Trust 

in future.” 

The Trust has brought 45 

measures to better support staff, 


112 


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including an increase in mental 

health provision, ‘welfare wagons’ 

to support staff with food and 

refreshments at hospitals and 

access to physiotherapy. 

The Trust has seen a reduction 

in number of staff reporting 

experiencing bullying and 

harassment and a 900% increase 

in people feeling able to speak up. 

SECAMB 

Trust committed 

to improvements 

following CQC 

inspection 

We are pleased to have 

appointed a new Interim Chief 

Executive – Siobhan Melia – last 

week; Siobhan, who takes up 

her role on 12 July, has a strong 

clinical background and is an 

experienced Chief Executive, 

with good knowledge of our 

region and our partners. 

Our Leadership Team has set 

out the key priorities for the 

year, including building a culture 

that fully reflects our values, 

supports our vision and ensures 

the satisfaction and wellbeing of 

our people and embeds quality 

improvement across everything 

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Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SECAmb) is committed to 

making improvements following 

the publication of a CQC report 

rating how the Trust was led as 

inadequate. 

We are pleased the excellent 

care provided by our staff was 

recognised in the report and 

their kind, compassionate and 

supportive approach towards 

patients was noted. 

We are especially pleased 

to see our NHS 111 service 

retain its ‘good’ rating following 

a very diffi cult two years of 

the pandemic, which placed 

signifi cant strain on the service. 

The inspection, which took place 

in February, looked in particular 

at management and leadership 

but also at our Emergency 

Operations Centres (EOCs) and 

NHS 111 service. 

The serious concerns 

surrounding culture and 

leadership highlighted by the 

CQC are being taken extremely 

seriously and we have already 

begun the work to implement 

improvements at pace, taking on 

board early feedback from the 

CQC as well as feedback from 

our own staff survey. 

An important campaign – ‘Until 

it Stops’ – is being rolled 

out to address inappropriate 

behaviours and we are 

committed to working with 

colleagues across the 

organisation to implement 

changes and ensure they view 

SECAmb as a place at which 

they want to work and deliver 

high-quality care to our patients. 

SECAmb Interim Chief Executive 

Fionna Moore said: “It is clear 

from this report that SECAmb 

has a long way to go to ensure 

our staff feel properly supported 

to perform their roles. The whole 

Leadership Team is committed 

to doing everything we can to 

make SECAmb a better place 

to work, so that our staff are 

best placed to respond to our 

patients. 

“However, I am pleased that, 

despite the issues highlighted in 

the report concerning leadership 

at the Trust, the hard work 

and dedication of our staff and 

volunteers did not go unnoticed. 

“I look forward to working 

closely with Siobhan Melia, our 

newly appointed Interim Chief 

Executive, as we first build 

and then embed the necessary 

improvements at SECAmb.” 

114 


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115

NEWSLINE 

EEAST 

Ambulance service 

sees first electric 

vehicles roll out 

“Initial trials have shown that with 

the right vehicles, infrastructure 

and systems, electric vehicles 

can be used without impacting 

on operational performance – or, 

most importantly, patient safety.” 

New electric rapid response 

vehicles are set to hit the road 

as part of the East of England 

Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

(EEAST) fleet. 

Following the NHS’s move 

towards zero emissions 

vehicles, EEAST is trialling two 

electric Skoda all-wheel drive 

cars and an electric Vauxhall 

van, which have been converted 

to response vehicles. 

NEAS 

Ambulance 

apprenticeship 

training makes the 

grade 

North East Ambulance 

Service has achieved a 

‘Good’ rating by Ofsted for its 

apprenticeship training and 

education. 

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compare favourably with current 

diesel-powered models. 

The Trust has been delivering its 

own ambulance support worker 

apprenticeships since 2018, led 

by its clinical education team 

at its purpose-built education 

centre on the Team Valley 

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One of the Skodas will be 

used as a ‘standard’ RRV, 

used for paramedics to get to 

patients quickly, but not used to 

transport patients. The second 

will be used in a similar role 

in conjunction with our other 

blue-light partners (RAF, fire and 

police), initially in Bedfordshire, 

but later in Cambridgeshire, 

Norfolk and Essex, as different 

programmes and infrastructure 

configurations are tested. 

The Vauxhall Vicaro-E van will 

be trialled in various roles, 

including a falls response 

vehicle and a mental health 

response vehicle. 

Tom Abell, Chief Executive of 

EEAST, said: “The NHS has 

committed to being net-zero of 

carbon emissions by 2045. As 

a healthcare service that travels 

to our patients, the implications 

for that will be wide-ranging 

as our entire fleet will have to 

eventually move away from 

internal combustion engines. 

The Trust also supports its 

staff across all staff groups 

through many other relevant 

apprenticeships. 

The team underwent an initial 

monitoring visit inspection in 

July 2019 and then its first 

full inspection in March 2022, 

where inspectors looked at the 

quality of education delivered by 

the team, as well as behaviour 

and attitudes, personal 

development and leadership 

and management. 

In total, 206 NEAS staff are 

currently undertaking an 

apprenticeship through work, 

ranging from clinical roles to 

cyber security and customer 

service. Of those, 166 are on 

the ambulance support worker 

apprenticeship delivered by 

NEAS, training to become 

ambulance care assistants or 

clinical care assistants whilst 

working on the patient transport 

or emergency ambulance 

vehicles. 

116 


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SMACC Number: 2022-32460 

02/2022

NEWSLINE 

LAS 

New high tech 

ambulance control 

room to receive and 

answer London’s 

999 calls 

999 calls and 2.2 million 111 

calls, while dispatchers sent 

ambulance crews to more than 

1.1 million patients. So this 

brand new centre – with new 

phone and computer systems 

A brand new, purpose built 

control room, which will 

handle half of the 999 calls 

that come into London 

Ambulance Service from 

across the capital, has just 

opened following a £9.6 

million investment. 

The state-of-the-art facility in 

Newham, east London, will 

handle more than a million 999 

calls every year, with the rest 

being answered at the Service’s 

headquarters in Waterloo. 

Last year, call handlers from 


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NEWSLINE 

already installed – is set to be a 

busy place! 

EOC North when it opened. She 

said: “We have a challenging 

what the situation might be, 

but you know you’re always 

To answer the growing number 

of emergency calls, the Service 

Known as an Emergency 

Operations Centre (EOC), 

around 150 people will 

eventually work out of the 

modern building at any one 

time. The site is also home to 

the Service’s education and 

training facilities, meaning that 

new recruits will be learning 

the job alongside experienced 

colleagues. 

job – taking calls from people in 

distress and trying to organise 

help for them. You never know 

what the next call might be: 

it could be about a patient 

in cardiac arrest or someone 

about to give birth. 

“But that’s what makes it so 

rewarding – you never know 

there to help. Working in this 

amazing new space with such a 

beautiful view really does make 

a difference.” 


receives an average of 6,500 

calls a day, compared to prepandemic 

averages of around 

5,500 a day. 

is aiming to recruit people 

to its control rooms across 

both Newham and Waterloo 

this summer, so if you fancy a 

new, exciting and rewarding 

career in a great environment 

and location, keep an eye on 

our job vacancy page: www. 

londonambulance.nhs.uk/ 

jobs. 

Brian Jordan, Director of 

999 Emergency Operations 

Centres, said: “I’m so proud 

we can offer our staff this 

incredible new work space, 

with great transport links. 

“This move has also allowed 

us to boost our IT resilience, 

and upgrade our software 

and equipment, all crucial in 

keeping Londoners safe as 

we face a greater number 

of calls than ever before. 

We also have space for our 

growing workforce and plenty 

of classrooms in which to train 

them. 

Primarily established to work in 

the world of international 

medical repatriation, the 

business has evolved to provide 

expert clinical solutions across 

a variety of specialist sectors 

and services. 

IPRS Aeromed are now recruiting Paramedics & Nurses 

“Thank you to everyone 

involved in this move, our 

people have worked tirelessly 

to ensure a smooth transition.” 

The new centre – known as 

EOC North – has also been 

set up to handle a brand new 

Computer Aided Dispatch 

(CAD) system due later this 

year. CAD is the programme 

used to record all information 

related to requests for an 

ambulance, so staff can 

assess, prioritise and, if 

necessary, dispatch ambulance 

crews to 999 calls. The new 

system will allow for faster 

dispatch of ambulances and 

means patients will get a 

quicker response. 

999 call handler Maureen 

Ireland answered the first call at 

What sets us apart is the 

experience and skills of our 

valued clinicians who are 

well-versed in managing 

patients from around the 

world in a wide variety of 

settings. 

Join a team that's really going places! 

https://iprsaeromed.com/jobs/ or email IPRS Aeromed 

Recruitment aeromed.recruitment@iprsgroup.com 


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

119

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121

TESTED 

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AMBULANCE SEATING 

WAS 

New ambulance 

station for Cwmbran 

unveiled 

Resources, said: “I am very proud 

of what the team has been able 

to deliver for our dedicated GUH 

Transfer Service and for our 

corporate staff. 

The Welsh Ambulance Service 

has unveiled a new station in 

Cwmbran. 

“Beacon House with its spacious 

meeting rooms and agile working 

areas is a modern, fi t-for-purpose 

facility that our staff deserve. 


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Beacon House, on Llantarnam 

Business Park, is the new home 

of the Trust’s Grange University 

Hospital (GUH) Transfer Service, 

designed to provide inter-hospital 

transfers between GUH and the 

Royal Gwent, Nevill Hall Hospital 

and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr. 

The 12,000ft2 facility is also 

the new base for corporate 

colleagues who have relocated 

from nearby Vantage Point House 

in Cwmbran. 

The building boasts a training, 

study and ICT space, vehicle 

charging and wash down areas, 

kitchen facilities and locker rooms. 

Richard Hall, Operations Manager 

for the GUH Transfer Service, 

said: “Until recently, our 80-strong 

team were working from an 

old recreation hall at the former 

Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital 

which had been made available 

temporarily by the health board. 

“To have a new, permanent base 

within two miles of the hospital is 

very exciting, and means we’re 

able to continue to provide the 24- 

hour GUH Transfer Service, whilst 

also providing excellent facilities to 

support the welfare of our staff.” 

The opening of Beacon 

House is part of the continued 

modernisation of the Trust’s 

estate, which last month saw 

the unveiling of a new station in 

Cardiff for crews previously based 

in Blackweir and a new facility in 

Aberaeron to replace the former 

Newquay station. 

Chris Turley, the Trust’s Executive 

Director of Finance and Corporate 

“We continue to be innovative in 

the use of our estate, and this 

facility demonstrates a fl exible 

and responsive space, shared 

across both operational and 

corporate teams, which also 

furthers our contribution to the 

decarbonisation agenda through 

the use of technology such as 

solar panels and battery storage. 

“It’s a facility our teams can 

be proud to work from, and I 

am grateful to all of our WAST 

team who have supported the 

development.” 

SWAST 

Somerset paramedic 

presented with top 

award by HRH the 

Duke of Cambridge 

A Somerset-based paramedic 

has been presented with the 

Queen’s Ambulance Service 

Medal by HRH The Duke of 

Cambridge at Buckingham 

Palace. 

Adrian South, Deputy Director 

of Clinical Care for the South 

Western Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust (SWASFT), was 

recognised in the Queen’s New 

Year’s Honours List 2022 and 

received his medal in London on 

Tuesday 7 June. 

Adrian, 41, who lives in Chard, 

Somerset, has worked for the 

ambulance service for 21 years. 

He has been instrumental in the 

move of the paramedic profession 

from conveying almost every 

122 


NEWSLINE 

patient to hospital, to managing 

more than half of patients onscene. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 

Adrian was asked to focus on 

infection prevention and control, 

providing senior leadership for a 

range of projects, including the 

introduction of improved PPE for 

staff and the launch of the staff 

vaccination programme. 

Adrian says: “To be honest, I was 

quite taken aback to find myself 

on the New Year’s Honour’s List. 

“My role over the years has been 

to constantly focus on the care 

we provide to our patients, and 

to support developments which 

improve that care. 

“The clinical team provide a toolkit 

of guidelines and interventions for 

our frontline clinicians. However, 

it’s our clinicians who then take 

that toolkit, and use it to deliver 

the best care they can to our 

patients. 

“They’ve worked tirelessly 

delivering care throughout the 

pandemic and they are the ones 

who really deserve an award.” 

The Queen’s Ambulance Service 

Medal is awarded to a handful 

of people each year who have 

given service characterised by 

exceptional devotion to duty and 

marked by outstanding ability. 

Adrian, who graduated from 

the University of Hertfordshire in 

2002 as one of the first degreelevel 

paramedics in the UK, was 

appointed Deputy Director of 

Clinical Care for SWASFT in 2010. 

Groundbreaking 

Coventry University 

research could 

hand life-saving 

boost to paramedics 

treating pedestrian 

casualties 

Groundbreaking Coventry 

University research could 

provide paramedics with crucial 

and potentially life-saving 

assistance when treating 

pedestrians hurt in road 

accidents. 

A detailed database of pedestrian 

injuries is being developed 

alongside a mathematical model, 

which can reverse-engineer 

pedestrian collisions and produce 

first-hand virtual CT scans from 

simple photographs of a patient’s 

injuries and the vehicle involved. 

These virtual CT scans of the 

body can inform paramedics, 

in seconds, about the victim’s 

potential internal injuries per 

organ, enabling the correct 

treatment at the scene. The 

information could also be sent to 

a hospital, thus speeding up the 

triage and improving the treatment 

of the casualty upon their arrival in 

Accident and Emergency units. 

Dr Christophe Bastien and 

colleagues at Coventry 

University’s research Centre 

for Future Transport and Cities 

are developing this Forensic 

Pedestrian Trauma Database 

(FPTD) in conjunction with 

University Hospitals Coventry and 

Warwickshire (UHCW) following 

funding support from The Road 

Safety Trust. 

The research has been chosen 

as a winner of the Prince Michael 

International Road Safety Award 

which recognises outstanding 

achievement and innovation 

in worldwide road safety 

improvement. 

Dr Christophe Bastien, Associate 

Professor (Academic) at Coventry 

University’s Centre for Future 

Transport and Cities, said: “The 

mathematical model, with the help 

of basic photography, essentially 

reverse-engineers pedestrian 

collisions, which through our 

framework can then provide 

paramedics with key information 

on potential injuries they usually 

would not have access to whilst 

responding to an incident onscene. 

We’re optimistic about 

the potential of such crucial 

assistance to help paramedics 

save the lives and improve the 

treatment of pedestrians who 

have been involved in traffic 

collisions and incidents. 

“In the long term, we’re very 

hopeful that we can develop our 

detailed framework into something 

that can be rolled out within the 

NHS and to health care services 

around the world. 

“For me and the teams, winning 

the Prince Michael International 

Road Safety Award represents the 

crowning of decades of research, 

positioning Coventry University as 

a respected and highly credible 

transport safety research partner 

worldwide. 

“Our next step is to secure 

funding to continue the 

development of the FPTD. Our 

research brings huge interest from 

hospitals, ambulance services, 

transport forensics and the 

police.” 

Gary Gilkes has worked in the 

ambulance service for the last 

ten years as a paramedic as 

well as lecturing at universities 

across the country. He’s attended 

multiple serious incidents and 

also works to help implement 

new ideas within the NHS and the 

ambulance service. 

He said: “Pedestrian trauma 

injuries can be very emotional and 

human factors can slow down 

the process of triage, so having 

a way to speed up this process 

and minimise these human factors 

would undoubtedly improve 

patient outcomes and save lives. 

“It’s unquestionable that speed 

in terms of the speed of getting 

patients into hospitals and starting 

treatment saves lives – the quicker 

we can do that the better chance 

the patient has. 

“There’s no doubt in my mind that 

this research and this framework 

will certainly improve the speed in 

which clinicians can triage injury 

patterns to be able to update 

hospitals so they can prepare 

treatment packages and we can 

start early interventions treatment 

on scene so these injuries don’t 

cause life-changing scenarios or 

conditions.” 

Sally Lines, CEO of The Road 

Safety Trust, said: “The findings 

from the research that Coventry 

University has conducted have 

the potential to assist the UK 

Police Force and Accident and 

Emergency departments with 

road traffic collision insight. As 

a charity dedicated to achieving 

zero road deaths and serious 

injuries on UK roads through our 

grants, we are excited by the fact 

that this research can help save 

lives in the future.” 

The virtual CT scans have been 

developed and validated using 

the Total Human Model for Safety 

(THUMS) which has been devised 

by the Toyota Motor Corporation 

and Toyota Central R&D Labs. 



123

NEWSLINE 

Research at Coventry University 

Coventry University has jumped 

22 places to climb into the top 

half of the Times Higher Education 

(THE) REF2021 research 

power ranking – a success that 

demonstrates its growth as a 

university with world-leading 

research. 

In the university’s biggest and 

best performance in the UK’s 

assessment of research in higher 

education, Coventry University is 

58 out of 129 institutions in the 

THE power ranking, up from 80 

in 2014. 

The percentage of Coventry 

University’s research classed as 

world-leading or internationally 

excellent has increased to 70% 

in the Research Excellence 

Framework (REF) 2021, from 61% 

in the REF2014. 

The size of the university’s 

submission to REF2021 increased 

by nearly 200% compared to a 

national increase of 46%. It is this 

growth in both strength and depth 

that lifted the university’s research 

power ranking. 

LAS 

Mayor opens new 

London Ambulance 

Service education 

facility set to boost 

frontline workforce 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq 

Khan, has officially opened a 

new £7 million state-of-the-art 

education facility in Brentside, 

which London Ambulance 

Service will use to increase 

recruitment and boost the 

training of frontline medics and 

control room staff. 

The Mayor visited LAS’s new 

Brentside Education Centre on 

Monday 11 July where he was 

welcomed by the Service’s Chief 

Executive, Daniel Elkeles before 

meeting a group of newly-qualified 

paramedics and recent graduates 

and being shown around the new 

facilities. 

Before declaring the centre 

officially open, the Mayor took part 

in a training exercise in our brand 

new ambulance simulation suite. 

The suite, known as the 

‘simbulance’, provides immersive, 

virtual training for students in 

which they can gain experience 

of driving and operating an 

ambulance on London’s busy 

roads, as well as providing the 

highest standards of patient care. 

It replicates the driving conditions 

of London roads by projecting 

video and sound to fully immerse 

learners, and features hi-tech, lifelike 

Laerdal mannequin ‘patients’, 

which record how effectively 

students are performing CPR 

(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) 

and patient observations, to 

further aid their learning and 

standards of care. The simbulance 

is the only one of its kind in use by 

an ambulance trust. 

LAS expects the new west 

London facility, coupled with 

the newly opened twin site in 

Newham, east London, to train 

about 1,000 new recruits in a 

variety of operational roles each 

year. 

The newly-launched Brentside 

centre is part of wider ongoing 

efforts by LAS to significantly 

boost recruitment and training 

of its operational workforce, to 

meet increased levels of patient 

demand across the capital. This 

month it was named top NHS 

employer for apprenticeships in 

the country and is one of only 

three NHS trusts in the country 


124 


NEWSLINE 

to university. On completing 

training, candidates can ultimately 

apply for a paramedic degree 

apprenticeship funded by LAS. 

She said: 

“This was a complete career 

change for me but the great thing 

about this role is you quickly learn 

about what life is like on the road. 

“I wanted a job with more variety 

and this really offers that and it’s 

perfect for anyone who doesn’t 

have a clinical background but 

wants to learn about medicine. 

“We are always learning – 

whether in the classroom or in 

an ambulance, there’s always 

support available, and you know 

to make the rankings in the 

Department for Education’s Top 

100 Apprenticeship Employers 

2022. 

The Service is aiming to recruit 

more than 1,650 new staff by 

2023, including 477 additional 

paramedics. 

As well as bolstering its frontline 

operations, LAS will be ramping 

up the number of staff it employs 

in its 999 and 111 operations 

centres and boosting the 

volunteers who work alongside 

staff responding to patients. 

Commenting on his visit to the 

new Brentside Education Centre, 

the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, 

said: 

“I am absolutely delighted to 

officially open the Brentside 

Education Centre today. I’ve seen 

first-hand the state-of-the-art 

technology being used to train 

new recruits, which provides 

the perfect platform for trainee 

paramedics and emergency call 

handlers to join the front-line and 

help save lives. 

“A stronger, bigger London 

Ambulance Service is integral to 

supporting the wider NHS and 

ensuring that all Londoners are 

safe, healthy and well cared for. 

That is exactly why I’m backing 

the service’s most ambitious 

recruitment drive in its history 

and encouraging Londoners from 

all backgrounds to apply. It’s an 

opportunity to develop new skills 

and enter into a fulfilling career, 

making a difference for Londoners 

when they need it most. With this 

new cutting-edge training facility 

now officially open, there is no 

better time to join the London 

Ambulance Service.” 

LAS chief executive Daniel Elkeles 

said: 

“I would like to say a huge thank 

you to Mayor Sadiq Khan for 

joining us today and declaring 

this wonderful new facility officially 

open. We are embarking on 

the most ambitious recruitment 

programme our service has ever 

seen, and our fantastic new 

Brentside Education Centre will 

play a pivotal role in this plan 

by training hundreds of new 

operational recruits to the very 

highest standard each year. 

“The ground-breaking technology 

and excellent quality of teaching 

at our Brentside site will help 

us create a new pipeline of 

homegrown London talent to fill a 

variety of operational roles at LAS, 

both on the frontline and in our 

control rooms.” 

At the visit staff spoke about how 

the new facilities were developing 

their skills and improving 

outcomes for patients. 

Paramedic Maya Christopher said: 

“The training here is excellent. The 

equipment is very high quality so 

you are learning in a very realistic 

environment so when you go out 

on the road, you already know 

where everything is and how 

things works. 

“This means you are confident 

when you start treating patients. 

The job can still be pretty 

unpredictable, you never know 

what you’re going to be facing 

each day – but that’s what I love 

about it.” 

And associate ambulance 

practitioner (AAP) Faye Bittle who 

changed careers from an officebased 

role urged others who were 

thinking about it to find out more. 

The AAP role is an entry route 

role to become a Paramedic 

without the requirement of going 

there’s always more to learn and 

more ways to progress in your 

career.” 

SAS 

Queen’s Ambulance 

Medal (QAM) awarded 

to Resilience Manager 

A Resilience Manager who 

leads on preparing the Scottish 

Ambulance Service for major 

incidents has been awarded 

the Queen’s Ambulance Medal 

(QAM). 

The honour - which acknowledges 

ambulance personnel who have 

shown exceptional devotion to 

duty, merit and conduct - has 

been awarded to Donna Baillie, of 

SAS’s National Risk & Resilience 

Department (NRRD), based at 

Newbridge. 

Since joining the Service in 1995, 

Donna, 50, of South Queensferry, 

has been involved in several 

major incidents during her time 

with NRRD, including the Clutha 

Bar helicopter crash, the George 

Square bin lorry tragedy and the 

Glasgow Airport attack. 

In 2020, she was acknowledged 

for her involvement in her work 



125

NEWSLINE 

to provide recommendations to 

Scottish Ministers on tightening 

devolved legislation on fi reworks 

in Scotland. 

When notifi ed she would receive 

the award, she didn’t believe it at 

fi rst. She said: “It’s still sinking in, 

and completely unexpected. It’s 

lovely to get, and it’s nice to see 

the resilience world be recognised 

and the wider NRRD, where we 

work in the background preparing 

the Service for incidents.” 

When she fi rst joined SAS, 

Donna started as an ambulance 

care assistant in Edinburgh then 

became a technician a year later. 

She later became a paramedic at 

Dunfermline before joining NRRD 

in 2007 as a resilience offi cer. She 

has been in her current role as a 

manager for seven years. 

Her main role revolves around 

preparing SAS for high-risk 

situations, in the event of the 

large-scale incident, which 

involves carrying out training and 

education, and working alongside 

emergency service colleagues and 

other partner agencies to share 

information. 

Recalling her fi rst major incident 

during her time with NRRD, she 

said it was the Glasgow Airport 

Attack in 2007, where a car laden 

with propane gas cylinders and 

petrol cans was driven at speed 

into the doors of the departure 

area. Five people were injured in 

the terrorist attack. 

She said: “It was my fi rst experience 

at a major incident and was 

very nerve wracking, but a good 

introduction to my fi rst incident.” 

At Clutha, she was a safety offi cer 

on the Saturday morning and during 

George Square, she acted as a 

liaison at the Service’s Ambulance 

Control Centre in Cardonald. 

SAS Chief Operating Offi cer 

Paul Bassett said: “Donna is an 

inspiring role model who is an 

excellent and highly professional 

ambassador for the Scottish 

Ambulance Service. She has 

been heavily involved in several 

major incidents and her work in 

preparing SAS for large-scale 

incidents is invaluable. We are 

truly grateful for everything he 

has done for the Service and 

she thoroughly deserves this 

prestigious accolade.” 

NEAS 

Investment in lifesaving 

community 

volunteers thanks to 

successful funding 

bid 

NHS Charities Together grant 

will help support community 

first responder schemes in the 

North East. 

North East Ambulance Service 

(NEAS) is expanding its army of 

community fi rst responders in a 

bid to save more lives and support 

more patients across the region, 

thanks to funding from NHS 

Charities Together. 

There are currently 100 

community fi rst responders (CFRs) 

volunteering their time across the 

North East, supporting patients 

within their own communities 

whilst emergency ambulance 

crews are travelling. 

Every year, CFRs offer around 

29,000 hours of their own time 

to help their local communities 

by attending more than 1,400 

incidents, providing vital life-saving 

support, or simply a reassuring 

face, in the minutes between 

a 999 call being made and the 

crew’s arrival. 

Now, thanks to a £181,080 

grant from NHS Charities 


126 


NEWSLINE 

the patient, remaining calm and 

reassuring throughout.” 

Emergency ambulance crew 

Rachel Spaulding held Alice’s 

hand the entire time she was 

caring for Alice – right up until 

they took her into theatre at 

King’s College Hospital in 

Camberwell. 

Alice said: “She sat with me, 

reassuring me, and it was so 

impressive because while caring 

for me the crew were also 

communicating with the hospital 

so a team was ready for me 

when we arrived.” 

Together, NEAS is recruiting 

volunteers to create a further 24 

new CFR schemes to support 

communities in most need, who 

are not currently covered by 

CFR schemes, increasing CFR 

numbers by 23%. 

The areas identified for the new 

CFR schemes are: 

• Bishop Auckland South 

• Blackhall 

• Blakelaw 

• Blyth Cowpen 

• Coundon North 

• Felling South 

• Ferryhill East & Cornforth 

• Hendon & Docks 

• Hetton-le-Hole South 

• Horden 

• Lakeside & Farringdon 

• Murton North & Parkside 

• Newbiggin 

• North Ormseby & Brambles 

• Pallion North 

• Peterlee East 

• Redcar Lakes south 

• South Shields West 

• Southwick 

• Shotton & Haswell 

• Thornley & Wheatley Hill 

• Thorntree 

• Walker North 

• Walker south 

Recruitment of the new CFRs is 

due to start in the coming months, 

with a view to the new CFRs 

taking up their voluntary positions 

by the end of the year. 

Paul Brolly, first responder 

co-ordinator in the community 

resuscitation and development 

team at NEAS, said: “There 

are specific areas of the North 

East that are currently underrepresented 

by CFRs or that have 

experienced additional pressures 

due to Covid and therefore 

we are looking to increase our 

volunteers to match the areas 

that need support. Of the 24 

areas we’ve identified, 22 have 

been identified in a list of 225 

wards across England at risk of 

being “left behind” in the All Party 

Parliamentary Group’s recent 

‘Connecting Communities’ report. 

LAS 

Baby Evie saved as 

ambulance reaches 

hospital just 16 

minutes after 999 call 

A pregnant doctor with a rare 

and life-threatening condition 

who went into premature 

labour, has praised the London 

Ambulance Service medics who 

helped save her baby’s life. 

Dr Alice Ashby, a psychiatrist, 

admitted she had never been 

as terrified as when she started 

bleeding when she was just 30 

weeks into her pregnancy. 

She had already been diagnosed 

with vasa praevia, a rare but 

serious health condition. It causes 

blood vessels to tear during birth 

and has serious consequences 

for the mother and her baby. 

Alice said: “I called 999 and 

described what was happening, 

and told them about my 

condition. As soon as the call 

handler realised how dangerous 

the situation was, everything 

happened so quickly. An 

ambulance car and an ambulance 

arrived within minutes. 

“I’ve never seen anything as 

impressive as the response, 

skill and compassion of the 

ambulance crew.” 

Thanks to the speed of the 

ambulance crew, call handler 

Chesie Piner, and ambulance 

dispatcher Valerie Murphy, Alice 

reached hospital just 16 minutes 

after she made the emergency 

999 call. 

Paramedic Paddy Wright said: 

“As we arrived we were met by 

a clearly distressed and scared 

mum-to-be. 

“After listening to her, and learning 

how serious her condition was, 

we knew we had to act quickly 

but safely. 

“It was also important that we 

provided emotional support to 


On 4 April, Alice gave birth to 

daughter Evie, who, at more 

than two months’ early, weighed 

just 1.72kg, which is less than 

4 lbs. 

Evie was able to go home after 

spending six weeks being cared 

for on the Neonatal Intensive 

Care Unit at King’s College 

Hospital. 

Rachel said: “I’m glad to hear 

that it all went well and so 

pleased that Evie and her mum 

are doing well. 

“I couldn’t have asked for a 

better crew mate, we didn’t have 

to second guess each other – 

we just did everything we could 

for this patient who was scared 

and needed our help.” 

Dr Fenella Wrigley, Chief Medical 

Officer of London Ambulance 

Service, said: “Getting feedback 

from our patients is always lovely 

and the recognition and thanks 

is very well deserved. 

“Everyone involved in Alice’s 

care listened to her concerns 

and while assessing and treating 

her with care and compassion. 

They recognised the urgency of 

the situation, communicated well 

and prioritised an extremely fast 

transfer. 

“We wish all the best to Alice, 

Evie and their family.” 


127

NEWSLINE 

LAS 

Paramedic’s 

passionate plea to 

cut road deaths 

A paramedic is supporting 

a campaign to improve 

safety and reduce deaths 

on London roads after 

responding to a series of 

harrowing 999 calls. 

Natalie Jones has worked for 

London Ambulance Service for 

four years but still finds treating 

“I think that’s what makes them 

so tough – because you know 

they shouldn’t have happened. 

Sadly it’s often children who 

suffer catastrophic injuries, or the 

elderly.” 

Natalie backed the Mayor of 

London’s Vision Zero Week – a 

Transport for London campaign 

which ran from Monday 27 June 

to Sunday 3 July – which aims to 

highlight the scale of trauma on 

the capital’s roads and is working 

towards eliminating all deaths 

and serious injuries by 2041. 

London’s roads, with the London 

Ambulance Service attending 

nearly 11,000 road traffi c 

collisions that year. 

In her free time Natalie volunteers 

for London Ambulance Service’s 

public education team which 

delivers safety talks and 

workshops to young people 

warning them about the dangers 

on the road and offers advice on 

how to stay safe. 

She said: “When I talk to kids 

I often tell them about a girl 

we went to who’d been badly 

injured on Oxford Street. She 

had stepped out onto the road 

between two buses, facing away 

from the traffi c to get an iconic 

shot of the famous street. 

“People don’t want to put down 

their phones, but it’s not worth 

dying or getting hurt for an 

“Insta” worthy shot. 

patients who have been injured 

in road collisions some of the 

toughest calls she goes to. 

She said: “It’s just heartbreaking 

for the families: lives 

can be lost or changed for ever 

in one moment. These patients 

The London-wide campaign has 

been inspired by Vision Zero, an 

international movement which 

sees cities around the world 

committing to end the toll of 

deaths and injury seen on their 

roads and transport networks. 

really do stay with you because 

almost every road collision I’ve 

been to has been preventable. 

In 2021, 75 people were 

tragically killed and around 

3,500 seriously injured on 

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128 


NEWSLINE 

“Everyone should take 

responsibility for their own safety 

– and also those around them. 

Road users who can cause the 

most harm to others should be 

especially cautious when out on 

the road.” 

Stuart Reid, Head of Insights and 

Direction for Transport for London 

(TfL), said: “Every death on our 

roads is tragic and unacceptable 

and we refuse to accept that 

these incidents are inevitable. 

“We must do everything we can 

to achieve our Vision Zero goal 

of eliminating death and serious 

injury from London’s streets to 

prevent people in communities 

across the city from experiencing 

the unnecessary suffering that 

collisions on our roads cause. 

“It is essential that reckless, selfi sh 

and illegal behaviour on our roads 

is challenged and everyone has a 

role to play in that. 

“We would also like to thank 


and all emergency services and 

medical staff for the critical work 

they do responding to collisions 

on our roads.” 

SCAS 

SCAS celebrates 

International 

Paramedics Day 

with Australian new 

recruits 

South Central Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation 

Trust (SCAS) was delighted 

to be supporting the first 

International Paramedics 

Day on 8 July and is marking 

a double celebration by 

announcing the arrival of nearly 

30 Australian paramedics 

who will soon be providing 

emergency care across the 

South Central region. 

International Paramedics Day 

was the brainchild of the College 

of Paramedics who wanted to 

create a day that showcased the 

vital work done by paramedics, 

fi rst responders and support 

staff in the UK and around the 

world. It is a day of celebration 

enthusiastically supported by 

SCAS as this year also marks 

the Trust’s participation in 

the International Paramedics 

Programme - a programme run 

by Health Education England that 

offers newly qualifi ed paramedics 

in Australia the opportunity to live 

in England and work at an NHS 

ambulance trust. 

A fi rst cohort of 14 newly qualifi ed 

paramedics are currently going 

through their clinical training with 

SCAS and will be going out on 

the road on placement for two 

weeks from 20 July. They will then 

return to the SCAS Education 

Team for driver training and, 

once completed, will be fully 

operational. A second cohort of 

14 Australians are starting their 

training on Monday, 11 July, and 

one of those is Megan Venters. 

Megan, 22, was born and raised 

in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, 

but emigrated to Perth, Australia 

with her family when she was 

seven. When she realised at 

school in Year 12 that human 

biology was her favourite subject, 

she was then set on a career 

to become a paramedic and 

achieved a BSc in Paramedical 

Science in Australia. 

“I’ve come to the UK, not just 

because I have family still here 

in Hampshire, but it also offers 

incredible travel opportunities in 

Europe when I’m not working. 

I chose SCAS as it is an 

innovative, exciting and respected 

ambulance service and, of 

course, allows me to be very 

close to my extended UK family 

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129

NEWSLINE 


“Starting a career somewhere 

far away from home and within 

the NHS will provide me with 

so many different experiences 

and I can’t wait to be part of an 

amazing and unique organisation 

as the NHS. I’m really looking 

forward to putting my knowledge 

into practice, helping patients 

and meeting new colleagues and 

friends. All in all, I’m just excited to 

start as it’s been my dream job for 

as long as I can remember!” 

As well as the most recent 

Australian recruits, SCAS employs 

a total of 102 international staff 

from 21 different countries in 

frontline emergency operational 

roles. Those colleagues include 

staff from Finland, Germany, 

Hungary, India, Japan, Poland, St 

Lucia and South Africa. 

EMAS 

Nottinghamshire 

paramedic 

recognised for his 

efforts to support a 

Ukrainian family 

A paramedic in 

Nottinghamshire, who has 

worked at EMAS for 15 years, 

has been recognised for his 

efforts to support a Ukrainian 

family. 

Rob Ferrol won an award at the 

recent UNISON Branch of the 

Year Awards for going above and 

beyond in the line of duty after 

helping give peace of mind to a 

family in Ukraine by agreeing to 

host their daughter, helping her 

escape the ongoing war. 

Rob and his family have been 

hosting children from Ukraine 

since before the Russian invasion 

in February 2022, as part of the 

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline. 

This is an initiative to help give 

youngsters a brief respite from 

the higher levels of background 

Paramedic Rob Ferrol holds up his UNISON Branch of the Year Award 

for going above and beyond in the line of duty. 

radiation that people living 

in the surround region of the 

former nuclear power plant are 

still exposed to following the 

Chernobyl disaster of 1986. 

Vlada, 17, is one of these children 

who stayed with Rob and his 

family on two separate occasions 

before having to flee the war. 

She’s from Irpin in northern 

Ukraine which came under attack 

and resulted in their home being 

completely destroyed by shelling. 

Rob said: “We have made many 

amazing friends over the years 

hosting children as part of the 

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline 

initiative, with many we now 

consider family, including Vlada. 

“After hearing what had 

happened, I knew I had to help 

Vlada’s family to successfully get 

her out of the conflict zone and 

to safety. 

“Both her parents are unable 

to leave Ukraine due to military 

commitments which is just an 

unimaginable position for any 

parent to be in, so I was more 

than happy to be able to provide 

them with the reassurance that 

their teenage daughter would not 

have to enter a foreign country 

alone.” 

Rob told Vlada’s parents to start 

the journey to the Ukrainian 

border before he jumped onto a 

plane the very next morning to 

Warsaw, Poland. On touch down, 

he hired a car and drove 1,000 

miles to reach the Polish/Ukrainian 

border to pick up Vlada and bring 

her back to the UK. 

Rob said: “The journey took Vlada 

and her parents two days due 

to curfew restrictions and travel 

restrictions and topped off by a 

10-hour queue to pass through 

the border. 

“During this time, I ate and slept 

in my hire car awaiting the family’s 

arrival. It was an anxious time as 

I was worried for Vlada and her 

parents due to the absolutely 

freezing weather conditions. 

“Our beloved Vlada is a second 

daughter to us and I was so 

relieved when I saw that she had 

made it to the border.” 

Vlada and her family lived in the 

countryside just outside of Kyiv 

when the war began. 

She said: “We didn’t think on 

24 February 2022 that this was 

going to be the start of a war. We 

thought there would be some 

unrest for a few days and then 

things would begin to calm down 

again so we stayed where we 

were for a little bit as we didn’t 

want to leave our home. 

“Then the explosions started with 

lots of planes with big lights flying 

over us constantly. The situation 

was becoming more scary and 

violent. 

“Kyiv became the epicentre of 

the war and so we decided to 

leave and stay with relatives in 

a more peaceful area outside of 

the conflict area. It was surreal 

to experience the quiet after two 

weeks of hearing explosions every 

hour or so. 

It was while the family were 

stopping with relatives that Vlada’s 

home in Kyiv was destroyed and 

it was decided between Rob and 

the family that it was in Vlada’s 

best interests to be evacuated 

from the conflict. 

Vlada has now been living with 

Rob and his family for the past 

few weeks and is slowly adjusting 

to living in the UK in the longer 

term. 

She said: “As a family we were 

really nervous about the journey to 

the Ukrainian/Polish border. 

130 


NEWSLINE 

“There was lots of traffic on the 

roads and all the cars, including 

ours, were being constantly 

stopped at military postings 

based at every town, village and 

city across Ukraine. 

“It was a really scary journey as 

we heard explosions all around 

us and we couldn’t get away very 

easily if something bad would 

happen nearby as the roads were 

totally packed with cars with lots 

of other people desperate to 

leave. 

“The UK has lots of kind people 

with very big hearts and I am 

thankful to Rob, his family and 

everyone who has helped me 

since leave my home country.” 

Vlada hopes one day that things 

may return to normal and she 

hopes to be reunited with her 

mother who is over in Dublin in a 

few months’ time. 

Both Rob and Vlada remain in 

contact with Vlada’s parents on a 

regular basis. 

SAS 

SAS emergency 

responders awarded 

MBEs in Queen’s 

Birthday Honours 

Two Scottish Ambulance Service 

emergency responders have 

been awarded MBEs in this 

year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours 

for their voluntary work. 

Stuart McLellan, Technician from 

Kilmarnock Ambulance Station, 

and Ross Nelson, Paramedic 

from Paisley Ambulance Station, 

are co-founders of the Neilston 

& Uplawmoor Community First 

Responder (CFR) group. 

They each received their letter 

from the Cabinet Office in April, 

which noted their ‘voluntary 

and charitable services in 

Renfrewshire’ as co-founders 

of the CFR group. The award 

coincides with National Volunteers 

Week, which started June 1 and 

finished June 7. 

On receiving the honour, Stuart 

said it took him by “great 

surprise”. He added: “It’s such a 

privilege to be recognised for my 

voluntary work with the Neilston 

& Uplawmoor Community First 

Responders. 

“When we first set out to look 

at the possibility of volunteers 

and whether a group would be 

sustainable in 2013, I had no idea 

how the group would progress, 

whether we would be able to 

recruit volunteers and if the entire 

concept would work in the village 

where I live.” 

Five years after launching, the 

Neilston and Uplawmoor group 

was awarded The Queens 

Award for Voluntary Service, the 

equivalent of an MBE for voluntary 

groups, and since going live in 

2014, they have responded to 

nearly 2,000 emergency calls. 

The group covers a vast area and 

have two vehicles (sponsored by 

Arnold Clark), which have 4x4 

capability to ensure they are able 

to get to patients in the winter 

months and access to countryside 

properties with difficult roads. 

Stuart said: “It was remarkable to 

get our small village community 

group recognised at such a 

prestigious level. CFRs are vital 

across Scotland, it’s impossible 

to place ambulances in every 

village or town and CFRs are 

a great way to provide patient 

care in these areas whilst the 

ambulance is on its way. It’s also a 

great development for volunteers 

exploring a career within the 

Ambulance Service. 

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131

NEWSLINE 

“The volunteers over the years 

have been a key part in the 

group’s success and we are 

extremely lucky to have helped 

20 of them progress into fulltime 

employment with the Scottish 

Ambulance Service over the years 

which is lovely to see.” 

Stuart joined the Scottish 

Ambulance Service in Scottish 

Ambulance Service in 2012 

as an emergency call handler 

before progressing to dispatcher, 

Special Services Desk before his 

current Technician role based at 

Kilmarnock. 

NHS, but there is no affiliation, 

and it receives no regular 

government funding. EAAA 

depends on the generosity of 

the community to offer lifesaving 

treatment anywhere at any time 

across East Anglia. If you would 

like to support EAAA, you can 

make a donation by visiting 

https://www.eaaa.org.uk/ 

savealife 

GWAAC 

Local air ambulance 

crew making a 

difference in Ukraine 


He explained: “Working fulltime for 

the Scottish Ambulance Service 

and doing work voluntary as a 

Community First Responder is 

rewarding - it’s nice to be able 

to work with other volunteers in 

the group and to pass on my 

skills and experience to them so 

they can further themselves as a 

volunteer.” 

EAAA 

Patrick Peal, former 

CEO, receives the 

honour of MBE 

for services to 

Emergency Care in 

the East of England 

Patrick Peal (68), has been 

awarded an MBE (Member of 

the Order of the British Empire) 

in Her Majesty the Queen’s 

Birthday Honours List. The 

honour is in recognition of 

his visionary approach and 

commitment to both regional 

and national air ambulance 

services over the past 21 

years. He will receive his MBE 

from a senior member of the 

Royal Family at an investiture 

at Buckingham Palace in due 

course. 

Patrick helped to turn EAAA 

from its infancy, with just one 

helicopter in use once a week, 

to a fully-fledged helicopter 

emergency medical service 

(HEMS) flying 24 hours a day, 

seven days a week. 

Instrumental in gaining 

national recognition for air 

ambulance charities, Patrick 

also spearheaded the creation 

of Air Ambulances UK, a charity 

representing all 23 air ambulance 

organisations in the UK, formed 

from the merger of two previous 

organisations. 

To date the East Anglian Air 

Ambulance charity (EAAA) has 

completed 33,549 life-saving 

missions since it started 22 years 

ago, supporting thousands of 

people across East Anglia. More 

than 100,000 patients and their 

loved ones have benefitted and 

millions of pounds have been 

raised to support the charity 

since its conception. 

As one of the Charity’s founders 

and Deputy Chairman when 

Patrick took over as CEO, the 

organisation was transformed 

from 1,700 missions raising £6.8 

million a year to 2,600 missions 

raising over £15 million a year 

in 2021. 

Patrick says: ‘Receiving this 

accolade is humbling. EAAA 

wouldn’t be held in such high 

regard and give so much back 

to the community if it weren’t for 

the hard work and dedication 

from each and every member of 

the team, so I feel this award is a 

tribute to all our staff, volunteers, 

supporters and patients too.’ 

Although Patrick has officially 

retired from the role of CEO of the 

charity, he remains very active as 

a volunteer. 

The charity works alongside the 

A group of volunteers from the 

Great Western Air Ambulance 

Charity’s (GWAAC) Critical Care 

Team have recently returned 

from a different kind of mission 

— in Ukraine. 

On Sunday 26 June 2022, 

GWAAC’s Critical Care Doctors, 

James Tooley, Ed Valentine and 

Andrew Heavyside, along with 

SPCC’s Pete Reeve, Callum 

Sutton and Matt Robinson set off 

on a 25-hour journey to Kyiv. 

The volunteers went to Kyiv 

with the intention of teaching 

a tactical medicine course to 

prepare civilians to respond to 

trauma incidents as and when 

needed during the conflict. They 

delivered training over two days 

and returned to the UK on 1 July 


On arrival in Kyiv, the group 

responded to local needs and 

demands and taught around 

60 people selected for the 

course. These were mostly office 

workers such as diplomats and 

ambassadors at an increased 

risk of a missile strike on their 

place of work. Some also travel 

between towns and cities as 

part of their role and are at an 

increased risk of landmines and 

ambush. 

The training was delivered 

132 


NEWSLINE 

through translators which slowed 

the pace a little but SPCC, 

Pete Reeve said “it was pretty 

straightforward.” 

The training covered themes 

such as how to stop bleeding, 

using a tourniquet, giving CPR 

and the triage process. Pete 

says, “triage is important. If their 

building is hit by a missile, they 

need to be able to identify which 

injuries are most severe, so they 

know who to treat fi rst.” 

As well as providing training 

in lifesaving tactical medicine, 

the volunteers also left supplies 

of tourniquets, dressings, and 

bandages for the trainees. 

Specialist paediatric equipment 

was gifted to an intensive 

care unit in Kyiv and two fully 

equipped response bags, 

dressings and iGels were given to 

frontline hospitals, taken by the 

security fi rm that looked after the 

volunteers while in Ukraine. 

How and why the trip came 

about 

A combination of infl uencing 

factors came together at the right 

time. Namely, the willingness 

of the crew, additional funding 

from a private source, and 

the contacts and logistical 

knowledge acquired by Dr James 

and Dr Ed on a previous visit to 

Ukraine where they tried to help 

some very sick children. 

The group went as volunteers 

with the full support of GWAAC. 

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133

NEWSLINE 

GWAAC is known for being one of 

the best Pre-hospital Emergency 

Medicine (PHEM) training centres 

in the country. Teaching other 

medical professionals how to deal 

with the most serious of trauma 

injuries is one of its skillsets. The 

group of volunteers provided 

gold standard medical training to 

people in Ukraine who otherwise 

wouldn’t have received it. 

An important aspect of the 

mission was security. The trip was 

only ever going to be possible 

with some form of protection 

for the group of volunteers. This 

came from a private security 

firm and a High-Risk Advisor 

called Joel Bennet who is an 

experienced medic specialising in 

austere environments. Joel stayed 

with the group throughout the 

trip, keeping them updated on 

the developments in the conflict 

in Ukraine. 

The impact of the trip 

The intention of the trip was to 

have as big an impact as possible 

within a relatively short space of 

time. The volunteers achieved this 

in three ways: 

• They provided the best 

possible medical training to a 

group of people who would 

really benefit. In this case, 

government employees with 

little medical experience and 

more likely to be in a targeted 

building, e.g. a Foreign Office, 

than the general population. 

The training would give them 

the know-how and confidence 

to administer lifesaving first aid 

• They gave the trainees 

the skills, confidence and 

equipment to pass down to 

others in their community; to 

help make them self-sufficient 

• They equipped the trainees with 

lifesaving equipment such as 

tourniquets and dressings. And 

they donated medical supplies 

to hospitals 

SPCC, Pete said: “60 people 

received high-quality medical 

training they otherwise wouldn’t 

have got. One attendee came 

both days and told us how 

overnight she had been teaching 

her family what she had learned 

during the day. It’s a very sobering 

thought; that for them, the 

missiles, the bombing, the loss of 

loved ones… is a very real threat. 

We encouraged them to pass on 

their new skills to as many people 

as possible. We gave them the 

knowledge, the confidence and 

the medical supplies to deal with 

things. And they were just so very 

grateful.” 

GWAAC, proud of the 

volunteers 

Great Western Air Ambulance 

Charity’s Critical Care Team is 

a select group of highly skilled 

individuals who can make a huge 

difference to people in urgent need 

of lifesaving pre-hospital care. 

GWAAC Critical Care Doctors and 

Specialist Paramedics in Critical 

Care (SPCC) are professionals in 

every sense of the word, and it’s in 

their nature to want to help people 

whenever and wherever they can. 

“I’m very proud of the group of 

volunteers who helped in Ukraine. 

They were willing to travel to a 

country in conflict to use their 

skills to help people in need. 

We are very lucky to have such 

passionate, selfless and caring 

individuals in the Critical Care 

Team and serving their local 

communities.” 

Anna Perry, CEO, Great Western 

Air Ambulance Charity. 

LAS 

New greener London 

Ambulance vehicles 

officially ‘hit the road’ 

As part of a £16.6 million 

investment into a greener fleet 

of ambulances and emergency 

response cars, the first of 

London Ambulance Service’s 

(LAS) new electric vehicles 

were officially ‘rolled out’ at a 

special launch event held at the 

Olympic Park. 

The new vehicles – which are the 

first of the 225 brand new greener 

vehicles to have been manufactured, 

have passed all of the relevant tests 

and checks and are now in use, 

playing a vital role in the life-saving 

service of the LAS teams. 

Speaking at the launch event 

– which was held to coincide 

with the NHS Sustainability 

Day of Action, Chief Executive 

Daniel Elkeles, said: “This is a 

really proud moment for us – as 

the busiest ambulance service 

in the world, we cover a lot of 

miles in providing urgent and 

emergency care to the people 

of London. Thanks to our new 

greener fleet, we can continue 

to provide great care while 

minimising our impact on the 

environment, and better protect 

the health and wellbeing of the 

people living and working in the 

capital.” 

Richard Webb-Stevens, a 

long-serving member of the 

Motorcycle Response Unit and 

recent recipient of the prestigious 

Queen’s Ambulance Medal for 

Distinguished Service, has been 

riding one of the new all-electric 

motorbikes. He said: “I absolutely 

love the new electric motorbike 

– it does everything you need 

as a paramedic responding to 

incidents and emergency calls. 

It’s responsive, it’s quick (when 

you need it to be) and feels very 

safe. I think some keen motorbike 

riders might be a bit sceptical 

about losing the traditional petrol 

engine, but I can tell you, this 

bike is fantastic!” 

The new vehicles include 

new greener transit vans and 

all-electric fast response cars 

and motorbikes, as well as 

new electric vehicles for our 

resuscitation training teams, 

and new lighter emergency 

ambulances which use less fuel 

and create less emissions. 


134 


NEWSLINE 

SECAMB 

SECAmb begins 

rollout of upgraded of 

medicine dispensing 

machines 


Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SECAmb) has begun the 

rollout of a new generation of 

medicine-dispensing machines 

across its region. 

The new Omnicell, biometric, 

automated machines, are an 

upgrade to the original units first 

introduced in SECAmb in 2014 

and have been heralded for good 

medicine governance by the CQC. 

A total of 16 new dispensers are 

being installed at key sites across 

Kent, Surrey and Sussex. 

As part of this investment, 

the Trust is also rolling out an 

electronic medicines governance 

system which includes electronic 

controlled drugs register at its 

sites which cannot host the larger 

Omnicell units – a move which will 

potentially see SECAmb become 

the first ambulance trust in the 

country to eliminate paper-based 

controlled drugs’ registers. 

Clinicians will be able to use a 

dedicated Omnicell technology 

app, MedX, to log their 

management of medicines and 

allow SECAmb to trace and 

maintain good stock management 

and auditing of medicines 

including controlled drugs. 

Chief Pharmacist Carol-Anne 

Davies-Jones said: “I’m absolutely 

delighted to see these automated 

cabinets being installed. They will 

ensure the continued safety and 

good governance of our controlled 

drugs (CDs) and medicines. 

“By introducing the new software 

at sites which have previously not 

had the benefit of controlled drug 

electronic registry, we are freeing 

up clinicians’ time from manual 

stock management and auditing 

work – meaning they can spend 

more time attending to patients 

and supporting their colleagues. 

There are also financial benefits 

and environmental benefits to 

going paperless. 

“Our Medicine Governance Team 

has done a fantastic job in making 

this happen and I would like to 

thank them for their hard work in 

delivering this important piece of 

work.” 

Ambulance calls 

almost double to 14 

million since 2010, 

GMB analysis shows 

Pressures ‘worst ever’ as 

demand rises ten times faster 

than number of ambulance 

workers, says GMB Union 

Ambulance calls have almost 

doubled to 14 million a year since 

2010, GMB analysis shows. 

In the financial year 2009/10 there 

were 7.9 million callouts, according 

to published NHS data. [1] 

But by 2021/22 the number 

had rocketed to 14 million – an 

increase of 77 per cent. This was 

ten times faster than the increase 

in ambulance workers (up 7 per 

cent) over the same period. 

Ambulance workers staged a 

demonstration outside GMB’s 

annual congress, which began in 

Harrogate, Yorkshire on June 2022. 

The increase in pressures on 

ambulance workers are the result 

of cuts to other health and care 

services, GMB said. 

“The explosion in demand is 

due to savage cuts to essential 

services since 2010. 

“GMB members tell us the 

pressures they face are the worst 

they have ever experienced. 

“Our members face unbelievable 

stress and even abuse while they 

do their best to administer care 

and save lives. 

“We need urgent investment 

across the health and care 

services, otherwise we risk an 

unprecedented crisis.” 

[1] Ambulance call volumes in 

England (millions) 

Total Of which, 

Ambulance 111 calls 

calls transferred 

2009/10 7.9 - 

2010/11 8.1 - 

2011/12 8.2 0.1 

2012/13 8.5 0.2 

2013/14 8.5 0.8 

2014/15 9 1.1 

2015/16 9.4 1.3 

2016/17 9.8 1.5 

2017/18 8.6 1.6 

2018/19 11.7 1.7 

2019/20 12.4 1.8 

2020/21 11.4 1.9 

2021/22 14 2.5 

The average response time for 

serious (Category 2) calls was 51 

minutes in April 2022, compared to 

twenty minutes a year before. [2] 

Meanwhile, more than a thousand 

ambulance workers have left their 

jobs since 2018 to seek a better 

work life balance, better pay, or to 

take early retirement. [3] 

Rachel Harrison, GMB National 

Officer, said: 

“Ambulance workers have faced 

more than a decade of cuts while 

demand has almost doubled. 

“It’s no wonder they are leaving in 

droves while the service itself is 

teetering on the brink of collapse. 


Sources: 

National Audit Office, NHS Ambulance 

Services, 26 January 2017, Figure 3, 

page 13; 

NHS England, Ambulance Quality 

Indicators (old and new AmbSYS 

timeseries); 

NHS England, NHS 111 Minimum Data 

Set; 

NHS England, Integrated Urgent Care 

Aggregate Data Collection (IUCADC 

including NHS111) from April 2021. 

[2] NHS England, Ambulance Quality 

Indicators, 12 May 2022 https://www. 

england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-workareas/ambulance-quality-indicators/ 

[3] NHS Digital, HCHS staff by reason 

for leaving, staff group and region, 

April 2018 to September 2021, 09 

February 2022 https://digital.nhs.uk/ 

supplementary-information/2022/reason- 

for-leaving-by-staff-group-and-region- 

2018-to-2021 


135

NEWSLINE 


SCAS 

Ambulance service 

develops pioneering 

support package for 

staff and volunteers 

with £100k charity 

donation 



Trust (SCAS) and South 

Central Ambulance Charity 

have developed a pioneering 

four-part package of support 

for staff and volunteers to 

help overcome the effects of 

the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Projects include a Long COVID 

rehabilitation programme, 

which consists of cognitive 

behavioural therapy (talking 

therapy), exercise classes 

and mindfulness sessions, 

and a dedicated resilience 

programme which involves 

training staff as practitioners to 

identify and manage stress in 

colleagues. 

The Trust will also partner 

with specialist bereavement 

charity Cruse and bereavement 

training counsellors to codesign 

a comprehensive 

support package to help staff 

and volunteers processing the 

loss of a patient, colleague, 

friend or a member of their own 

family. 

In addition to this, SCAS will 

provide mental health first 

aid training to groups of staff 

and volunteers to assist their 

colleagues but also to enable 

them to better support patients 

who have mental health issues 

and have greater awareness of 

their needs. 

The programme of initiatives 

has been made possible 

through £100k funding from 


Charity via a grant from NHS 

Charities Together designed to 

help trusts with staff recovery 

and resilience. 

SCAS and its 5,700-strong 

staff and volunteer workforce 

provides emergency and urgent 

care to more than four million 

people across Berkshire, 

Buckinghamshire, Hampshire 

and Oxfordshire, as well as 

patient transport to a further 

two million across Surrey and 

Sussex. 

More than 700 staff at SCAS 

have been off work with COVID 

during the pandemic and Long 

Covid has affected a number 

of staff, with more than 30 

currently off work and a further 

13 on alternative duties. 

As this long-term condition 

is new and there are many 

variations in the symptoms 

each person experiences, 

treatment and support available 

to staff in the community 

is variable so SCAS has 

developed a bespoke service 

to support staff with their return 

to work. 

The Long COVID rehabilitation 

programme has been 

designed in collaboration with 

occupational health provider 

Team Prevent and offers six 

weeks of cognitive behavioural 

therapy to help identify and 

overcome mental challenges, 

pulmonary and functional 

exercise rehabilitation, 

relaxation activities and 

homework to supplement the 

course. 

The resilience programme, 

known as Sustaining Resilience 

at Work (StRaW), has been 

developed with psychological 

health consultancy March 

on Stress and will be used 

to detect and prevent workrelated 

mental health issues 

and boost the psychology of 

the workforce. 

It is estimated that around 25% 

to 30% of all sickness days 

taken in ambulance services 

are due to stress, anxiety or 

depression, with between 

5,500 and 6,500 days lost to 

stress at SCAS during 2019-20 

and 2020-21. 

The StRaW programme will 

enable teams of practitioners 

to support and improve the 

mental health of colleagues 

through planning, guidance, 

signposting and, where 

appropriate, effective 

mentoring. 

Lisa Pickard, Health, Wellbeing 

and Engagement Manager at 

SCAS, said: “Like most NHS 

organisations, SCAS has 

been hugely impacted by the 

COVID-19 pandemic in many 

forms and with far-reaching 

consequence across our 

service and our workforce. 

“Frontline operational staff and 

volunteers working closely with 

patients changed their living 

arrangements to safeguard 

vulnerable members of their 

own families and staff have 

had to cover increasing levels 

of sickness and an increasing 

demand for patient care. 

“Others had to go back to 

front-facing patient care and 

away from other roles and 

volunteers over 70 were stood 

down for a long period of time 

at the start of the pandemic, 

while for other staff working 

from home has become the 

norm and for some this has 

been a difficult adjustment. 

“However, they have continued 

to work tirelessly to support 

patients in our communities 

and these important 

interventions will help to ensure 

our staff can all get back to full 

health, full strength and receive 

the support and attention they 

need to enable that to happen.” 

Vanessa Casey, Chief Executive 

of South Central Ambulance 

Charity, said: “We are delighted 

to have secured £100k from 

NHS Charities Together to help 

provide this essential package 

of support for our staff and 

volunteers. 

“We know from speaking to 

colleagues right across the 

organisation how important 

it is to do what we can to aid 

workforce recovery from the 

pandemic and to ensure these 

programmes remain in place to 

protect the health and wellbeing 

of staff and volunteers and, in 

turn, benefit patients. 

“The charity is proud to have 

already introduced additional 

training and new cohorts of 

volunteers in new roles over 

the past two years which have 

significantly enhanced patient 

care as well as workforce 

wellbeing so we want to say a 

huge thank you to our supporters 

for their generous donations of 

both time and funds.” 

Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive 

of NHS Charities Together, said: 

“As the national, independent 

charity caring for the NHS, 

we were delighted to work 

with South Central Ambulance 

Charity to make these valuable 

initiatives possible. We believe 

they will provide an important 

benefit for NHS staff and 

patients living in the region, 

including many of those 

impacted by COVID-19. 

“Thanks to the incredible 

support from the public for our 

COVID-19 Urgent Appeal, this 

funding can now make a muchneeded 

difference to the NHS 

as it seeks to recover from the 

pandemic. We look forward to 

continuing our work with South 

Central Ambulance Charity and 

the network of NHS charities 

across the UK to help the NHS 

go further for all of us.” 

136 


IN PERSON 

LAS News 


welcomes new Chair 

The London Ambulance Service has 

welcomed its brand new Chair, Andy Trotter 

OBE QPM. 

Andy, who was appointed in May, has over 40 

years’ experience of leading police services in 

London and Kent and is also Chair of Oxleas 

NHS Foundation Trust. 

Andy’s time with the police services has led 

to him working alongside London Ambulance 

Service teams on many occasions, including 

for the 2012 Olympics and 7 July terror 

attacks. 

Andy said: “I am delighted to have officially 

started at the London Ambulance Service. 

Our people do an amazing job to provide care 

for Londoners in their time of need, and I look 

forward to working with the Board, executive, 

staff, volunteers and partners – inside and 

outside the NHS – to further improve the care 

we provide to our patients and, crucially, the 

working lives of our people. 

“The London Ambulance Service is, 

without doubt, one of London’s most iconic 

organisations. Our staff and volunteers provide 

life-saving care to millions of people each year. 

I’m humbled to join this amazing team.” 

Andy succeeds Heather Lawrence OBE who 

has left the organisation after six years. 

Andy added: “I would like to thank Heather for 

all she did for the Service.” 

SECAMB News 



Trust (SECAmb) welcomes 

new Interim Chief Executive 

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased 

to announce the appointment of Siobhan 

Melia as its new Interim Chief Executive. 

Siobhan was seconded from her role as 

Chief Executive of Sussex Community NHS 

Foundation Trust and started work on 12 July 


SECAmb Chair, David Astley, said: “Siobhan 

has a strong clinical background and is an 

experienced Chief Executive, with good 

knowledge of our region and our partners. 

I’m very pleased that she is joining us as we 

move forward following the pandemic and am 

sure she will bring energy and a real focus on 

patient and staff engagement to the role. 

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank 

Dr Fionna Moore for stepping in following the 

resignation of Philip Astle and we look forward 

to continuing to benefit from her considerable 

experience once she returns to her role as 

Medical Director in July.” 

Peter Horn, Chair at Sussex Community NHS 

Foundation Trust commented: ‘On behalf of 

the Board and the wider Trust I would like to 

wish Siobhan well in her new role as interim 

Chief Executive at SECAmb. Siobhan’s 

experience and leadership skills are of 

tremendous value to any organisation and I 

look forward to welcoming her back to SCFT in 

April 2023.” 

News 

London’s Air Ambulance 

Charity announces Jayne 

Clarke as new Director of 

Fundraising & Marketing 

London’s Air Ambulance Charity has 

announced the appointment Jayne Clarke 

as the charity’s new Director of Fundraising 

and Marketing. 

Jayne brings substantial experience to the 

position, following a number of high-profile 

roles within both the charity and private 

sectors. 

Having worked as the UK marketing lead 

for Europe’s leading ethical bank Triodos, 

Jayne then moved to the RNLI, taking her 

first steps into the voluntary sector. Whilst at 

the RNLI she over-saw the Marketing, Media, 

Philanthropy, Corporate and Legacy teams, 

before a move to St Pe-ter’s Hospice as 

Director of Income Generation, heading up the 

marketing, communications, fundraising and 

retail teams. 

Speaking of her appointment, Jayne said: 

“I am delighted to join London’s Air Ambulance 

Charity at such an important time in its history, 

working with extraordinary people saving lives 

every day. 

“The staff and volunteer team have been 

incredible at welcoming me into the 

organisation. I have already been on a shift and 

witnessed first-hand the incredible intensity, 

skill and expertise of the work our teams do 

and seeing my colleagues save a life in front of 

me was an experience I will never forget. 


Andy Trotter OBE QPM Siobhan Melia Jayne Clarke 


137

IN PERSON 

“I am so proud to be working alongside such 

a dedicated group of people who are there for 

Londoners 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 

365 days a year. I look forward to making 

sure that the charity gets the recognition and 

income that it needs and deserves.” 

Jonathan Jenkins, CEO, London’s Air 

Ambulance Charity said; 

“London’s Air Ambulance Charity is entering 

into one of the most crucial periods in its 

history and in Jayne Clarke we’ve boosted our 

leadership team as we navigate the challenges 

of the next few years. 


“Jayne brings with her substantial experience 

in marketing, communications and fundraising 

and will play a vital role as we prepare to 

launch our biggest ever public appeal.” 

London’s Air Ambulance delivers an advanced 

trauma team to critically injured patients when 

time is critical and serves the 10 million people 

living and working within London. The charity 

is the only one of its kind in London to perform 

immediate life-saving medical procedures 

nor-mally only found in a hospital emergency 

department at the scene of an incident. Since 

launch-ing 33 years ago, the service has 

treated over 43,000 patients. 

News 

Air Ambulance Charity Kent 

Surrey Sussex announces 

two new appointments 

Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex 

(KSS) has announced two new appointments. 

Kelly Heaton-Ralph has been promoted 

to Executive Director of Fundraising and 

Philanthropy and Symon Russell to Executive 

Director of Individual Giving. 

The new Senior Leadership roles have been 

created as part of a strategic drive to further 

strengthen income streams at the charity, 

which needs to raise £15.2M each year to 

operate its life-saving service. 

Kelly Heaton-Ralph joined the charity in 2019 

as Director of Development since which time 

she has successfully transformed high-value 

giving, raising over £1M in 2021-22. Kelly 

started her successful career 14 years ago 

as a volunteer with Sue Ryder, before going 

on to hold senior fundraising roles at Hospice 

Kelly Heaton-Ralph has been promoted 

to Executive Director of Fundraising and 

Philanthropy at KSS 

in the Weald and Action for Children and she 

has also managed events for Royal Society for 

Blind Children. 

Symon Russell, who joined KSS in 2019 as 

Director of Individual Giving, has over 15 

years’ charity sector experience including as 

Senior Data Marketing & Planning Manager 

at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s 

Charity, Head of Insight & CRM at Barnardo’s 

and Database Marketing Manager at Amnesty 

International UK. Symon is currently Co-Vice 

Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s 

special interest group for Insight in Fundraising. 

Both roles report directly to KSS Chief 

Executive, David Welch. 

Kelly Heaton-Ralph said: “I feel incredibly 

privileged to lead the Fundraising and 

Philanthropy Team as we embark on our 

ambitious five year strategy and work towards 

our vision of an end to preventable loss of life 

from medical emergency.” 

Symon Russell said: “I am proud to work for 

KSS and really excited to take on the new 

challenges this role will bring. Leading our 

Individual Giving and Supporter Experience 

Teams, I will continue to play my part in making 

our charity’s vision a reality.” 

David Welch, CEO of KSS, said: “I am 

delighted to be announcing these new roles. 

Since joining KSS, Kelly and Symon have been 

responsible for driving our individual giving, 

major donor giving and trusts and foundation 

income streams forward. Led by Kelly, our 

Development Team have achieved significant 

Symon Russell has been promoted to 

Executive Director of Individual Giving 

at KSS 

success securing a number of substantially 

large donations made by individuals along 

with several successful grant applications 

and, under Symon’s leadership, our appeals, 

legacies and lottery income has gone from 

strength to strength.” 

“Together with other members of the Senior 

Leadership Team, Kelly and Symon will be 

responsible for driving forward with our ambitious 

five year strategy, further strengthening our 

income streams and working closely with our 

crew to ensure we save more lives and ensure 

the best possible patient outcomes.” 

The appointments follow the recent retirement 

of Lynne Harris, Executive Director of Income 

Generation, Marketing and Communications, 

who joined KSS in 2004. 

For further information: www.aakss.org.uk 

News 

Dorset and Somerset Air 

Ambulance announces 

Charles Hackett as new CEO 

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has 

announced the appointment of Charles 

Hackett as their new Chief Executive 

Officer, following the retirement of Bill 

Sivewright. 

Charles joins the life-saving charity this week, 

with a wealth of experience across both the 

commercial and charity sectors as well as 

experience in working with local government. 

He spent 17 years at GlaxoSmithKline in 

138 


IN PERSON 

Left to right: Bill Sivewright handing over to the new CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Charles Hackett. 

a variety of senior roles, including leading 

the international development, supply and 

marketing of major new medicines. 

For the past five years Charles has been Chief 

Executive Officer of Destination Plymouth and 

supporters to collaborate and innovate, for the 

benefit of the patients they serve. I am looking 

forward to meeting everyone associated with 

the charity and absolutely thrilled to be part 

of the team that will continue developing the 

service into the future.” 

Prior to joining Companies House, Angela 

worked at the Office of National Statistics, 

Cardiff Metropolitan University (then UWIC), the 

Metropolitan Police and Great Ormond Street 

Hospital. 

Mayflower 400; a five-year transformative 

programme for Plymouth, which has left a lasting 

legacy of partnership working within the city. 

More information about Dorset and Somerset 

Air Ambulance can be found by visiting: 

www.dsairambulance.org.uk 

She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of 

Personnel Development (CIPD) and has a Master’s 

degree in Human Resource Management. 

Gillian Bryce, Chair of Trustees for Dorset and 

Speaking about her appointment, Angela said: “I 

Somerset Air Ambulance said: 

“We are very much looking forward to Charles 

joining the team at Dorset and Somerset Air 

Ambulance. His predecessor Bill Sivewright 

was always going to be an extremely hard act 

to follow, but fortunately I think we have found 

WAS News 

Welsh Ambulance Service 

appoints new Workforce and 

Organisational Development 

Director 

am delighted to be joining the Welsh Ambulance 

Service at this critical point in its development. 

“The pandemic has had a real impact for NHS 

workers on the frontline, so it’s important 

to me that we continue to keep supporting 

and taking care of our colleagues, as well as 

the man for the job. Charles will bring talent and 

skills to further develop and build the charity for 

the future, enabling us to help and care for even 

more of the people of Dorset and Somerset.” 

One of Wales’ leading people services 

professionals is set to join the Welsh 

Ambulance Service as its new Director of 

Workforce and Organisational Development. 

looking forward to new opportunities as we 

continue to develop our services. 

“I’m very much looking forward to getting to 

know the team, and building my knowledge 

Charles is a values-based leader, who is driven 

by purpose and motivated by meaningful 

positive impact on people’s lives. Speaking 

of his new role at Dorset and Somerset Air 

Ambulance, he said: 

“It is something of a dream come true for 

me to be able to join an organisation that so 

directly benefits individuals and communities 

here in the southwest. Dorset and Somerset 

Air Ambulance has come so far over the past 

22 years, working alongside its partners and 

Angela Lewis, who is currently Director 

of People Transformation at Companies 

House, will be joining the Trust in September, 

with responsibility for people services, 

organisational development and professional 

education and training. 

Angela has a 30-year career in leading high 

performing teams, with a very people-centred 

approach to empowering leaders and creating 

the right culture that allows everyone to bring 

their whole self to work. 

and understanding of this flagship NHS 

organisation.” 

Jason Killens, Chief Executive at the Welsh 

Ambulance Service, added: “It’s great to 

welcome Angela on board and to have attracted 

such a high calibre candidate to WAST. 

“I have no doubt she will make a significant 

contribution to our organisation as we 

move into this next important phase in our 

development.” 



139

COMPANY NEWS 

Durabook upgrades 

its R11 fully rugged 

tablet to better 

support emergency 

services 

Durabook, the global rugged 

mobile solutions manufacturer, 

has upgraded its R11 

fully-rugged tablet to offer 

emergency services crews 

greater functionality and 

performance capability when 

undertaking their vital work. 

The R11 boasts cutting-edge 

technology to meet the everchanging 

needs of mobile 

workforces and response teams. 

Featuring the latest Intel® Core 

12th generation processor, it is 

up to 300% faster than its 

predecessor, ideal for ambulance 

crews working in time-critical 

situations. 

The tablet boasts ultra-long 

battery life of up to 14 hours, 

so emergency crews can trust 

it to last an entire shift with 

minimal downtime. In addition, 

it is certifi ed to withstand drops 

of up to four feet, spillages 

and the extreme temperatures 

synonymous with the challenges 

of emergency services work. 

Connectivity is critical for 

ambulance crews, so the R11 

features enhanced technology 

and exceptional wireless capability 

that’s fi ve times faster than 

its predecessor. This helps to 

support patient care and drive 

effi ciencies by enabling crews to 

share critical patient data with the 

hospital in advance. In addition, 

hospital staff can relay vital 

patient data back to the crews 

to help with rapid diagnosis and 

treatment. 

“The upgraded R11 tablet 

far exceeds the standard 

requirements, improving the 

user experience, boosting 

critical effi ciencies and providing 

unrivalled technical support for 

emergency services teams,” 

said Fred Kao, CEO at Twinhead 

International Corporation, the 

organisation that owns Durabook. 

To see what the R11 can do to 

boost productivity and effi ciency 

in your organisation, visit www. 

durabook.com, or contact us at 

marketing@durabook.com. 


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By using the Ready to Go app, 

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140 


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141

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

EVER CONSIDERED LIVING AND 

WORKING IN THE SOUTH WEST? 

a higher level of care. This 

enables more of our patients 

to be treated closer to 

home; resulting in the lowest 

conveyance rate across the 

ambulance sector. 

The South West is an attractive and beautiful part of 

the country and a great place to live and work. It has 

one major city Truro – though the more picturesque 

St. Austell has a larger population – and easy access 

to the bustling metropolis of Plymouth. That said, it is 

worth noting that as a county Cornwall has the smallest 

economy in the UK. Devon offers beauty in abundance 

and no one can deny Dorset is truly somewhere special. 

With miles and miles of sandy beaches some of the best 

weather in the uk and the longest life expectancy in Britain 

Cornwall, Devon and Dorset makes for a happy home. 

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 

provides accident and emergency services throughout the 

South West region. The areas we cover include Bath and North 

East Somerset, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, 

Dorset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, Somerset, 

Swindon and Wiltshire. 

Our commitment to 

supporting our staff is 

evidenced by our dedicated 

staying well service and in 

our commitment to a clinical 

career framework, which 

supports the development 

of Paramedics into specialist 

and/or managerial roles. The 

success and internal career 

progression of many of our 

existing staff is testament 

to the importance we place 

on growing, developing and 

supporting our workforce. 

We are the largest ambulance service in the UK, covering 

one-fi fth of the country, including some of its most beautiful 

and life enriching locations. Whether you crave a coastal 

location, the best of the British countryside or the historic cities 

of Bath, Exeter, Bristol and Cheltenham to name but a few, the 

South West provides the best of everything. 


Join us and you will fi nd an ambulance service that 

understands; the better we look after you, the better equipped 

you’ll be to look after our patients. We listen and work with our 

staff to ensure a progressive, clinically advanced service which 

takes account of feedback, organisational learning, providing 

staff with the equipment and support necessary to help them 

fulfi ll their demanding roles. 

Our diverse geography, including some remote rural 

communities, has driven our ambition to equip all our staff 

with the training, support and skills they need to deliver 

Picture courtesy of Poole Tourism 

142 


ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Emergency Operations Centres Triage Nurse / Paramedic 

Job Reference: 202-A-21-14958 

Employer: South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 

Location: Bristol or Exeter 

Salary: £30,401 - £37,267 pa + Unsocial Hours Payment * 

Job Type: Permanent 

Working pattern: Full time 

Pay Scheme: Agenda for change 

Pay Band: 6 

Staff Group: Additional Clinical Services 

Closing Date: 

This job advert will close as soon as suffi cient applications have been 

received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested. 

If you are shortlisted for this post, we will send you a direct email to the 

address entered on your application form. Please ensure you check 

you Junk items. We will also send messages through your NHS Jobs 

account, to keep you updated on your application process. To access 

emails from us via NHS Jobs, please log into your account, and go to 

‘My Applications’. 

This year, we are delighted to confi rm a £2000 educational bursary for 

all clinicians within the Emergency Operations Centres. The bursary 

can be used to undertake a course of your choosing at a Higher 

Educational Institute. The courses can be on any topic or area of 

interest that you may have that relates to your role as a clinician or 

healthcare related. 

Contact Name: HR Services Team 

Email Address: hrservices@swast.nhs.uk 

We are currently looking to appoint Nurses and Paramedics 

to expand the clinical teams based in our Bristol and Exeter 

Emergency Operations Centres (999 control rooms). 

Our Clinicians provide primary clinical triage to patients, making 

interventions across the whole spectrum of health and social care 

to direct callers to the most appropriate care. They also provide 

advice and assistance to Emergency Operations Centre staff 

and managers as required, whilst ensuring the safe and effective 

delivery of our emergency and urgent care service. 

Applicants must be a registered Paramedic or Nurse with a broad 

general experience as a qualifi ed professional. You must have a 

wider knowledge of healthcare pathways, and have experience in 

triaging patients. 

This can be either a full or part time position but not bank at this 

time. 

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) 

every team member matters, we have a culture where everyone is 

valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote 

the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from 

the widest possible range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich 

the work that we do together, for the benefi t of all of our employees 

and patients and communities we serve. We offer fl exible working 

opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms 

to support individual needs and to enable a positive, welcoming 

environment in which our people and their careers can thrive. 

As the fi rst Ambulance Trust in the Country to be registered as a 

NHS Foundation Trust (FT) SWAST offers consistent high-quality, 

locally responsive and trusted care to the residents and the transient 

population of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, 

Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. 

We also offer a 50:50 rotational programme for all internal clinicians, 

whereby you would work 50% front-line operations and 50% 

Emergency Operations Centres, providing you with the opportunity to 

enhance both your clinical and remote triage skills. 

By joining us in return we offer competitive professional 

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust reserve 

development packages including academic enhancement along the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive suffi cient 

with fl exible working opportunities within a supportive working applications. 

environment which challenges and rewards in equal measure. 

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check 

If you would like to find out more information regarding this This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 

opportunity role please contact Jon Knight, Deputy Head of (Exceptions) Order (as amended) and as such it will be necessary for 

Emergency Operations Centres – Clinical Operations & Safety a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring 

via Jon.knight@swast.nhs.uk for an informal conversation. Service (DBS) to check for any previous criminal convictions. 

Applicants are welcomed and would be encouraged to arrange UK Registration 

a visit to our Emergency Operations Centres and can do so by Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further 

contacting the above. 

information please see https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/advice/overseas_cand.html 

(*) Paid under Section 2 of NHS Terms and Conditions. Please see A4C Handbook at https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook 



143

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United States and/or other countries. 

MCN EP 1811 0246

Ambulance UK August 2022

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