Ambulance UK April 2024

EDITOR’S COMMENT
EDITOR’S COMMENT
“It feels like
we have had
another long
winter, which
has brought
with it, its
fair share of
challenges
across the
Ambulance
Sector”
Welcome to the latest edition of Ambulance UK. As I write this, I’m seeing the first signs of spring. When I
took my dog out for his walk this morning, the sky was blue, and I didn’t have to dress up in multiple layers
just to keep warm. The first daffodils are blooming and the trees in the garden are showing the first signs
of blossom.
It feels like we have had another long winter, which has brought with it its fair share of challenges across the
ambulance sector. Yet despite this, people have stepped up and worked hard. We are seeing more joinedup
work as other areas of the NHS work with the ambulance sector to help us find alternatives to emergency
departments and seek solutions to the hospital delays that have plagued us in recent years. I think I seem
to be seeing other providers coming to us with suggestions for improvements or offering answers. These
include changes to the same day emergency care (SDEC), which will make referrals easier, direct lines to
consultants for advice on patient disposition, and single points of contact for ambulance referrals into other
out of hospital providers.
These are just a few of the initiatives that are being worked through. Some are re-works of existing or
historical processes, whereas some are entirely new ideas. It’s good to see that, whatever the motivation,
people are working together to help. From my perspective, the difference this time is that we are starting to
find that the people external to the ambulance service are thinking of system-wide solutions more than they
have done in the past. I am aware that there are external factors that have influenced this move, but it is still
gratefully received.
We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but we are definitely moving in the right direction. For our part, we
need to assess honestly what we are doing and not be afraid to stop things or change direction when they
are not adding benefit, while increasing or adding the things that are.
So, as we see the first of the blue skies this year and the thermometer reaching double figures, we plan for
time away from work. Let’s also look forward to a better year at work. I hope the work we and our partners
are all doing will help provide our clinicians with much better options for their patients.
Finally, I would just like to congratulate the College of Paramedics on being granted the Charter of
Incorporation by His Majesty King Charles III. This is an important milestone for the profession. Well done!
Matt House, Co-Editor Ambulance UK
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