Ambulance UK February 2024

IN PERSON
COMPANY NEWS
AMBULANCE UK – FEBRUARY
development programme for paramedics so
they can further their careers and skills, and
is the national lead as medical advisor for
ambulance services.
And as if Fenella wasn’t kept busy enough
with her day job, she continues to work as
a volunteer doctor for St John Ambulance
leading the medical cover for ceremonial
events and is also the Chief Medical Officer
for the All England Tennis Club, playing a key
role in looking after the players and spectators
during the Wimbledon Championships.
SECAmb announces
appointment of new chair
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust, (SECAmb), is pleased to
announce the appointment of a new Chair,
to take affect at the end of May 2024.
Usman Awais Khan will begin a three-year
term with SECAmb when current Chair, David
Astley, steps down, as previously announced
here: https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/chairman-
announces-decision-to-step-down-after-
more-than-50-years-in-nhs/
The appointment followed a through selection
process and was recently formally approved
by SECAmb’s Council of Governors.
Usman has been Managing Director of Modus
Europe Limited since 2012. The company
undertakes management and consultancy
assignments and conducts research, analysis
and change management activities within the
fields of health and social care.
He is also Chair of the Motor Neurone
Disease Association and Vice Chair of London
Metropolitan University. Usman currently
serves as a NED for North Central London
NHS Integrated Care Board. He has been a
Visiting Professor in Health Management and
Policy at KU Leuven, Belgium, since 2019.
His previous executive director roles include
with the European Patient Forum (2019-
2020), and the European Health Management
Association (2016- 2019). Between 2001
and 2012 he served as Managing Director
of Matrix Insight - a health economics and
evaluation consultancy.
Welcoming Usman’s appointment, SECAmb
Lead Governor, Leigh Westwood, said: “On
behalf of the SECAmb Council of Governors
I welcome Usman’s appointment and
know his knowledge of the health sector
and experience as a Chairman will serve
SECAmb well. I, and my fellow Governors,
look forward to working closely with him in the
years ahead.”
SECAmb Chief Executive, Simon Weldon said:
“I also welcome Usman’s appointment and
look forward to working closely with him when
he joins us in a few months. His experience
will be of huge benefit to SECAmb and I
thank our Council of Governors and all those
involved in making this strong appointment.”
Usman said: “I am pleased and honoured to
have been appointed by the Trust’s Governors
to take up the role of Chair of SECAmb.
“I look forward to working with our CEO
Simon Weldon and the Board to provide
strategic direction and operational support to
our fantastic staff and volunteers in delivering
the highest possible emergency and urgent
care to our communities.”
Gloucestershire paramedic
recognised in King’s New
Year Honours
Vicki Brown, an Advanced Clinical
Practitioner in Critical Care at South
Western Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust (SWASFT) and Great
Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC),
has been recognised in the King’s New
Year Honours.
Vicki, from Stonehouse in Gloucestershire,
has been awarded the King’s Ambulance
Service Medal.
Vicki has been a paramedic for nearly 20
years and has dedicated her last 17 years of
service to working on air ambulances in the
region, most recently, GWAAC which she
joined in 2012.
Driven by a desire to provide the best quality
care to patients, Vicki has worked tirelessly to
enhance patient care for those critically ill and
injured in the South West and nationally. Her
dedication has led her to:
• Develop a system so that paramedic
practitioners could carry and administer
blood at Great Western Air Ambulance
Charity. This means that patients can
now receive blood products earlier in their
treatment, if needed.
• Initiate the development of pre-hospital
ultrasound. This means that clinicians have
a tool to help diagnose conditions and
injuries to enable appropriate management
and treatment of patients.
• Recently obtain the Fellowship in Immediate
Medical Care and become accredited
with the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care
as a consultant practitioner in prehospital
emergency medicine. Vicki is
the first person from a purely paramedic
background to achieve this status.
• Following the recommendations of the
Manchester Arena Inquiry, NHS England
set up a Task and Finish Working Group
to improve the clinical response to major
incidents. With her proven track record in
leading clinical development within a robust
governance framework, Vicki has been
chosen to chair a main subgroup.
On being awarded the King’s Ambulance
Service Medal, Vicki said: “I feel very
honoured and humbled to receive this
award. I am proud to be a paramedic and will
continue to work to progress the profession
as best I can.”
Philip Cowburn MBE, Medical Director at
South Western Ambulance Service NHS
Foundation Trust, who nominated Vicki for
the award, said: “Vicki has dedicated her
career to advancing paramedic practice and
delivering improved prehospital patient care.
She remains an example to all, acting as a
superb role model and inspirational frontline
clinical leader.”
Tim Ross-Smith, Operations Officer, Great
Western Air Ambulance Charity, said:
“Everyone at GWAAC is hugely proud of
Vicki and everything she has achieved in her
career. She is rightly deserving of this honour
and we couldn’t be happier for her.”
Vicki will collect the King’s Ambulance Service
Medal later in the year.
WEL Medical
Launches New SPR
Defibrillator
WEL Medical, a leading
supplier in the medical safety
and training industry, is proud
to announce the launch of a
new public access Automated
External Defibrillator (AED) -
The i-PAD SPR,
Featuring an extremely durable
design, the i-PAD SPR is
an evolution of the hugely
successful i-PAD SP1. It’s
perfect for handling challenging
environments, making it ideal for
almost any life-saving situation.
With a high IP66 rating, no matter
the surroundings, the new SPR
can deliver life-saving results
consistently and in the most
demanding of situations.
The i-PAD SPR benefits from
an updated, intuitive, easyto-use
interface for improved
accessibility. Users can now
switch between Adult and
Paediatric modes with a simple
push button, ensuring that the
correct level of shock is delivered.
As part of its intelligent design,
this resets to the ‘Adult’ mode
after use.
Jonathan Gilbrook, Managing
Director at WEL Medical, said,
“We’re thrilled to launch the
latest Defibrillator model from
CU Medical, which will provide
a quick and reliable solution
for saving lives in cardiac
emergencies. For us, the device
builds on the well-received
features of the i-PAD SP1 while
improving on durability, flexibility
and ease of use. We believe that
the combination of these traits
is what really sets the i-PAD
SPR apart.”
For added convenience, the
i-PAD SPR comes with its own
shock-resistant carrying case,
which makes it easy to transport
from one location to another
while being protected from any
accidental damage.
It also has, as standard, a fouryear
battery warranty with up
to five years life expectancy on
standby and comes with a 7 year
warranty extendable to ten-years
upon registration (add details
of where)
“At WEL Medical, we’re focussed
on saving lives,” said Jonathan
Gilbrook. “The express purpose
of the new SPR is to provide a
durable, ergonomic and reliable
way to strengthen the chain of
survival..”
#20 YEARS STRONG
Celebrating two decades
of resilience and success,
Bluelight UK Ltd proudly
marks its 20th anniversary as
a limited company. However,
the roots of this milestone
extend back to 1988 when
the company’s founders,
Simon and Julie, forged a
connection while working at
Kirkby Central in Bolton. Both
seasoned professionals in the
motor trade, their journey has
encompassed diverse roles,
including engagements with
major fleet customers, finance,
leasing, remarketing, and sales
management.
Simon’s career trajectory includes
a pivotal role with ABN Amro
Bank of Holland in the late ‘90s,
where he specialised at Amstel
Leasing within Commercial
Vehicle Management. This
subsidiary of Automotive
Leasing, a primary supplier of
ambulance vehicles in the UK,
positioned Simon as a key player
in understanding the intricacies
of the UK ambulance industry.
Subsequently, CVM emerged
as the market leaders in used
ambulances for the UK.
Embracing change within the
remarketing division, Simon took
a bold step, founding Bluelight
UK in 2003 as a sole trader with
a mere £3000 in hand. Over the
years, and with the collective
efforts of his family, the business
has evolved into its present form.
Reflecting on the journey,
Simon remarked, “I couldn’t be
prouder. Twenty years ago, our
consultancy business was a
modest venture, sustaining itself
and paying the bills. Matthew (my
son) and I diligently conducted
end-of-lease inspections and
managed the sales process for
a majority of leased ambulances
in the UK. Fuelled by a salesdriven
mindset, I was confident
that with the right resources,
we could evolve in this market.
It demanded hard work, and
despite facing competition
and economic downturns,
we persevered and stand
strong today.”
A family business through and
through, employing Julie’s
nephew and niece, Daryl and
Samantha who play major
support roles. The current focus
of Bluelight UK’s team includes
various projects supplying Patient
Transport Service vehicles,
High Dependency Units, and
box ambulances. Additionally,
they are actively engaged
in projects related to Rapid
Response Vehicles, Mental
Health Units, and Driver Training
Units. Concurrently, the family is
joyously celebrating the arrival of
Matthew’s son, Oakley, potentially
heralding the next generation of
success for Bluelight UK Ltd.
For enquiries regarding vehicles
to enhance your ambulance
fleet, please don’t hesitate to
get in touch with the Bluelight
UK Ltd team. You can reach
them by phone at 01942
888800, send an email to
sales@bluelightuk.co.uk,
or visit their website at
www.bluelightuk.co.uk.
Publishers
Statement
For nearly 40 years,
thanks to trade support,
we have been able to
provide Ambulance UK
FREE OF CHARGE in
the knowledge that those
receiving our dedicated
bi monthly publication
enjoy having something
to read during their free
time however, return on
investment seems to be
the buzz word amongst
Ambulance Service
Suppliers these days,
therefore if you enquire
about a product advertised,
please mention
Ambulance UK as it help
us confirm to the trade
that we are reaching the
right people and providing
advertisers with value
for money. In respect of
our current edition we
would like to thank the
following companies for
their support as without
their contribution towards
our print and postal
costs this issue would
not have been published
- Alpha Laboratories,
Avaya, Bluelight
UK, DS Medical,
Eberspacher,
Intersurgical, Medacx,
Ortus, Proact, St John
WA, Wel Medical, Zebra
Technology.
Terry Gardner
Publisher
AMBULANCE UK – FEBRUARY
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For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com
For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com