Ambulance UK August 2024

Volume 39 No. 10 

August 2024 

DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS 

Meet your new 

crewmate 

How Qualsafe Awards is 

shaking up apprenticeships in 

prehospital care and opening 

doors for new recruits 

Find out more on page 3

CONTENTS 

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4 EDITOR’S COMMENT 

Ambulance UK 

This issue edited by: 

Matt House 

7 FEATURE 

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7 ALWAYS MAKE YOUR DIAGNOSIS WITH A 12-LEAD ECG 

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A well-established name for prehospital care qualifications; Qualsafe Awards has grown 

rapidly within the EPA space in recent years and is shaking up ambulance apprenticeships. 

Offering Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAP) and Ambulance Support Worker 

(Emergency, Urgent and Non-Urgent) (ASW) standards, Qualsafe Awards has opened 

non-traditional routes of education for aspiring ambulance crew who may never have 

thought a career in prehospital care was possible. 

The real-life experience and dedication of their occupationally competent Assessors has 

been key to Qualsafe Awards’ success. 

Knowing that the apprentices they assess could be a future crewmate is one of the 

reasons Qualsafe’s EPA Assessors say they love doing what they do. They understand 

what it takes to work alongside qualified ambulance crew and are proudly shaping the 

next generation into high-quality teammates. 

Finalist for ‘EPAO of the Year’ at the FAB Awards 2024; Qualsafe is challenging the industry 

status quo and redefining expectations of an End-Point Assessment Organisation. 

From support for the apprentices, employers and training providers, the reduced time to 

arrange EPA events, and result turnaround times have been radically improved. 

“Our entry into this market has diversified the options available for employers and provided 

much needed competition and innovation in the prehospital care apprenticeship space” 

says EPA Operations Manager Karina Hull. 

“We have made significant improvements to established norms. This ultimately benefits all 

prehospital care apprentices, the wider industry and our communities.” 

For more information, visit qualsafe.org. 

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The views and opinions expressed in 

this issue are not necessarily those of 

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3

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

EMMA Waveform Capnograph 

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

“Like a lot of 

these courses, I 

started with some 

reservations, 

as I saw what I 

thought were too 

many flipcharts 

and post-it notes. 

However, I have 

engaged with 

the training and 

learned a fair 

amount about the 

organisation and 

the team around 

me. I have also 

learned a little 

about myself.” 

Welcome to this edition of AUK 

At work, our team have had the opportunity to engage in some leadership and team development. The 

sessions have been facilitated by a private firm and we have now been through four full days, spread over 

several months. The sessions have involved various activities, which have been designed to get us to know 

ourselves and each other a bit better as well as helping the team bond over shared goals and values. 

Like a lot of these courses, I started with some reservations, as I saw what I thought were too many 

flipcharts and post-it notes. However, I have engaged with the training and learned a fair amount about the 

organisation and the team around me. I have also learned a little about myself. 

One of the exercises we did was called ‘map of the world’. In this session we were asked a series of 

questions that were designed to make us think about what values we hold as individuals and how these 

values affect the way we interact with others. One of the sections in particular asked what was most 

important to us in our family lives and at work. 

I am generally not very good at these exercises and find that I need time to reflect on what has been asked. I 

gave some half-hearted answers as a result. However, I had the opportunity to deliver the ‘map of the world’ 

session to a group of leaders during their induction. This meant that I had the chance to re-visit my answers 

and reflect on them before delivering them as examples to a new audience. 

I think I am a fairly reflective person and that I understand myself quite well. However, having to put pen to 

paper, so to speak, and then delivering my thoughts to a group of leaders was a much more formal reflective 

practice. It helped me understand more about myself than perhaps I was willing to accept before completing 

the exercise. 

As clinicians we use reflective practice a lot for our own professional development. It helps us learn and 

improve. Taking the model into our personal lives to better understand ourselves is perhaps a little alien to a 

lot of us. It’s certainly not something I’ve done in the past. But I must say, it was an eye-opening experience. 

There was no earth-shattering revelation that will forever change me, but I did learn a little about myself. I got 

to focus on what was important to me and consider how to keep that focus moving forward. 

So, for the reflective practitioners out there, it might be worth a few moments of your time to formally reflect 

on life outside of work. Like me, you might just learn a little bit about yourself. 

Matt House, Co-Editor Ambulance UK 

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4 

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 - Alliance Pioneer, Alpha Labs, Axnar 

GMBH, Bluelight uk, CorMed-DX, DS Medical, Eberspacher, EVS, Ferno, IAM Roadsmart, 

Intersurgical, Medacx, Med Learn Training, Ortus, Proact, Qualsafe, St Johns WA, SWAST, 

WEL Medical. 

Terry Gardner 

Publisher 

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FEATURE 

MAKE A 

LEGENDARY 

MOVE 

ALWAYS MAKE YOUR DIAGNOSIS 

WITH A 12-LEAD ECG 

NEVER USE A RHYTHM STRIP 

FOR DIAGNOSIS! 

Always Make Your Diagnosis with a 12-Lead 

NEVER Use a Rhythm Strip for Diagnosis! 

Always Make Your Diagnosis with a 12-Lead EC 

Jerry W. Jones, MD FACEP FAAEM 


NEVER Use a Rhythm Strip for Diagnosis! 


Every day is different as a St John WA paramedic, and we have multiple 

opportunities available for qualified and experienced Ambulance Paramedics 

to come join us in beautiful Western Australia. 

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an Ambulance Paramedic, they must meet the 

following minimum requirements: 

• Professional registration as a Paramedic with 

the Paramedicine Board of Australia (AHPRA) 

or willingness to obtain. 

• Recent experience employed and working 

within a jurisdictional ambulance service in 

Australia or internationally (St John New 

Zealand or London Ambulance Service for 

example) as a paramedic for at least two years. 

• Hold a full driver’s license with no restrictions. 

Successful candidates are required to obtain 

a light rigid driver’s license within the first six 

months of employment. Costs associated with 

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• Candidates that do not hold current Australian 

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The location: 

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Scan to learn more: 

at the QRS complex here? Wide… or narrow? This is Lead II. Every deflection on an ECG tracing is a vector. In fact – that’s all the 

Look at the QRS complex here? Wide… or narrow? This is Lead II. Let’s look at Lead V1 fro 

Look at the QRS 

Let’s look 

complex 

at Lead V1 from 

here? 

the same ECG 

Wide… 

tracing: 

ECG machine records – just vectors: electrical impulses traveling 

or narrow? This is Lead II. Let’s look at Lead V1 

the same ECG tracing: 

toward, away from or diagonally to a recording electrode. 

the same ECG tracing: 

If it is traveling away from the electrode, inscribes a deep negative 

Not what you probably expected, is it? The QRS in Lead II 

deflection. Traveling at angles to the recording electrode results in 

(The QRS actually 

positive 

ends 

or negative 

at 

deflections 

the dark 

of varying 

red 

and 

arrow.) 

intermediate sizes. 

wide as the in Lead V1. The problem is: you can’t see 

But when the vector travels perpendicularly to the recording electrode, 

(The QRS actually ends at the dark red arrow.) 

the depolarization vector turned perpendicular the Lead II recording 

Every deflection traveling toward, on an away ECG from tracing or diagonally is a vector. a In fact – tha 

electrode and all that was inscribed was a very small positive “blip” that 

the ECG electrode. could easily be overlooked. 

machine records – just vectors: electrical impulse 

The moral of this story is: always make your diagnosis from a 12-lead 

traveling When toward, the depolarization away from vector, diagonally which the to QRS represents, recording tr 

ECG. Rhythm strips are for monitoring or later analysis. Here is the full 

electrode. 

directly toward 12-lead the ECG electrode, (my ECG collection it inscribes has many, many a similar tall, examples): positive deflec 

Not what you probably expected, is it? The QRS in Lead II is just as 

When the depolarization vector, which the QRS represents, travels 

Not what you probably expected, is it? The QRS in Lead II is ju 

directly toward the electrode, it inscribes a tall, positive deflection. 

wide as the QRS in Lead V1. The problem is: you can’t see all o 

Every deflection on an ECG tracing is a vector. In fact – that’s a 

it records no net deflection – no positivity negativity! And that is 

the ECG machine records – just vectors: electrical impulses 

exactly what has happened here in this example. The terminal forces of 

If it is traveling away from the electrode, it inscribes a deep negative deflection. Traveling 

Would you have recognized Lead V4 as a wide complex? Probably not. 

wide as the QRS in Lead V1. The problem is: you can’t see all of it. And I doubt that I would have, either. But I certainly would have insisted 

angles to the recording When electrode the depolarization results in positive vector, negative which deflections the QRS of represent 

varying and 

(The QRS actually ends at the dark red arrow.) 

on a 12-lead ECG before making any diagnosis. 

intermediate sizes. 

directly toward the electrode, it inscribes a tall, positive 7 d 

If it is traveling But away when from the vector the travels 

For further recruitment 

electrode, perpendicularly 

vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com 

it inscribes to the a deep recording negative electrode, deflection. it records no Trave net 

AMBULANCE UK – AUGUST

FEATURE 

The moral of this story is: always make your diagnosis from a 12-lead ECG. Rhythm strips are 

for monitoring or later analysis. Here is the full 12-lead ECG (my ECG collection has many, 

many similar examples): 

Ultimate flexibility with endless possibilities 

Check my website periodically for announcements regarding live, 

private tutorials via ZOOM. I will discuss anything related to ECG 

interpretation – basic, intermediate, or advanced. The tutorial/ 

consultation session will last for one hour. This has been a very 

successful approach. 

Would you have recognized Lead V4 as a wide complex? Probably not. And I doubt that I 

would have, either. But I certainly would have insisted on a 12-lead ECG before making any 

diagnosis. 

PRIVATE TUTORIAL SESSIONS. 

Check my website periodically for announcements regarding live, private tutorials via ZOOM. I 

will discuss anything related to ECG interpretation – basic, intermediate, or advanced. The 

tutorial/consultation session will last for one hour. This has been a very successful approach. 

https://medicusofhouston.com/online-private-tutorial-sessions/ 

You can access the private tutorial page from my home page by 

clicking on COURSES in the navigation bar and then click on ONLINE 

Come join us and be a PARTICIPANT… never just an audience! 

https://medicusofhouston.com/online-private-tutorial-sessions/ 

You can access the private tutorial page from my home page by clicking on COURSES in the 

navigation bar and then click on ONLINE PRIVATE TUTORIAL SESSIONS. 

Come join us and be a PARTICIPANT… never just an audience! 

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Brave London 

Ambulance Service 

paramedic honoured 

by police 

A London Ambulance Service 

paramedic who jumped onto 

Tube tracks to help restrain a 

violent passenger armed with 

a weapon has been awarded 

a police commendation for 

his bravery. 

Dean Hawkins was the first 

paramedic to arrive at Sudbury 

Hill Tube station after a man tried 

to stab a Tube worker last year. 

When he arrived the Tube worker 

and an off-duty British Transport 

Police officer were on the tracks 

trying to restrain the attacker. 

Dean said: “I arrived to find 

smashed glass in the station and 

then from the top of the bridge I 

saw a man being pinned down on 

the tracks. 

“The track wasn’t live and the 

trains had been stopped but the 

man was thrashing around and 

was very, very strong. The others 

were exhausted trying to hold 

onto him and so relieved when I 

came to help.” 

Officers from British Transport 

Police arrived shortly after 

and arrested the man. They 

handcuffed him so Dean was 

able to safely assess him and 

treat him. 

The BTP colleagues were so 

impressed by Dean’s bravery they 

immediately nominated him for a 

Chief Constable’s Commendation 

– awards which are usually 

reserved for police officers. 

Sergeant Will Leyshon said: 

“Dean’s actions were incredible 

that day. He acted to save life 

by restraining a dangerous man 

armed with a weapon. 

“And while the rail he was on was 

safe, they were in close proximity 

to the electrified third rail and 

running lines. 

“It was a great pleasure for my 

colleagues and me to nominate 

Dean for this award which is one 

of the highest honours the police 

can award.” 

Dean added: “I’m very proud to 

be honoured for doing my job. 

Sometimes we do encounter 

danger but it doesn’t put me off 

the job. 

“I have made lifelong friends and 

it’s a privilege to be a paramedic 

and to be there for people when 

they need us the most.” 

The East of England 

Ambulance 

Service (EEAST) is 

introducing new 

electric vehicles 

to better support 

patients in mental 

health crisis. 

The new Mental Health 

Response Vehicles (MHRVs) 

are designed for patients in 

mental health distress. 

Fewer fluorescent markings on 

the vehicles and a less clinical 

interior helps put patients in 

mental health crisis at ease. 

Paul Gates, Deputy Clinical 

Director for EEAST said: 

“The three new vehicles we have 

received are the first of twelve 

that will increase capacity for 

EEAST, ensuring patients with 

urgent and emergency mental 

health needs get specialist 

mental health care and support. 

These vehicles are designed 

to have soothing lighting and a 

comfortable interior that can help 

calm people experiencing mental 

health crisis.” 

Over the next four months, the 

three vehicles will be rolled out 

across Norfolk and Waveney and 

mid and south Essex. 

Funding for the vehicles follows 

successful pilots at EEAST of 

mental health response cars in 

partnership with its mental health 

providers. 

In mid and south Essex, a pilot 

of mental health response cars 

in 2023/24 responded to 1,852 

patients experiencing mental 

health crisis. In 82% of these 

cases the intervention resulted in 

the patient not requiring transport 

to an Emergency Department. 

Successful pilots have also been 

run in Norfolk and Waveney and 

Suffolk and north-east Essex. 

County 

Norfolk 

and 

Waveney 

Suffolk 

and 

northeast 

Essex 

Mid and 

south 

Essex 

Patient 

contacts 

Nonconveyance 

rate 

2829 90% 

1,032 92% 

1852 82% 

Alfred Bandakpara, Deputy 

Director for Mental Health 

at NHS Mid and South 

Essex, said: 

“When at breaking point, it is 

essential to make sure people get 

the right care, quickly, from the 

right people. 

“I am delighted that we are 

able to build on and strengthen 

existing mental health crisis 

support services through 

investment in these new vehicles. 

“Thanks to the hard work of all 

those involved, we will continue 

improve the patient experience 

and make a real difference in our 

communities.” 

Each MHRV will provide 12-hour 

coverage, based on peak times 

of demand and will respond to 

urgent and emergency mental 

health calls that come via 999 to 

the police or ambulance service. 

The vehicles can respond to a 

range of incidents as they carry 

all the equipment for serious lifethreatening 

emergencies. 

EEAST is the first 

ambulance service to 

commit to using new 

clean-air technology 

EEAST has nearly 500 

ambulances that drive 

more than 12 million miles 

a year. One way EEAST can 

contribute to cleaner air is to 

reduce emissions by limiting 

engine idling. 

Since February, our fleet team 

have been piloting an NHSE- 

approved anti-idling system. 

ACETECH Eco-Run can turn 

off idling fleet engines when safe 

to do so. By reducing idling, 

fleets can cut fuel use and 

reduce emissions. 

A test vehicle fitted with the 


Ferno (UK) Limited, Stubs Beck Lane, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, BD19 4TZ England. 


11

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technology has been operating 

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one vehicle idled unnecessarily 

for 26 hours a month- wasting 

more than 31 litres of diesel. The 

CO2 emissions would take four 

trees a year to absorb. 

Keiran Bromley, Fleet Clinical 

Engagement & Implementation 

Manager for EEAST said: 

“The system constantly monitors 

a range of metrics while the 

vehicle is in use, including 

battery levels and temperatures 

to turn the engine on or off to 

reduce engine use or to preserve 

battery charge. 

“It would be triggered by 

situations such as waiting at 

a hospital with the engine left 

running, but will not compromise 

the vehicle’s essential systems 

- including the saloon heating/airconditioning.” 

EEAST is the first Trust in the 

country to commit to fitting new 

vehicles with this new technology. 

By late summer 40 Renault 

Master ambulances are expected 

to have the system fitted and 

all our new fleet vehicles will 

include it. 

New ambulance hub 

for Ipswich approved 

by planners 

Planning has been approved 

for a state-of-the-art 

ambulance hub in Ipswich. 

The East of England Ambulance 

Service NHS Trust (EEAST) was 

granted permission to build on a 

plot of land north of The Havens 

by Ipswich Borough Council on 

24 April. 

The £10 million hub will house a 

24/7 make ready and workshop 

service, which will help keep 

more ambulances on the road 

and clean and restock vehicles. 

It will also have dedicated welfare 

spaces where staff can relax, an 

outside gym, quiet spaces, and a 

wellbeing garden. 

Jemma Varela, Head of Clinical 

Operations for Suffolk and 

north east Essex, said: “This 

state-of-the art facility will enable 

us to significantly improve the 

service we provide to patients in 

Ipswich and nearby areas, as well 

as our colleagues. 

“The investment means we can 

keep more ambulances on the 

road and increase our wellbeing 

offering to 100 staff, with the 

provision of outside spaces and 

modern training facilities. 

“Work will start on-site as 

soon as August and we are 

aiming to officially launch in 

September 2025.” 

The hub will act as a base for 100 

staff, who will relocate from the 

Ipswich Hospital site, and provide 

rooms for training and education. 

A three-storey car park is 

included in the plans and will 

provide space for 70 members of 

staff, 42 ambulances, five rapid 

response vehicles, eight visitor 

spaces, and two disabled bays. 

There will also be a cycle shelter 

with 10 spaces. 

The project will cost £10 million 

and be funded by the Department 

of Health and Social Care STP 

wave 4 funding. 

Gillingham runner 

reunites with offduty 

paramedic 

A Gillingham man who 

collapsed while taking part 

in a local parkrun has been 

reunited with the off-duty 

paramedic who helped to save 

his life. 

Graeme Martin and partner, Lori, 

were taking part in the Gillingham 

parkrun at the Great Lines Park 

in Kent on 23 December 2023, 

when just a short while into the 

run, and while separated from 

Lori, Graeme suffered a cardiac 

arrest and collapsed. 

Thankfully, Medway paramedic 

and fitness fanatic, Chris Treves, 

was participating in the event 

with his trusted companion and 

dog, Clara. A short distance 

into the race, he came across 

Graeme lying on the floor, with 

other runners surrounding him, 

including two local off-duty 

nurses. Chris quickly sprang 

into action and started providing 

medical assistance. 

Chris said: “Clara was having a 

nervous day, and so we were 

running slower than usual. At the 

first half kilometre mark, I noticed 

a fellow runner on the floor and 

made my way towards them 

to see if they needed help. As I 

neared, he appeared to be having 

a seizure, so I quickly got onto 

the ground to check his pulse 

and breathing. I then confirmed 

with the other passers-by that 

Graeme had no pulse and was 

not breathing.” 

Chris immediately started cardiac 

pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 

as nearby runners called 999 

and assisted with timing the CPR 

and alternating with Chris while 

they waited for ambulance crews 

to arrive. 

In the meantime, the parkrun was 

halted for privacy and a safer 

working environment, and the 

run organisers quickly located 

the community defibrillator which 

enabled Chris to administer a 

shock to Graeme. 

Chris continued performing 

CPR as ambulance colleagues 

and Operational Team Leader, 

Lee Edwards, Ambulance 

Paramedic, Hannah Hall, Newly 

Qualified Paramedic, Holly De 

Banke Munday, Emergency Care 

Support Worker, Graham Durey, 

and Newly Qualified Paramedic, 

Molly Barker arrived on scene. 

Together the team achieved a 

return of spontaneous circulation 

(ROSC) with further investigations 

confirming that Graeme required 

airlifting to the William Harvey 

Hospital in Ashford. 

Lori, who was transported by 

police escort to the hospital’s 

primary percutaneous coronary 

intervention (PPCI) centre in 

Ashford said: “It was the quickest 

drive I’ve ever had, but I was 

pleased to be there for Graeme’s 

arrival. I am so thankful that 

Chris was taking part in the race 

that day, alongside the off-duty 

nurses, and together, they were 

able to save his life” 

Since the incident, Graeme has 

been recovering well and is keen 

to spread the word that hand to 

chest time is key to saving lives. 

Graeme and Lori, were able 

to attend an event specifically 

hosted for park run volunteers to 

help them gain confidence in how 

to perform CPR effectively. 

The event, which was hosted by 

Chris and local Community First 

Responder volunteers, Steve 

Joyce and Jade Clabon, took 

place at SECAmb’s Make Ready 

Centre in Medway and saw 

Graeme and Lori, joined by 24 


12 

Quality, innovation and choice 


www.intersurgical.co.uk 


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NEWSLINE 

NEWSLINE 

Assess your apprentices 

within 2 weeks of gateway. 

Work with Qualsafe Awards to assess the 

following standards within two weeks of gateway: 

• Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAP) 

• Ambulance Support Worker (Emergency, 

Urgent and Non-Urgent) (ASW) 

parkrun volunteers to learn CPR 

and how to be able to restart 

a heart. 

Graeme said: “This was a 

fantastic initiative organised by 

Chris, in the hopes that future 

parkrun volunteers can help 

to restart a heart with these 

life-saving skills if needed. I 

owe Chris and the team a huge 

thank you for ultimately saving 

my life, I wouldn’t be here today 

without them.” 

Chris said: “I was thrilled to be 

hosting the event at our Medway 

Make Ready Centre, and to have 

Graeme there fit and well was 

fantastic to see. It fills me with 

confidence that our parkrun 

volunteers are now equipped to 

perform these lifesaving skills 

should they need to in the future.” 

Great Western Air 

Ambulance Charity 

(GWAAC) has been 

called to a record 

number of incidents 

in the first half of 

2024. The specialist 

crew responded 

to 1,159 people 

in urgent need of 

critical care between 

1 January and the 

end of June — an 

increase of around 

21% compared to the 

same period last year. 

The charity is set for a record 

year and has forecast that this 

could be around 400 extra callouts 

compared to 2023. On 

average, that’s an extra person 

every day who needs the 

specialist skills of GWAAC’s 

Critical Care Team. 

Although nobody thinks they’ll 

need an air ambulance or Critical 

Care Team when they wake up, 

around six people a day across 

Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath 

and beyond require GWAAC’s 

lifesaving services. People like 

Simon, who was involved in a 

serious road traffic collision and 

needed the help of GWAAC’s 

expert crew to give him a chance 

of survival. Simon said, “I went 

from having everything to having 

nothing in a split second. We 

could all find ourselves in this 

situation and we need the 

reassurance that the GWAAC 

Team will be there.” 

Operating costs have also been 

increasing for the Almondsburybased 

air ambulance and critical 

care service; the average cost per 

mission is now around £2,200 — 

an increase of 10%. 

Tim Ross-Smith, GWAAC’s 

Operations Officer, says, 

“Nobody plans to need an air 

ambulance or Critical Care Team 

being called out to them but 

we’re seeing more and more 

people who have needed our 

help. We can’t plan for who 

that is, where they may be, or 

when the call comes in, but 

we do everything we can to be 

prepared. We’re asking the public 

to consider giving us a regular 

donation so that we can continue 

to be prepared well into the 

future. You can help us be there 

for anyone, anywhere, anytime.” 

To find out more, visit gwaac. 

com and click ‘donate monthly.’ 


Raising the bar for 

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Rendering Controlled Drugs Irretrievable for Use 

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irretrievable prior to disposal via pharmaceutical waste streams in line with current legislation * . 

Simple, easy-to-use, instructions on every kit 

Small 250ml kit for convenient use in the field 

Suitable for use with tablets, capsules, liquids, 

aerosols or patches 

The water soluble sachet contains the 

formula granules to guard against accidental 

spillage and user contamination 

Larger kit volumes available for expired 

stock clearance 

Purchase at NHS supply chain: 

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14 


01 Safer Denature - Ambulance UK - Jan 2024.indd 1 10/01/2024 14:27:14 


15

NEWSLINE 

NEWSLINE 


One in five calls was to a baby, 

child or teenager 

GWAAC has shared its mission 

statistics from the first half of the 

year and the charity has noted a 

significant increase in call-outs to 

babies, children and teenagers, 

both in percentage of total 

missions (19%) and in number. 

Call-outs to young people 

increased by 52% compared to 

the same period in 2023 and the 

crew responded to almost double 

the number of babies (from 26 

to 50). 

Responses to calls for someone 

who collapsed or for a stabbingrelated 

incident also increased. 

While call-outs to these types 

of incidents make up a small 

percentage of GWAAC’s total 

missions, the number of these 

that GWAAC has been called to 

has increased. Calls to someone 

who has collapsed increased by 

85% compared to 2023 (from 

41 to 76) and a stabbing-related 

incident increased by 75% 

compared to the same period in 

2023 (from 47 to 82). 

In the first six months of 2024, 

the percentage of call-outs that 

GWAAC’s crew responded to 

using one of their critical care 

cars increased by 7% when 

compared to the same period last 

year. The crew travelled to more 

than three-quarters of patients in 

a car rather than the helicopter. 

To see more details about their 

missions and to find out how you 

can help, visit www.gwaac.com. 

Isle of Mull helipad 

officially opens 

The new HELP Appeal funded 

helipad on the Isle of Mull, 

was officially opened on 29th 

June by John Wilson, who 

together with the late Dr. Bill 

Thomson, were responsible for 

the development of Mull and 

Iona Community Hospital. The 

‘Wilson – Thomson’ helipad is 

named in their honour. 

Since the helipad became 

operational on 19 March this 

year, it has already been used 

20 times by air ambulance 

and coastguard helicopters 

transferring critically ill patients to 

the mainland for urgent, lifesaving 

treatment. 

Speeches were made by Mr. 

Wilson; Simon Jones from the 

HELP Appeal, the only charity 

in the country dedicated to 

building hospital helipads, which 

donated £418,000 to cover the 

entire cost of its construction 

and lighting installation; and 

Moray Finch, from the Mull and 

Iona Community Trust, which 

is responsible for the future 

condition and maintenance of the 

helipad. Around 40 people were 

in attendance, including Andy 

and Naomi Knight, who donated 

the land the helipad is built on. 

Simon Jones from the HELP 

Appeal says, “This is an 

emotional day for everyone here. 

On behalf of the HELP Appeal, 

I’d like to say how proud we are 

that we’ve been able to build on 

the incredible service the hospital 

already provides by funding this 

state-of-the-art helipad, which 

is already making a huge impact 

to patients in an emergency and 

will continue to do so for many 

years to come. Huge thanks 

to our supporters for making 

it possible.” 

John Wilson says, “I am 

delighted to see the official 

opening of the helipad. The late 

Bill Thomson would have been 

very proud to see this project 

finally complete.” 

Moray Finch, Urras 

Coimhearsnachd Mhuile agus 

Idhe (Mull and Iona Community 

Trust) says, “The helipad has 

been well used in the first weeks 

of its operation. We have had 

medical evacuations and a 

number of “retrievals” whereby 

a highly qualified team travel in 

the helicopter effectively bringing 

the emergency room to the 

patient and providing critical care 

throughout the journey. We have 

no doubt that patient outcomes 

are better now that we have our 

helipad. We are so grateful to the 

HELP Appeal for fully funding 

the cost.” 

Andy Moir, Head of Air 

Ambulance Services at the 

Scottish Ambulance Service 

adds, “The Mull and Iona 

Community Hospital Helipad, 

which is accessible 24/7 all year 

round, removes the need for 

a 15-minute land ambulance 

journey to Glenforsa Airfield 

and will deliver improvements 

in transfer times for patients 

that need to be airlifted to the 

mainland. This is a true example 

of fantastic local collaboration 

which has improved patient and 

staff experience.” 

The new helipad also ensures 

that specialist hospital treatment 

at another A&E hospital or Major 

Trauma Centre on the mainland 

can be accessed within the 

Golden Hour and thus improve 

patients’ outcomes. 

The HELP Appeal in Scotland 

The HELP Appeal has funded 

or is funding 15 helipads in 

Scotland, including at Queen 

Elizabeth University Hospital, 

Glasgow; Raigmore Hospital, 

Inverness; Edinburgh Royal 

Infirmary; Western Isles Hospital, 

Stornoway; Campbeltown 

Hospital and in remote 

communities on the Isles of 

Barra and Arran. The charity 

has also donated £200,000 

towards portable landing lights 

for Scotland’s Air Ambulance 

Service for 20 island locations 

across Scotland. 

It has funded 50 helipads across 

the UK, which have seen over 

27,000 landings, with 50 more in 

the pipeline. 

Celebration of 

paramedics who 

treated more than 

a million Londoners 

this year 

Paramedics have touched 

the lives of more than one 

million patients this past year 

according to figures released 

by London Ambulance 

Service to mark International 

Paramedics Day. 

Since the last annual International 

Paramedics Day in July 2023, 

ambulance crews have attended 

1,011,600 face-to face incidents 

from trips and falls right up to 

life-threatening emergencies like 

strokes and cardiac arrests. 

The theme of this year’s 

celebrations was how paramedics 

‘make a difference’ and aims to 

build a better understanding of 

the sheer breadth of work carried 

out by this rapidly developing 

young profession. 

Chief Paramedic Pauline 

Cranmer for London Ambulance 

Service said: 

“Today alone our paramedics will 

attend around 3,000 incidents 

in London and try to make a real 

difference for people in need of 

medical help. 

“Paramedicine has evolved 

significantly over the past 

decades and we now have such 

a broad range of roles at London 

Ambulance Service providing 

increasingly tailored and 

specialist care to our patients. 

“I’m so incredibly proud of all 

of our paramedics and want to 

acknowledge the contribution 

they make every single day.” 

These days paramedics are 

found in a wide range of settings 

caring for patients and do not just 

respond in ambulances and cars. 

These just some of the ways 

that paramedics at London 

Ambulance Service make 

a difference to the lives of 

Londoners: 

• Since 8 July last year, 

paramedics based in our 999 

control rooms have treated 

nearly 180,000 patients over 

the phone offering advice or 

arranging care that avoids 

unnecessary trips to A&E. 

• Our public education teams 

have trained more than 7,600 

schoolchildren and 3,700 

Londoners in crucial life-saving 

skills like CPR so they know 

what to do when someone has 

a cardiac arrest. 

• Our specialist Hazardous 

Area Response Team (HART) 

paramedics who are trained to 

give aid in perilous situations 

including fires, collapsed 

buildings and people trapped 

under trains or vehicles, were 

dispatched to around 4,500 

incidents and helped care for 

800 patients. 

• This year also marks a decade 

since the first ever patient was 

cared for by an Advanced 

Paramedic Practitioner in 

Critical Care, a pioneering 

clinical role created role in 

London which has additional 

post-graduate education 

and are trained to use extra 

medicines and equipment. 

Calling on Londoners to consider 

a career in paramedicine, Ms 

Cranmer added: 

“You do not need to have a 

medical background to start a 

career at the Service – we can 

provide you with all the training 

and development you need 

so you can begin making a 

difference as soon as possible.” 

International Paramedics Day 

is hosted by the UK’s College 

of Paramedics to honour the 

dedication and impact of 

paramedics, first responders and 

community volunteers around 

the world. 

Today London Ambulance 

Service recruits around 500 

paramedics a year, 50 percent 

of which are recruited through 

apprenticeships and paramedic 

science degrees across the 

country, with the rest of the 

paramedic workforce recruited 

internationally and from other 

NHS organisations. 

“Lucky to be alive”: 

Hampstead resident 

thanks paramedics 

for saving his life 


16 

WEL Medical Half Page Aug 2024.indd 1 11/07/2024 12:43 

17 



NEWSLINE 

NEWSLINE 

A 76-year old man has 

spoken of his gratitude to 

the paramedics and off duty 

doctors who saved his life after 

he suffered a cardiac arrest 

in a supermarket on Finchley 

Road, north-west London. 

“It makes it all worthwhile and 

gives me goose bumps. The 

reunion was an important day for 

him but also for the crews who 

cared for him on scene. It was 

incredibly wholesome.” 

Pioneering London 


trial hailed as one of 

most important heart 

studies of 2023 

Ambulance Service on the 

ground breaking trial said: 

“I’m very proud this has been 

recognised as a world class 

piece of research. This trial was 

extremely complex but allowed us 

Ten years of saving 

lives: advanced 

paramedics pushing 

boundaries to care 

for the capital 

that otherwise would only 

be attempted in hospital 

by doctors. 

These highly skilled and highly 

qualified paramedics are sent 

to patients with the most life- 

“We carry specialist equipment 

and medicine which is in addition 

to those carried by ambulance 

crews and can be life-changing 

for our patients.” 

Advanced paramedics work 

be streamed on Channel 4. 

Cameras followed the advanced 

paramedics, minute-by-minute as 

they made crucial decisions for 

their critically ill patients whose 

lives were in their hands. 

Michael Toppin, from Hampstead, 

was recently reunited with the 

medical teams at Camden 

Ambulance Station who cared for 

him after he collapsed near the 

tills in the supermarket. 

In the moments after Michael’s 

collapse, luckily two off duty 

doctors in the shop queue heard 

the cries for help from his partner 

and rushed to his aid. They 

performed chest compressions 

and used a defibrillator to send an 

electric shock to restart Michael’s 

heart before paramedics arrived a 

few minutes later. 

Michael said: “I didn’t have any 

Michael, formerly a creative 

director for ITV factual 

programmes, added: “I’m so 

lucky to be alive because people 

in the supermarket that day knew 

how to do CPR and there was a 

defibrillator available. My chances 

of recovery would have been very 

low if that hadn’t happened there 

and then.” 

Since the cardiac arrest two 

years ago, Michael still makes 

regular trip to Lanzarote, his 

favourite place in the Canary 

Islands. He said: “I often go back 

there because the climate makes 

me feel better. 

Ground-breaking research 

which found the majority of 

people whose hearts have 

stopped have the same chance 

of surviving if taken to the 

nearest hospital rather than 

a specialist cardiac arrest 

centre has been hailed one of 

the most important studies of 

last year. 

The ‘Arrest’ trial was named one 

to prove that we were providing 

our cardiac patients with the care 

that would give them the best 

possible outcome. 

“Our commitment to developing 

and hosting research studies, 

means we are improving 

emergency medical care and 

outcomes in not just in London 

and the UK but worldwide.” 

The Arrest trial was run by 

London Ambulance Service in 

collaboration with King’s College 

London and the London School 

of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

It involved 616 London Ambulance 

Service clinicians, 860 patients 

Advanced paramedics at 

London Ambulance Service 

are celebrating their 10th 

anniversary – a decade in 

which the specialist team 

has given patients lifesaving 

treatment and care 

threatening illnesses or injuries 

across the capital. 

And it is now 10 years since 

the first ever patient was cared 

for by an Advanced Paramedic 

Practitioner in Critical Care, a 

pioneering clinical role created 

role in London. 

Advanced Paramedic Samantha 

Margetts said: 

“We are pushing the boundaries 

for what paramedics can do 

on the roadside or in people’s 

homes, including surgical 

procedures and realigning 

broken bones. 

alone in fast response cars 

and are most commonly sent 

to patients in cardiac arrest 

to support ambulance crews 

support ambulance crews 

care for the sickest patients 

bringing their additional skills and 

experience. 

They are also called to patients 

with traumatic injuries – those 

who have been in traffic 

accidents, victims of assault or 

significant sports injuries. 

TV viewers got the chance to 

see the amazing care these 

paramedics provide in the latest 

series of “Emergency” which can 

When the team was first set up 

in 2014, there were 12 advanced 

paramedics. There are now 40, 

with three clinical supervisors and 

a clinical development manager. 

As well as responding to patients 

night and day, one advanced 

paramedic is always on duty in 

the London Ambulance Service 

control room listening to 999 calls. 

From the control room, they 

decide which patients might 

need the life-saving care of a 

critical care paramedic. They can 

also provide advice to crews on 

the road. 

warning. It came out of the blue. 

I’ve had regular medical checkups 

and don’t have a history of 

heart problems in my family.” 

“I’m not back to my full strength 

but I’m starting to play tennis and 

go swimming to get my strength 

back. I’m alive.” 

of the four most important trials 

in the world relating to cardiac 

care in 2023 according to the 

Resuscitation Journal, the official 

journal of the Europe’s 32 national 

and 35 hospitals across London. 

It took 10 years from inception to 

completion with a period during 

the COVID pandemic when, like 

much research, the trial was 

A WORLD OF COMFORT 

Early cardiopulmonary 

resuscitation (CPR) and use of a 

defibrillator can more than double 

someone’s chances of survival 

when in cardiac arrest, which 

If you would like to support lifesaving 

initiatives from London 

Ambulance Service – such as 

providing vital CPR training and 

Resuscitation Councils. 

The trial found taking certain 

cardiac arrest patients to nearest 

emergency department – as 

temporarily halted. . 

It compared outcomes for 

patients being taken directly 

to one of seven Cardiac Arrest 

can be done by a member of 

buying additional defibrillators 

LAS had been doing - was as 

Centres in London to those who 

the public before the ambulance 

for areas where they are needed 

important as getting to a 

were taken to the nearest A&E. 

crews arrives. 

most, you can take part in the 

specialist cardiac hospital. This 

Arrest was the first randomised 

London Ambulance Charity’s first 

was good news as it meant not 

trial in the world to answer this 


crews – including Chloe Hobson, 

ever fundraising walk. 

all cardiac arrest patients needed 

immediate specialist intervention 

question. 


Alex Evans, Emily Hurrell, Sylvia 

Egels and Andy Parker – shortly 

arrived at the scene to provide 

care for Michael before he was 

taken as an emergency to a 

nearby hospital. 

Chloe Hobson, who was the first 

paramedic on scene and took 

Michael to hospital, said: “This is 

the first time I’ve met someone 

after we’ve treated them for a 

cardiac arrest. It almost brought 

me to tears seeing him live his 

The London Life Hike, which 

will take place on Sunday 8 

September, offers participants 

two routes – a 20km walk past 

the iconic landmarks of our city or 

a family-friendly 5km route round 

the sites of Battersea Park. 

You can find out more information 

and register at: 

https://www. 

londonambulancecharity.org.uk/ 

but a period of stabilisation in a 

normal hospital. 

However, patients experiencing 

a specific type of cardiac arrest 

known as ‘STEMI’– where an 

electrocardiogram (ECG) can 

detect a blockage of the artery 

supplying the heart - do benefit 

going straight to a heart attack 

centre which is current practise. 

Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE, Deputy 

Chief Executive and Chief 

It was already known patients 

having a STEMI heart attack 

benefitted from specialist 

hospitals. It was reasonable 

to assume that all patients 

who suffered a cardiac arrest 

would benefit from specialist 

intervention but there was no 

clear evidence of benefit when 

the patient did not have a STEMI. 

The trial was made possible 

thanks to a generous research 

grant from the British Heart 

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18 

19 



NEWSLINE 

TESTED 


Samantha added: 

“We have the opportunity to 

make a real difference to a lot of 

patients and their families, and a 

lot of crews. But we could not do 

our job without all the ambulance 

crews on scene – we are a team.” 

All advanced paramedics hold 

a master’s degree and the 

team is renowned around the 

world for its ground-breaking 

ambition. London Ambulance 

Service regularly hosts visits 

from trusts across the country 

seeking to learn from the team’s 

development. 

After the success of the 

critical care paramedics, 


introduced Advanced Paramedic 

Practitioners in Urgent Care. They 

aim to treat patients at home for 

less serious injuries and illnesses; 

chronic and complex conditions; 

or patients who are frail, elderly or 

nearing the end of their life. 

Case study 

Last year staff at Heathrow 

Airport called London Ambulance 

Service when a 42-year-old 

woman collapsed with a blood 

clot in her lungs after a long haul 

flight. 

She went into cardiac arrest, 

which means her heart had 

stopped beating, and her 

chances of surviving were slim. 

The advanced paramedic on 

scene was able to scan her, 

confirm the clot and inserted a 

tube into her throat to give her a 

clot-busting drug. Within minutes 

she was breathing. 

Without an advanced paramedic 

on scene the patient would have 

been rushed to hospital but it 

could have taken up to an hour 

before she would have been 

given the medicine she needed 

to survive. 

Picture Caption: Advanced 

paramedic Samantha Margetts. 

Launch of 

the Southern 

Ambulance Services 

Collaboration (SASC). 

“We are delighted to 

announce the launch of the 

Southern Ambulance Services 

Collaboration (SASC) between 

East of England Ambulance 

Service NHS Trust (EEAST), 


NHS Trust (LAS), South 

Central Ambulance Service 

NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), 

South East Coast Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SECAmb) and South Western 

Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust (SWAST). 

This Collaboration will enable 

us to support each other more 

effectively, share best practice, 

and further our working together 

to provide high quality resilient 

care to our patients at the 

best value.” 

For more information email: 

oncallmedia@scas.nhs.uk 

North East 

Ambulance 

Service teams ‘in 

the spotlight’ for 

glittering awards 

ceremony. 

The event was the first inperson 

awards celebration 

for five years and was hosted 

by comic and radio presenter 

Alfie Joey. Over 60 members of 

staff were recognised for their 

outstanding contribution to the 

service and its patients from 

over 250 nominations from 

colleagues and members of 

the public. 

The long service of 99 colleagues 

was also highlighted, celebrating 

a combined total of 2,410 years 

service to the 2.7 million people 

NEAS serves, across 3,200 miles. 

The event was sponsored 

overall by Teesside University, 

which works closely with 

NEAS, delivering a BSc (Hons) 

Paramedic Practice degree, 

the Paramedic Apprenticeship 

programme and a range of 

development opportunities, 

training and developing our future 

emergency care workforce. 

Associate sponsorship from 

Trustmarque, UNISON, Mary 

Gober International and North 

East Ambulance Service 

Unified Solutions, Multiconnect 

Communication Service Ltd and 

Windsor Telecom also supported 

the event. 

The awards highlighted 

achievements of employees 

across 2023/24, during which the 

service answered more than 1.1m 

emergency 999 and NHS 111 

calls, taking more than 229,000 

patients taken to hospital, treating 

and discharging more than 

27,000 patients over the phone 

and 106,000 patients at home or 

in the community. 

Amongst the winners were 

Paul Cunningham, John Reed 

and Paul Richardson, who 

celebrated 40 years of service, 

Trevor Merry, Michael Dobinson, 

Tina Dyer and Jan McLoughlin, 

who were nominated by the 

public, truly testament to what 

impact they made on their 

patients and Lauren Kay, who 

was overall winner of the awards 

because she has consistently 

demonstrated a positive attitude 

and supported her peers all while 

undertaking her Level 6 Degree 

Apprenticeship in Paramedic 

Science. Details of all the nights 

winners below* 

Chief executive Helen Ray added: 

“Our colleagues at NEAS come 

to work every day to make a 

difference. Most of them chose a 

career in the ambulance service 

because they wanted to play 

some part in helping people on 

what might be the worst day of 

their lives – and that’s why we 

see so many people with great 

lengths of service that really are 

truly commendable. I know that 

most of our people don’t do it 

for rewards and recognition but 

it’s a key part of what we want 

to prioritise at NEAS so that 

the people who do these jobs 

feel appreciated and valued, 

empowered and trusted and 

above all, cared for. 

“Our teams demonstrate 

incredible professionalism and 

this event is one opportunity to 

highlight them going beyond 

the call of duty. Well done to 

everyone nominated, shortlisted 

and of course our winners. 

“Huge thanks also to our partners 

who have sponsored the event 

and supported this important 

milestone in our year.” 

Ruth Mitchell, Associate Dean 

(Enterprise and Knowledge 

Exchange) at Teesside University 

said: “We know through working 

with NEAS, that the work 

everyone does is invaluable and 

makes a huge difference to the 

patients they care for. 

“Spending time to formally 

celebrate the many achievements 

of NEAS colleagues and to thank 

them for their contribution, is 

what we were looking forward to 

and why we felt it important to 

support this event.” 

Presented by deputy chair, John 

Marshall, this overall winner of 

the Chair’s award was paramedic 

apprentice year 3 student, Lauren 

Kay from Gateshead. The judging 

panel chose her because Lauren 

has consistently proven herself 

to be a committed student who 

has applied herself to her studies. 

She often supports her peers and 

is an ambassador for the Trust 

at events, as well as being a role 

model for the student paramedic 

apprenticeship. 

John said “It’s an honour to 

mark the achievements of these 

members of staff who do so 

much fantastic work and making 

sure that patients get the best 

possible care. 

“In particular, I’d delighted 

to present the Chair’s Award 

to Lauren. She continues 

to demonstrate the Trust’s 

values, highlighted by her 

peers nominating her as class 

representative. She is an 

ambassador for the service and 

her commitment will help to 

shape the future of our degree 

apprenticeship course. 

“I would like to wish Lauren all the 

best for her future career at NEAS 

and congratulate her and her 

year 3 class for their upcoming 

graduation.” 

The patient choice winners were 

nominated by members of the 

public – by patients themselves or 

their families. 

Michael Dobinson, paramedic 

and Trevor Merry, clinical care 

assistant at Ryhope were 

nominated by the family of an 

elderly patient who they cared for 

in January this year. 

They showed outstanding 

teamwork and interaction with the 

patient and were able to get her 

to agree to go to hospital. 

Their cheerful disposition and 

“banter” took all tension out of a 

very difficult situation. 

Tina Dyer, paramedic and 

Jan McLaughlin, advanced 

technician, at Redcar were 

thanked by a patient who looked 

after her and her baby after a 

miscarriage. 

They looked after mother and 

baby with the upmost respect 

and dignity which made a horrific 

experience easier. The patient 

said she will be forever grateful. 

NHS App messaging 

saved NHS more than 

£1 million in last year 

Messages sent to millions of 

patients via the NHS App have 

saved the NHS £1.1 million on 

the cost of previously sending 

the information via text 

message. 

During 2023/24, 22.5 million 

messages were sent through 

the NHS App, which would have 

previously been sent as a text 

message or letter. 

The average cost of sending a 

text message is around 5p, which 

represents a saving of at least 

£1.1 million. 

People who switch on 

notifications in the NHS App have 

their messages automatically 

sent through the app. This 

avoids the cost of sending a text 

message, is more secure, and 

puts all patient NHS messages 

in one place. 

The messaging services available 

in the NHS App depends 

on a patient’s GP surgery or 

healthcare provider, but many 

users can now: 

• view messages from their NHS 

healthcare services (through 

the NHS App Messaging 

service) 

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NEWSLINE 

NEWSLINE 


• view responses from their GP 

practice or follow up on things 

like test results (sometimes 

called an online consultation) 

• view messages to their 

healthcare provider (such as 

specialist doctors at a hospital) 

Dr Vin Diwakar, National 

Transformation Director at NHS 

England said: “When we talk 

about the benefits of the NHS 

App, we usually focus on patient 

convenience, or the admin time 

saved for frontline staff – but the 

NHS App is also saving the NHS 

significant amounts of money 

on text messages and postal 

stamps, and these savings will 

only get larger as more features 

are added to the app in the 

future. 

“By encouraging more people 

to use the NHS App, with 

notifications switched on, we 

can really start to reduce the 

estimated £450 million per 

year that is currently spent on 

communicating with patients.” 

The NHS App now has more than 

34 million registered users, which 

is around three quarters of the 

adult population in England. 

Since the beginning of this year, 

the average number of NHS App 

logins per weekday is nearly 1.2 

million. 

Monthly logins rose by 69% in 

the last year from 18.7 million 

in March 2023 to 31.5 million in 

March 2024. 

Health Minister, Andrew 

Stephenson said: “More than 

34 million of us are now using 

the NHS App, which allows 

people in England to access 

health services like ordering 

repeat prescriptions and booking 

appointments quicky and easily 

online, while saving the NHS 

millions of pounds and freeing 

up time. 

“As we announced in the Budget, 

we are investing £3.4 billion 

in upgrading and enhancing 

technology in the NHS as part of 

our plan to make our healthcare 

system faster, simpler, and fairer, 

so that doctors and nurses can 

spend more time with patients 

and less time on admin.” 

New features are being added 

to the NHS App regularly as the 

NHS encourages more people 

to use the app in their everyday 

lives. 

These features enable patients to 

view their GP health record, order 

repeat prescriptions, view or 

manage hospital appointments, 

nominate their preferred 

pharmacy, find local NHS 

services and get health advice via 

111 online. 

North East 


launch new British 

Sign Language Relay 

Service to help 

Deaf patients in an 

emergency 

North East Ambulance 

Service (NEAS) has launched 

a new British Sign Language 

(BSL) Relay Service to help 

ambulance crews care for Deaf 

and British Sign Language 

users. 

From May 2024, all ambulances 

have access to an iPad with the 

SignVideo app, which will allow 

staff to access the video relay 

service to speak to Deaf and BSL 

patients. 

Ambulance crews will be able to 

use the app 24 hours a day, 365 

days of the year to talk to patients 

through a video interpreter, 

helping them assess the patient’s 

condition and understand the 

next steps of their treatment. 

It is estimated that there are 

around 151,000 people in 

the UK who use British Sign 

Language and, of these, 87,000 

are Deaf. This on-demand 

service allows BSL users to 

improve our communication 

and response in emergency 

situations. This includes asking 

lifesaving questions in emergency 

situations as well as being used in 

non-emergency situations, such 

as our community engagement 

teams providing advice 

and training. 

Mark Johns, engagement, 

diversity and inclusion manager 

at NEAS, said: “As an emergency 

service, we are committed to 

delivering high quality patient 

care and making sure all 

patients receive prompt and 

effective communication during 

emergency situations. 

“Although our health advisors 

have access to BSL relay to 

support patients over the phone, 

we know our crews and Deaf/ 

BSL patients sometimes face 

communication barriers. This 

partnership with SignVideo 

means that when a patient who 

is Deaf or uses BSL, we are 

able to triage and communicate 

more easily.” 

Rachel Austin, coordinator from 

Hartlepool Deaf Centre said: 

“Deaf BSL users struggle to 

access the ambulance service 

and many other services because 

of the communication barriers 

and the lack of support and 

assistance that is available. 

“It’s great to see this new service 

being introduced by NEAS as it 

will hopefully remove a barrier 

that people experience and 

provide a useful tool to support 

Deaf BSL users and paramedics 

to communicate with each 

other in challenging and difficult 

circumstances. It will help to save 

more lives, ensure people get the 

best outcome and help achieve 

equality between Deaf and 

hearing people.” 

Training for frontline staff will take 

place over the next 12 months 

and be complete by Spring 2025. 

SAS staff member 

first Paramedic to 

receive The Doctor of 

Professional Studies 

award 

A Scottish Ambulance 

Service staff member has 

become the first paramedic 

in Scotland to receive The 

Doctor of Professional Studies 

academic award. 

Dr Chris Aitchison, 51, West 

Clinical Training Officer based at 

West EPDD Hamilton and from 

Peebles, successfully achieved 

his Clinical Doctorate, which 

is the only one of its kind in 

Scotland. 

It is titled Describing the 

Demographic and Clinical 

Characteristics of Patients 

Who Present to the Scottish 

Ambulance Service with 

Non-Traumatic Back Pain. A 

Retrospective Observational 

Study. 

His thesis focussed on the prehospital 

identification, treatment 

and immediate outcomes of 

patients presenting to the 

Scottish Ambulance Service with 

non-traumatic back pain across 

one year between 2017-2018. 

Speaking on why he chose 

this particular topic for his 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

thesis, Chris said: “There was 

a subjective perception that 

back pain was a condition that 

was thought to be low acuity or 

unlikely to be life-threatening. This 

suggested that it was an unlikely 

reason to call 999, yet many 

friends and colleagues in SAS 

told me that they often responded 

to people with back pain. 

“I determined there were no 

pre-hospital ambulance studies 

that had described the people 

who called us for help. To inform 

any future intervention or care 

pathways for SAS, it appeared 

logical a basic understanding 

of this population was therefore 

required which led to my study.” 

Chris looked at the population, 

their demographics, age, gender, 

socioeconomic status, and 

clinically how poorly they were. 

ambulance clinicians assessed 

people, their diagnoses and how 

the patients were managed. I 

also managed to capture some 

of the GP urgent call data in this 

analysis. 

“I’m absolutely delighted to have 

been awarded the Doctor of 

Professional Studies academic 

award as I tried to design my 

thesis so it can help future 

ambulance researchers with their 

work, using mine like a guide. 

Back pain was used in this case 

but there is a gold mine of many 

other conditions that need to 

be explored in ambulance care. 

I hope my small contribution 

helps.” 

Scottish Ambulance Service CEO 

Michael Dickson said: “I’d like to 

offer my sincere congratulations 

to Dr Aitchison. This shows 

amazing dedication for such an 

important area of work and to 

Ambulance UK.pdf 1 20/03/2024 10:25:56 

He added: “I also looked at how be first Paramedic in Scotland to 

Save lives - 

spread the road 

safety message 

receive this award is an amazing 

achievement. Research such as 

this is vital as pre-hospital care 

is such an important part of the 

patient’s journey, we hope it 

encourages others to build on 

this work in the future.” 

SCAS receives 

generous donation 

from Oxfordshire 

homebuilders 

South Central Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust 

(SCAS) is delighted to have 

recently received a donation 

of £1,500 to the South Central 

Ambulance Charity from 

Barratt and David Wilson 

Homes to fund new training 

equipment. 

Among the brand new equipment 

sourced was a birthing simulator, 

a child CPR manikin, practice 

arms and training bones to 

simulate a range of medical 

procedures, as well as injection 

training pads and a series of 

anatomical poster sets. 

Angus McCullock, paramedic 

team leader at SCAS, said: “We 

are very grateful to Barratt and 

David Wilson Homes for their 

generous donation to the SCAS 

Charity. This funding has enabled 

us to purchase a number of items 

for our clinical training suite within 

Oxfordshire.” 

“This equipment enables our 

staff and students to gain in 

confidence, support further 

As ambulance crew with a professional driving or riding qualification, join our road safety 

community. Become an IAM RoadSmart member to access a range of benefits and influence 

road users with your skills, knowledge, and experience. 

JOIN TODAY 

Visit iamroadsmart.net/ambulanceuk 

or call us on 0300 303 1134. 

@IAMRoadSmart 

@iam_roadsmart 


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training and garner new 

knowledge with specific skills and 

interventions in an environment 

that facilitates a safe learning 

space. In turn, this allows us to 

provide high quality patient care 

to our local community and the 

wider SCAS operational area.” 

SCAS provides emergency 999, 

NHS 111 and non-emergency 

patient transport services to 

a population of around six 

million people in Berkshire, 

Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, 

Oxfordshire and Sussex. 

Its team of 4,600 employees, 

together with over 1,000 volunteer 

community and co-responders, 

enables the organisation to 

attend over 500,000 incidents 

via 999, handle 1.3 million calls 

to NHS 111 and make 970,00 

patient transport service journeys 

every year. 

David Hesson, regional managing 

director at Barratt and David 

Wilson Homes, said: “We’re 

delighted to have the opportunity 

to support the South Central 

Ambulance Service with a 

donation of £1,500. 

“The trust is a life-saving service 

and we’re pleased to hear how 

far our donation has gone in 

providing training equipment for 

staff members and students as 

they progress in the ambulance 

service.” 

Green Plan outlines 

target to cut carbon 

emissions as electric 

vehicles trialled 

The first of three fully-electric 

vehicles are being trialled by 


Service (SECAmb). 

The Mercedes-Benz e-Vitos are 

being trialled as part of NHS 

England’s Zero Emission Electric 

Vehicle (ZEEV) Pathfinder project. 

The Single Responder Vehicles 

(SRVs) will initially be based out of 

three Trust sites where heavyduty 

vehicle chargers are installed 

– Polegate, Thanet and Gatwick. 

The chargers will be able to 

charge the vehicles in as little as 

30 minutes. 

SECAmb has been working 

closely with staff staff, volunteers 

and partners to achieve ambitious 

plans to reduce its carbon 

emissions. 

The Trust aims to reduce its 

emissions by 50 per cent by 2032 

and achieve net zero by 2040. 

The challenges are outlined in 

the SECAmb’s Green Plan which 

was developed following detailed 

work with teams across the 

organisation alongside its system 

partners. 

The plan, which can be viewed 

here Green Plan - NHS South 

East Coast Ambulance Service 

(secamb.nhs.uk), supports 

SECAmb’s Green Strategy and 

mirrors the NHS-wide aim to 

become the first healthcare 

system to reach net zero carbon 

emissions. 

SECAmb’s Green Plan can be 

split into three main categories – 

fleet, estates and medicine. 

As part of its plan to half its 

carbon emissions by 2032, 

SECAmb’s fleet, which is 

responsible for around 63 per 

cent of total emissions, will be 

transitioning to ultra-low emission 

and zero emission electric 

vehicles. 

The Trust’s estate makes up 

approximately 15 per cent of total 

carbon emissions. SECAmb will 

continue to deliver energy saving 

measures including moving to 

solar photovoltaic and battery 

storage, retrofit double glazing, 

roof insulation and more efficient 

LED lighting. 

SECAmb will also explore greener 

alternatives to delivering medical 

equipment and gases with its 

medicine activity accounting for 

some 10 per cent of total carbon 

emissions. 

SECAmb is committed 

to ensuring its staff and 

volunteers play a key role in the 

implementation of the plan in the 

coming years and is pleased a 

Green Champion Network has 

been established. The network 

will help ensure that colleagues 

are fully engaged in taking 

forward the plan’s objectives. 

Paramedic and chair of 

SECAmb’s Green Champion 

staff network, Ben Leeves, said: 

“There is clearly a lot of passion 

among colleagues across 

SECAmb to contribute to the 

Trust doing everything it can to 

reduce its carbon emissions and 

increase its sustainability. 

“We hope that the network 

will continue to grow so that 

colleagues contribute to changes 

that will improve the efficiency 

of our service and in turn benefit 

patient care.” 

SECAmb Executive Director 

of Strategic Planning and 

Transformation, David Ruiz- 

Celada said: “The trial of the 

new all electric single responder 

vehicles is just one way in which 

we are exploring how we can 

reduce our emissions. 

“As an organisation with a 

significant carbon footprint, we 

are committed to working closely 

with colleagues across our 

organisation, including our Green 

Network and our system partners 

to significantly reduce it. 

“We will work to prioritise 

innovation, where possible, which 

also improves patient care and 

community wellbeing while also 

tackling climate change and other 

sustainability issues.” 

Partnerships helping 

to deliver care at 

home and reduce 

hospital admissions 

More patients across the 

region are receiving specialist 

care in their own homes 

instead of being admitted to 

hospital as the ambulance 

service continues to develop 

stronger links to multidisciplinary 

Urgent Community 

Response (UCR) teams. 

Over the past year, South 

East Coast Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation 

Trust (SECAmb) has been 

working in a phased approach 

with teams across its region, 

which typically include nurses, 

paramedics, physiotherapists 

and occupational therapists, to 

develop working relationships 

and provide access to its systems 

to view lower category calls 

requiring a response. 

The approach has now seen the 

first teams go live with remote 

access to a secure portal linked 

to SECAmb’s Computer Aided 

Dispatch (CAD) system. Through 

the portal the teams can select 

appropriate lower category call 

patients which they are able to 

attend to provide care. 

A key partner in the project, and 

the first to go live on the new 

portal was Sussex Community 

NHS Foundation Trust in March. 

It now has all seven of its UCR 

teams live across the county 

and has attended more than 220 

patients via the portal with 72 per 

cent of patients being managed 

by the teams without further 

support from the ambulance 

service. It now operates 12 hours 

every day from 8am-8pm. 

Further teams across the Trust’s 

Kent, Surrey and Sussex region 

are expected to move to the final 

phase over the coming weeks 

and months. 

UCR teams provide urgent 

care to people in their homes 

which helps to avoid hospital 

admissions and enables people 

to live independently for longer. 

proactmedical.co.uk 

Through these teams, older 

people and adults with complex 

health needs who urgently need 

care, can get fast access to a 

range of health and social care 

professionals within two hours. 

With a UCR team attending 

instead of an ambulance crew, 

SECAmb’s resources are more 

available to attend the most 

seriously ill and injured patients 

requiring a response. 

The partnership work with UCRs 

is just one way in which SECAmb 

is looking to increase its ‘Hear 

and Treat’ rate – the number 

of calls which are handled with 

advice over the phone or via 

referral to another service. 

Since July 2023, the rate has 

increased from approximately 10 

per cent to 14 per cent in March 

2024 – close to 30,000 calls a 

year which would have otherwise 

received an ambulance response. 

Clinical Lead for Integrated 

Care (999 & 111) at SECAmb, 

Kieran Cambell said: “Through 

this work we are looking to 

ensure that patients receive 

the most appropriate service 

for their need. Working in this 

more collaborative way with our 

community providers, who are 

able to provide timely and skilled 

responses to a wide range of 

urgent care presentations, will 

also ensure that lower category 

call patients are not waiting 

longer than they should to be 

seen and that ambulance crews 

are as available as possible to 

respond to critically ill and injured 

patients. 

Hollie Poole, West Sussex Area 

Director at Sussex Community 

NHS Foundation Trust said: “By 

using the portal across all our 

Urgent Community Response 

Teams we are supporting an 

increasing number of patients 

to stay in their own homes and 

avoid unnecessary admissions to 

hospital. 

“This project has demonstrated 

true collaboration across the 

health system and has already 

seen an incredibly positive impact 

on patient care.” 

UCR case studies 

• 999 call received for man in 

his 80s regarding a worsening 

urinary infection. Incident 

clinically reviewed by the 

local UCR team via the portal 

software and deemed to 

be appropriate for an initial 

advanced assessment which 

on this occasion included a 

GP based within the team. An 

examination was undertaken in 

the patient’s home which led to 

a diagnosis of a chest infection. 

Metal Max COMBI 50 Laryngoscope System 


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NEWSLINE 


The team undertook blood 

tests, reviewed oxygen levels 

and prescribed an alternative 

antibiotic treatment. The 

patient was able to continue 

to be treated at home with 

support from the team which 

provided daily nurse monitoring 

visits and daily visits by carers 

to support his recovery. The 

patient was reviewed by the 

team’s GP in the following days 

and was found to be making 

an excellent recovery. 

• 999 call for a woman aged 

in her 70s reporting to have 

fallen. While she did not 

believe she had sustained 

any injuries, she was unable 

to get up off the floor. A local 

UCR team accepted the 

incident via the portal software 

and was able to review the 

patient’s medical history which 

indicated that the patient had 

recently been experiencing 

recurrent falls when trying to 

get to the toilet. A UCR Nurse 

and Occupational therapist 

attended to the patient 

and undertook an in-depth 

assessment, which included 

utilising specialist equipment to 

scan the patient’s bladder and 

also assist the patient up from 

the floor. The patient required 

treatment with a urinary 

catheter which was able to be 

undertaken straight away, the 

team reviewed the patient over 

the following days, providing 

further equipment to assist in 

reducing the risk of further falls. 

The patient’s care then was 

able to continue at home with 

support from the community 

nursing team. 

• A man aged in his 80s called 

999 with abdominal pain. He 

also reported problems with 

his urinary catheter becoming 

blocked overnight. A local UCR 

team accepted the incident via 

the portal software and a nurse 

visited shortly afterwards. 

Following an assessment it 

was identified that the catheter 

required replacing which 

was able to be undertaken 

immediately. The patient was 

then able to be given some 

specific advice regarding what 

to do and who to call if the 

same situation happened again 

to avoid further calls to the 

ambulance service. 

• 999 call for a woman in her 

60s with a headache. A local 

UCR team accepted the 

incident via the portal software 

and an Advanced Clinical 

Practitioner from the team 

attended. On assessment it 

was found that the headache 

was a longstanding complaint 

but due to anxiety the patient 

had made contact with the 

999 ambulance service. It was 

also found that the patient had 

also been taking medications 

not prescribed to her and 

appropriate education, advice 

and reassurance was able 

to be given, with the patient 

having a follow up appointment 

arranged with her own GP 

practice. 

Whitstable man 

reunites with heroes 

who saved his life 

A young man from Whitstable, 

Kent who suffered a severe 

head injury in May 2023 was 

recently reunited with three 

ambulance service colleagues 

who helped to save his life. 

A year on from the incident, 

Robert King, now aged 29, visited 


Service’s (SECAmb) Ashford 

Make Ready Centre in Kent. 

Alongside his mother, Jackie, 

and father, Alan, Robert met 

with Student Paramedic, Finlay 

Pengelly, Emergency Care 

Support Worker, Martin Basden 

and Ambulance Paramedic, Lake 

Akiode, three of the crew who 

helped save Robert’s life. 

Following Robert’s severe head 

injury which left him in a coma for 

a week, he was airlifted to Kings’ 

College Hospital in London where 

he spent five weeks. Due to being 

in a coma, Robert has little to no 

memory of the incident, but was 

thankful the reunion allowed him 

and his family to find out more 

about the events that took place. 

The three ambulance service 

colleagues who met with Robert 

and his family shared some 

insights into the quick decisions 

that they made in order to 

stabilize his breathing and to 

get him to hospital as quick as 

possible. 

Robert said, “The crew really are 

my heroes, and I wouldn’t be 

here today without them. They 

undoubtedly saved my life and 

I owe them a huge thank you at 

the least. In reality, I owe them so 

much more.” 

When Robert first awoke from 

the coma, he had no movement 

down one side of his body, no 

speech and couldn’t remember 

his own name. Since then, and 

a year on, Robert is making 

good progress on his journey 

to recovery and has hopes of 

returning to work as soon as 

possible. 

Robert and his family also 

recently visited colleagues at 

Kings’ College Hospital in London 

to express their thanks for the 

care received there. 

Robert said, “The road to 

recovery will be long, and I still 

have a long way to go, but I am 

recovering and even thinking 

about returning to work as soon 

as possible.” 

Finlay said, “I was thrilled that my 

first patient reunion at SECAmb 

was with Robert and his family. 

It was fantastic to see him doing 

so well in his recovery and we 

all wish him the very best for the 

future.” 

VR technology and 

educational escape 

rooms used to train 

students in lifesaving 

skills 

Over 600 high school students 

have so far been trained in vital 

lifesaving skills as part of a 

groundbreaking pilot training 

programme using innovative 

technologies such as virtual 

reality (VR) and educational 

escape rooms. 

The Young Minds Save Lives 

pilot programme, which is run by 

the Scottish Ambulance Service 

and is currently funded by NHS 

Charities Together, provides 

young people with critical 

knowledge and skills on how to 

respond in a medical emergency 

and preventative healthcare. The 

programme also aims to raise 

awareness about future careers 

in healthcare and opportunities 

for volunteering. 

Working with staff at Shawlands 

Academy and Holyrood 

Secondary School, the pilot 

training programme has been 

designed with S3 students to 

meet the specific needs of the 

local community whilst providing 

interest to the young people by 

using innovative educational tools 

which are not typically used in a 

school setting. 

The programme, which is 

delivered to pupils by two local 

frontline paramedics, covers 

topics such as CPR where 

dummies and VR headsets are 

used, recognising strokes, chest 

pain and heart attacks, drug 

and alcohol harm, and excessive 

bleeding from penetrating 

wounds such as knives. 

The young people took part 

in educational escape room 

challenges which tested their 

knowledge on the topics they had 

been taught in order to finish the 

programme. 

Reflecting on her experience, Mia 

Tait, S3 student at Shawlands 

Academy said: “I’ve really enjoyed 

taking part in the Young Minds 

Save Lives pilot programme 

and have learned loads of new 

skills. It’s also really increased 

my confidence, so if I ever came 

across or was involved in a 

medical emergency, I’d feel like 

I’d know what to do now. 

“Using a VR headset for our CPR 

lesson was great fun and when I 

took it home to show my family, 

they were keen to have a go too! 

“The programme has also given 

me more of an insight into the 

work of paramedics and the 

potential career and volunteering 

options that are available at the 

Scottish Ambulance Service 

when I’m a bit older. I’d never 

really thought about it before.” 

Michael Dickson, Scottish 

Ambulance Service Chief 

Executive said: “The Young Minds 

Saves Lives pilot programme is 

unique. It’s a co-designed project 

working with the young people 

using innovative technology and 

creative learning methods to 

educate them on vital skills, and 

it also focuses on working with 

the local community to support 

their needs and issues with the 

outcome of improving population 

health, supporting healthcare 

careers of young people, and 

wider health and wellbeing. 

“The feedback we have received 

from staff, pupils, parents and 

the community whilst we’ve 

been running this pilot project 

has been absolutely fantastic. 

The University of Glasgow have 

undertaken an evaluation of 

the programme and the next 

step, subject to securing further 

investment, is to roll the initiative 

out across the country in order 

to train more high school children 

in vital life-saving skills and 

preventative healthcare areas, 

which will benefit additional 

Scottish communities.” 

The pilot programme is 

supported by Save a Life 

Scotland, Resus UK, the 

University of Glasgow, Developing 

the Young Workforce Glasgow, 

NHS Education for Scotland, 

Health Improvement Scotland 

and Eeek Escape Rooms. 

For more information about how 

you can support the Young Minds 

Save Lives initiative, contact: sas. 

ymsl@nhs.scot. 


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Major incident 

exercise held to 

prepare paramedic 

students for the 

future 

Swansea University’s Faculty 

of Medicine Health and Life 

Science have held a major 

incident training exercise 

for its final year paramedic 

students in the Meadow area of 

Singleton Campus. 

The exercise brought together 

the paramedic students, staff 

and members of the Welsh 

Ambulance Services University 

NHS Trust (WAST), who took 

part in a simulated road traffic 

accident involving multiple 

casualties. The exercise was 

carefully created to provide an 

accurate scene and realistic 

injuries. It was designed to help 

the paramedic students develop 

their experience of triaging, 

transporting and managing 

patients during a major incident. 

Thomas Hewes, Programme 

Director of Swansea University’s 

Paramedic Science BSc said: 

“At Swansea University, we 

are committed to prepare our 

students for the challenges of 

paramedic work. Operational 

training events like this allow the 

students to train in a realistic, 

yet challenging, environment 

where they work alongside WAST 

colleagues and the learning 

they take from exercises further 

develop skills, response and 

future working relationships. 

“We know that casualty 

outcomes are vastly improved 

with early and effective 

intervention, and this experience 

has instilled confidence in our 

students to respond effectively to 

major incidents.” 

Carys Davies, a third-year 

paramedic student said of the 

exercise: 

“It allowed us to work with other 

students as well as professionals 

from all across the paramedic 

field. It has developed our 

teamwork and communication 

skills in addition to our clinical 

skills. This will prepare us for 

major incidents if we get called to 

them when we qualify.” 

Deian Thomas, Emergency 

Preparedness, Resilience and 

Response Operations Manager 

at the Welsh Ambulance 

Service, said: 

“This training scenario has 

provided an exciting opportunity 

for our WAST staff and our 

aspiring paramedics to test 

their reaction to a major incident 

involving multiple casualties. 

“Although we hope to never be 

called to this type of incident, 

these training exercises ensure 

our staff know what to do in a 

worst-case scenario as well as 

discuss their valuable feedback 

during the exercise’s debrief 

session. 

“A big thank you goes to 

Swansea University who 

coordinated the day, and we look 

forward to doing further exercises 

in the future.” 

It is anticipated that in the future, 

Swansea University will hold 

annual paramedic exercises for 

final year paramedic students. 

Professor Jayne Cutter, Head of 

the School of Health and Social 

Care added: 

“Patient outcomes are vastly 

improved with early and effective 

intervention, and this experience 

will instil confidence in our 

students to respond effectively 

to an actual major incident. 

Training exercises such as 

these are hugely beneficial to 

our students are they prepare 

for their future as practising 

healthcare professionals and 

they go hand in hand with the 

existing simulation and immersive 

learning opportunities that 

underpin all of our healthcare 

professionals’ training here at 

Swansea, including Nurses, 

Doctors, Pharmacists, Midwives, 

Operating Department 

Practitioners and Occupational 

Therapists as well as 

Paramedics.” 

Pictures: Third-year paramedic 

students in action at the exercise. 

Welsh Ambulance 

Service award win 

for commitment to 

equality, diversity 

and inclusion 

THE Welsh Ambulance 

Service has won a prestigious 

award for its efforts to 

tackle discrimination in the 

workplace. 

The Trust has won a HPMA 

Cymru Award 2024 for its 

Bystander to Upstander initiative, 

which was designed not only to 

raise awareness among staff of 

equality, diversity, and inclusion 

but give them practical tools to 

challenge discrimination and 

inappropriate behaviours. 

It is one of a number of initiatives 

and programmatic changes 

introduced by the organisation 

in the last couple of years to 

promote a culture of inclusion. 

Paola Spiteri, the Trust’s 

Retention Lead, said: “When 

people are at their lowest ebb, 

we are the people to whom 

they turn, so we expect the 

highest professional standards of 

everyone in our organisation. 

“Thankfully, the majority of our 

hard-working people uphold 

our values and behaviours, 

but there is always more we 

can do to promote an inclusive 

organisational culture, and 

this initiative is a symbol of our 

commitment to do just that. 

“By equipping staff not only with 

knowledge but the practical skills 

to safely intervene in a problematic 

situation, we’re transforming from 

passive bystanders to pro-active 

upstanders.” 

More than 200 staff across Wales 

have completed active bystander 

training since May 2023. 

Ninety per cent of colleagues 

who completed the full-day 

training programme said they had 

learned from the session, while 

93 per cent said they would apply 

the learning often. 

Angela Lewis, Director of 

People and Culture, said: “We 

do not tolerate inappropriate or 

discriminatory behaviour, bullying 

or harassment of any kind, but 

saying this is simply not enough, 

which is why we are taking full 

ownership of the problem and 

approaching our culture change 

very differently. 

“We are so grateful to colleagues 

who have found the strength 

and courage to speak up as we 

navigate these issues together 

and continue to listen. 

“Creating a diverse and 

culturally aware workforce that 

demonstrates respect, empathy 

and understanding for others is 

a priority. 

“And when everyone can bring 

their whole self to work, it helps 

us to deliver the best possible 

service to the people of Wales.” 

Read more about the Welsh 

Ambulance Service’s ambition to 

create a more inclusive working 

environment in its newlypublished 

Strategic Equality Plan: 

Strategic Equality Plan 2024- 

2028 Welsh Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust 

YAS runs its first 

Resuscitation 

Council Advanced 

Life Support (ALS) 

course 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust (YAS) has run its 

first Resuscitation Council 

UK (RCUK) Advanced Life 

Support (ALS) course and been 

endorsed as an accredited 

ALS centre. 

Led by Dr Jerry Morse and Dr 

Andy Pountney, and supported 

by paramedics and advanced 

clinical practitioners, 16 YAS 

paramedics attended the twoday 

course which takes students 

through the key aspects of 

providing ALS and culminates in a 

practical and theoretical exam. 

The overall standard was very 

high, with all participants passing 

the exam. 

As this was the first course 

YAS has run, an RCUK regional 

representative was on hand to 

review the training and, following 

excellent feedback, YAS has been 

signed off as an accredited ALS 

centre for the next four years. 

Commenting on this latest 

development, Mark Millins, 

Associate Director – Paramedic 

Practice, said: “We are currently 

organising our next ALS courses 

and planning to expand the 

number of instructors who are 

qualified to deliver this training. 

“We are looking forward to 

providing the training to staff at 

other NHS trusts as well as YAS 

colleagues now we are an ALSaccredited 

centre.” 

Yorkshire’s Restart 

a Heart Day pioneer 

awarded MBE in 

King’s Birthday 

Honours list 


28 

29 



NEWSLINE 

NEWSLINE 


Congratulations to Jason 

Carlyon who has been awarded 

an MBE in the King’s Birthday 

Honours list 2024. 

Jason, who is a Paramedic 

and Community Engagement 

Manager at Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service NHS Trust, has been 

given the honour in recognition 

of being a driving force 

behind the local, national and 

international roll-out of the 

multi-award-winning Restart a 

Heart campaign which provides 

life-saving cardio-pulmonary 

resuscitation (CPR) training to 

members of the public. 

It started in 2014 when, in just 

six weeks, he recruited a small 

project team to organise CPR 

training for 11,000 youngsters 

at 49 secondary schools across 

Yorkshire on one day. The event 

generated national publicity and 

was the largest event of its kind 

ever seen in the world. 

The campaign has continued 

to grow, with the support 

of partners including the 

Resuscitation Council and British 

Heart Foundation, and celebrated 

its 10th anniversary last year, 

teaching CPR to 234,708 young 

people during 1,047 school visits 

thanks to 39,213 volunteers – on 

just 10 days during this ten-year 

period. A number of students 

have used the skills learnt on 

Restart a Heart Day to save the 

lives of people in cardiac arrest. 

Thanks to Jason’s tireless 

campaigning, all UK ambulance 

trusts adopted the YAS model 

for Restart a Heart Day and 

he influenced the roll-out of 

the campaign internationally to 

countries including Australia, New 

Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka 

and America. 

Jason is passionate about 

improving the outcomes of 

patients in cardiac arrest and is 

committed to improving the rate 

of bystander CPR which has 

increased from 39.9% when the 

campaign was launched in 2014 

to 75.7% in 2022*. 

He is always looking at new 

and innovative ways to develop 

community-based CPR training, 

one being the development of 

the Pillow Partner in 2021 as a 

simple, low-cost CPR training 

aid, supported by the Yorkshire 

Ambulance Service Charity. 

Jason said: “I am delighted, 

humbled and extremely proud to 

be awarded an MBE in the King’s 

Birthday Honours 2024. 

“As is often the case with awards 

and honours, they represent the 

work of a group of people rather 

than just the individual receiving 

the honour. That is very much 

the case here and I have been 

fortunate to work with a small 

team of dedicated individuals and 

hundreds of amazing volunteers 

who have been crucial in the 

success of the campaign.” 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive 

of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, 

said: “Many congratulations 

to Jason for this honour which 

recognises his ability to push 

the boundaries in terms of 

community CPR training and 

achieve some ground-breaking 

work which has undoubtedly 

helped to put Yorkshire on 

the map as an exemplar of 

best practice. I’m sure that, 

along with other efforts within 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

to strengthen all aspects of the 

Chain of Survival, our out-ofhospital 

survival rates will reflect 

his unfailing commitment in years 

to come.” 

*The Annual Epidemiology Report 

for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest 

Outcomes is published by the 

University of Warwick. These 

figures relate to bystander CPR 

rates for non-witnessed and 

bystander-witnessed cases. 

King’s Ambulance 

Medal for 

Distinguished 

Service awarded to 

Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service Manager 

Ola Zahran, Chief Technology 

Officer at Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service NHS Trust, has been 

awarded the King’s Ambulance 

Medal for Distinguished 

Service (KAM) in the King’s 

Birthday Honours list 2024. 

During her career, Ola has played 

a key role in the development 

of the digital agenda and 

healthcare technologies at the 

Trust, regionally and nationally. 

She has led on a number of 

complex national projects for 

the ambulance sector and wider 

healthcare community, including 

the Unified Communications 

project where she was responsible 

for supplier engagement and 

implementation, and was 

instrumental in sharing learning 

from the roll-out in Yorkshire to 

benefit other ambulance services 

across the country. 

Ola has also worked at the 

centre of the integration of the 

Yorkshire and Humber Care 

Record, part of NHS England’s 

Local Health and Care Record 

Exemplar Programme, enabling 

frontline ambulance staff, clinical 

hubs and remote clinical staff 

to access patients’ full recent 

medical histories to make more 

informed decisions around 

treatment decisions. 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive 

of Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust, said: “This is a great 

honour which recognises Ola’s 

tremendous contribution to the 

comprehensive digital support 

we rely on for all service-lines 

we operate. It also makes her 

part of a hand-picked group of 

ambulance service staff who 

have been recognised for their 

exceptional input and outstanding 

ability in the sector. 

“Ola is a long-serving and hugely 

respected and trusted member of 

staff within Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service and across the national 

ambulance community. Her 

unwavering commitment to 

technological advancements has 

made a significant and visible 

difference to patient care. 

“On behalf of Yorkshire 

Ambulance Service, I would like to 

thank her for all she has done and 

continues to do in a vital support 

service. She should be very proud 

of this fantastic achievement.” 

Ola Zahran said: “I am delighted 

and humbled to be awarded the 

King’s Ambulance Medal. It is 

great to see the importance of 

digital services recognised and 

the critical support they provide 

to frontline operations. I am 

immensely proud of the team 

behind me, and their dedication 

to the ambulance service and 

commitment to innovation which 

are second to none. If it wasn’t 

for their excellent support, I would 

not have been in a position to 

receive this award.” 

Ola will be presented with her 

medal at Buckingham Palace in 

due course. 

Other recipients of the King’s 

Ambulance Medal in the Birthday 

Honours list are: 

• David Dean, Senior Paramedic 

Mentor, East of England 

Ambulance Service. 

• Michael Jenkins, Regional 

Clinical Lead-Consultant 

Paramedic, Welsh Ambulance 

Service. 

• Heather Foster-Sharpe, 

Assistant Director Emergency 

Preparedness, Resilience and 

Response, Northern Ireland 

Ambulance Service. 

• Mark Mapp, Chief Executive 

Officer, Ambulance & Rescue 

Guernsey. 

20 Years Strong 

From its modest beginnings, 

Bluelight UK Ltd is now 

celebrating two decades as the 

premier supplier of pre-owned 

ambulance vehicles in the 

UK. With a consistent flow of 

vehicles arriving directly from 

various NHS Trusts, Bluelight 

UK efficiently remarkets these 

on behalf of major public 

sector funders. 

Matthew Forster, Sales Director, 

stated, “We work tirelessly to 

stay ahead of customer needs, 

often extending our efforts 

into nights and weekends, 

and collaborating with local 

contractors for mechanical and 

paintwork services. Our expertise 

in this industry is unmatched. We 

not only supply vehicles but also 

offer valuable advice to start-ups, 

consistently surpassing customer 

expectations. For instance, just 

last week, we guided a client 

interested in renting towards 

owning a vehicle at a cost 

significantly lower than renting. 

This advice proved priceless to 

the client, who is now considering 

another purchase and saving even 

more money.” 

Matthew, who has been part of 

the family business since before 

leaving school, brings invaluable 

experience to the operation. His 

extensive 20-year knowledge 

covers everything from design 

to delivery. He is also marking 

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Graphics show how to apply the 

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Audio speaker gives the user 

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Infant mode button for use on 

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the significant event of becoming 

a father, potentially ushering in 

the third generation to the family 

business. 

Stand B137 

Bluelight UK is celebrating several 

milestones this year, including 

a move to their purpose-built 

site in Ashton-In-Makerfield. 

Managing Director Simon 

Forster commented, “We’re not 

in this business for the money; 

it’s a labour of love that started 

21 years ago. I was tired of 

working for others and seeing 

them take credit for my efforts. 

Transitioning to self-employment 

from a comfortable corporate 

job with benefits like pensions, 

credit cards, and healthcare was 

a brave and risky move, but our 

simple needs translate to savings 

for our customers. Currently, 

we’re disposing of ex-NHS Boxer 

PTS units. These high-quality 

vehicles with approved secondstage 

conversions are in high 

demand because of their ex-NHS 

credentials. Our next fleet of A&E 

World-class digital training in: 

emergency vehicle familiarisation 

first response techniques 

situational awareness 

effective leadership 

equipment guidance 

national specification frontline 

ambulances will be returning soon, 

allowing us to offer a selection 

of everything in the sector. We 

also have new fleets of Renaults, 

Fords, MANs, and Fiats arriving. 

We’re also working on numerous 

projects for both the private 

and public sectors, including 

rapid response vehicles, high 

dependency units, driver training 

units, accident and emergency 

ambulances, rescue vehicles, 

mobile treatment centres, 

campers, and motorhomes. You 

should come and take a look. 

You will be impressed. Our new 

location is easily accessible, 

just 2 minutes from the M6 and 

five minutes walk to Garswood 

Station, near Wigan.” 

For more information about 

Bluelight UK, contact the team at 

sales@bluelightuk.co.uk, visit their 

website at www.bluelightuk.co.uk, 

or call 01942 888800. The team 

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dynamicbusiness.co.uk 


30 

31 



IN PERSON 

IN PERSON 


Meet Dr Mike 

On 9 May 2024, Consultant in Emergency 

Medicine, Dr Mike Thompson worked 

his first shift with Great Western Air 

Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). Dr Mike 

said, “GWAAC is an incredibly welcoming 

place to be working. The team have been 

keen to embrace me and get me trained 

up. It’s still early days so I’m bedding 

in and getting to grips with the way the 

service operates.” 

Dr Mike has previously worked for other air 

ambulances and says, “What’s nice is the 

expectation from GWAAC that learning about 

the differences in how other air ambulances 

do things is all completely normal. I have lots 

of training planned and It’s exciting to be 

working for the service that is in the area that I 

live and work in now. GWAAC’s Doctors have 

been significantly involved in my training over 

the last decade.” 

Originally from Surrey, Dr Mike went to 

university in Edinburgh and followed a pretty 

standard route of Emergency Medicine 

training in and around Bristol with a prehospital 

year in Cambridge. He then spent 

a year in Darwin, Australia, doing a mix of 

Emergency Medicine and Retrieval Medicine 

with the Northern Territory’s Helicopter 

Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and flying 

doctor service. 

When asked if he is a good flyer, Dr Mike said, 

“I actually have a pilot’s licence. I haven’t kept 

my hours up though as it has been hard to fit 

them in around my training as a doctor, but I 

hope to get back into it.” 

When asked why he wanted to work for 

GWAAC, Dr Mike said he was hugely inspired 

by GWAAC’s Critical Care Team early on in 

his career. In October 2015, he was running in 

the Bristol Half Marathon when another runner 

had a cardiac arrest 50 metres ahead of him. 

Dr Mike gave basic life support and St John’s 

volunteers used a defibrillator, but it was the 

GWAAC Team who successfully got a pulse 

back, delivered an anaesthetic and took the 

patient to the Heart Institute at the Bristol 

Royal Infirmary. 

The patient, called Bill, was discharged a few 

days later from hospital. Dr Mike said, “The 

set of interventions was a real success. What 

you can do pre-hospital is quite amazing and 

seeing the GWAAC Team working in that setting 

whilst I was a Junior Doctor was very inspiring. 

GWAAC’s Dr Ed Valentine phoned me that 

evening to tell me the outcome and he agreed to 

do an educational thing for me that I needed as 

a trainee. It was a really nice touch. From there, 

I was able to get to know a few of the Doctors 

and get involved with some projects with them 

over the years, with a plan of hopefully getting to 

be part of the team one day.” 

Four years later, Dr Mike had a surprising 

reunion with Bill whilst working at 

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Bill was 

receiving further cardiac treatment: “Bill said 

to me, ‘Are you Mike Thompson? You saved 

my life at the Bristol Half in 2015.’ It was 

quite emotional, a tear-jerking moment.’ Bill 

recovered well again and recently confirmed, 

“Apart from a sprained ankle, I’m fully fit.” 

He went on to say, “In my calendar, I have 

declared 13 September as ‘Dr Michael 

Thompson Day’ which my wife and I celebrate 

each year, for good reason. “ 

Dr Mike says the best thing about working in 

HEMS is, “having the ability to treat people 

of all genders, ages and backgrounds with 

an acute injury or illness in any environment. 

Working on a motorway or inside someone’s 

house gives me the experience and exposure 

to help me feel more relaxed when I am 

thrown into the unknown. At GWAAC we 

attend the sickest of patients and I get to 

play a key part in the team when performing 

lifesaving and life-changing injury prevention.” 

Dr Mike hopes to help GWAAC’s clinical team 

develop and improve as part of the charity’s 

wider goals. His short-term plans are to settle 

into his new roles as a Consultant, GWAAC 

Critical Care Doctor, and Dad. 

Outside of his career, Dr Mike likes spending 

time with his family, exploring coastal places 

together and enjoying the simple beach life. 

He says his biggest achievement to date is his 

two children; a three-year-old daughter, and a 

12-day-old son. 

He also likes travelling and has lived in 

Vanuatu, a country in the South Pacific 

Ocean, where he learnt to speak Pidgin 

English: “Nem blong me Michael” translates to 

“My name is Michael.” 

Dr Mike is inspired by, “people who set a clear 

ambition and achieve it. I’m always impressed 

by ‘Yes’ people; people that make things 

happen.” 

His three favourite things in life are family 

(most favourite!), flying and red wine. His 

three most hated things are traffic jams, rude 

people and reality TV. 

And when asked to describe himself in a few 

words? Patient, loyal and adaptable. 

Welcome to the GWAAC family, Dr Mike! 

UK’s first female chief 

paramedic takes the helm at 


Pauline Cranmer has been appointed as 

chief paramedic at London Ambulance 

Service after a distinguished career 

spanning 30 years in the capital, marking 

the first time a woman has held the title 

anywhere in the country. 

Following an open external recruitment 

campaign, Pauline was appointed after a 

robust and competitive series of interviews. 

Pauline joined the Service in 1994 as a 

technician before qualifying as a paramedic. 

She is also an experienced strategic 

commander and led the response to the 

Westminster Bridge terror attack. 

Throughout her career she has always shown 

her devotion to duty – an accolade which 

saw her awarded the prestigious Queen’s 

Ambulance Service Medal in 2019. 

Pauline said: “This senior executive paramedic 

role is the opportunity to blaze the trail for 

all those that come after me. It is a real 

opportunity to help develop the profession 

of paramedicine itself, and the people within 

it. I am looking forward to developing and 

enhancing further improvements to the care 

we are able to give patients in London. 

“I’m also really proud to be reaching 30 

years in the Service. I feel a combination of 

emotions about it. I feel really proud, but a 

bit shocked – because it’s a long time –and 

also a bit reflective of all the different things 

I’ve done during my career. It feels like such a 

big milestone. 

“But overall I am just so excited for the future 

at London Ambulance Service.” 

Formally welcoming Pauline to the executive 

team, Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles said: “After 

30 years at London Ambulance Service, Pauline 

brings experience and an intricate knowledge of 

London’s health system to our leadership team 

and we’re lucky to have someone who is so 

committed to developing our staff. 

“She’s a great role-model and she continues 

to develop her career at London Ambulance 

Service and help shape the organisation so 

it can continue to care our patients in the 

years ahead.” 

ALLIANCE 

PIONEER 

GROUP 

Over the years Pauline has witnessed huge 

changes at London Ambulance Service, 

to the nature of her profession and to the 

city itself. And her own role has continued 

to evolve. 

She said: “The opportunity to work with so 

many different teams, across parts of the 

organisation, meeting fantastic people and 

working with and learning from amazing role 

models has been incredible. 

“Who I am today, as a person and a leader in 

my work, has been shaped by people that I 

have worked with. 

“So many people have really supported me, 

nurtured my career aspirations and helped me 

to achieve my goals. 

“It’s something I try to bring into my own 

leadership and mentoring and it’s the reason 

why I feel passionately about succession 

planning, and developing the future 

leaders now.” 

The roles have always come with their own 

challenges – the COVID-19 pandemic being 

JOIN THE TEAM 

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PARAMEDICS, TECH’S & ECA’S 

FRONTLINE FROM OUR PLYMOUTH BASE 

Email the HR Team on hr@alliance-pioneer.co.uk 

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Hawthorne House, 25 Darklake View, 

Estover, Plymouth, PL6 7TL 


32 



33

IN PERSON 

IN PERSON 


particularly difficult, leaving her and the 

Service “really proud as a team but quite 

exhausted”. 

Her working environment 30 years ago 

– especially as a woman - was another 

challenge. 

She said: “When I think about the culture 

when I first joined, I reflect on how far we have 

come, but also how much more we need to 

do to have a truly safe workplace for all.” 

When she started ambulance stations were 

very male-dominated areas, and some 

stations only had one (male) toilet! 

The uniforms and vehicles have also 

transformed over the years – for the better. 

When she first began her career, she drove 

a Bedford ambulance and donned the green 

boiler suit uniform. 

She said: “The uniform we had then was 

anything but flattering. It wasn’t good at 

keeping you warm or cool. 

“They also had this odd pocket that if you 

knelt down to treat a patient would mean 

you’d often expose your underwear! You had 

to wear cycling shorts underneath to protect 

your dignity.” 

In addition to these practical challenges, many 

expectations, judgements and interactions 

were a struggle. 

She said: “There was often an assumption 

that because you were a woman, you couldn’t 

be the paramedic. You sometimes had to 

try much harder to be accepted and faced 

assumptions that you couldn’t lift as much as 

the male staff, or even drive! 

“Now in retrospect and looking back over a 

long career, I’m really glad that people like me 

have come through those times and gone on 

to thrive. I am really proud that many of the 

women of my generation of technicians and 

paramedics are now in leadership roles. 

“I am in privileged position now to be able to 

reflect back on the past, my experiences, and 

strive to ensure people are never subjected to 

that kind of treatment again.” 

Female representation across the Trust now 

stands at 51 per cent, according to the latest 

LAS Annual Report. 

She said: “It is right we see the shift in 

balance of gender. We are now at about 51 

per cent female, but that goes up to about 60 

per cent if consider our students, who are our 

paramedics of the future. 

So seeing that shift is something that makes 

me feel really proud of the change that’s been 

undertaken and I’m so excited to see what is 

yet to come for the female paramedics of the 

future. 

“We are the biggest ambulance service in 

the UK and committed to increasing the 

opportunities for our staff and creating 

exciting careers for them to pursue. 

“The role of a paramedic has evolved 

significantly over the last 30 years, all to the 

benefit of the patient. 

“If you want to go from a paramedic in an 

ambulance to running the control room, and 

you put in the work – you can. I did,” she 

added. 

“My best advice would be to find someone 

you can talk to about your future plans and 

build your career towards what you want to 

do. 

“There are no limits on what you can do – you 

just have to decide!” 

Leading paramedic executive 

receives honorary accolade 

from RGU 

Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of The 

College of Paramedics at the forefront of 

the development of the profession, has 

been awarded an Honorary Degree from 

Robert Gordon University (RGU). 

Her career spans almost 30 years and began 

in the mid-1990s with the then Bedfordshire 

and Hertfordshire Ambulance Service where 

she worked on patient transport services 

before progressing to the role of technician 

and then paramedic. 

Tracy moved into several leadership roles with 

the now East of England Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust before being appointed Chief 

Executive of The College of Paramedics in 

2019, where she led the paramedic profession 

as it transitioned from a traditionally ‘blue 

collar’ profession reached through vocational 

training, to a degree-entry profession. 

Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and 

Vice-Chancellor, said: “Tracy has played a 

significant role in promoting and strengthening 

the paramedic profession across the UK. 

It is a versatile, multifaceted and diverse 

profession which has grown exponentially 

in the last decade. Her vision at the top of 

a major professional body within our health 

sector has proved crucial, particularly as 

the organisation and its frontline members 

navigated the challenges of the COVID 

pandemic. 

“Her career has focused on championing, 

supporting and improving lives, and she 

has been an excellent educator and mentor 

to many who have joined the profession. 

It is a real honour for the University to be 

able to recognise a leader who inspires our 

paramedics and who has been a beacon for 

developing the profession as it has evolved in 

multidisciplinary ways.” 

Tracy was appointed ambulance station 

manager at Luton in 2001 three years after 

becoming a paramedic. She then led the 

East of England Ambulance Service’s training 

department before holding down other 

leadership roles. 

Throughout Tracy’s professional working 

life, she has been an active and dedicated 

member of the College of Paramedics. 

Her desire to promote and strengthen 

the paramedic profession across the UK 

made her a natural choice to become the 

organisation’s new Chief Executive in 2019. 

Since then, she has managed to propel 

the College of Paramedics to even greater 

heights, despite years of turbulence within 

the healthcare system, brought about by the 

pandemic. 

Under Tracy’s stewardship, the College of 

Paramedics has grown exponentially and 

now has more than 21,000 members. Since 

becoming Chief Executive, Tracy has helped 

raise the profile of the organisation through 

her regular media appearances where she 

advocates for members on a wide variety of 

subjects. In addition, she has been the driving 

force as the College seeks to gain Royal 

Charter status. 

In 2023, Tracy was awarded an OBE in the 

New Year’s Honours list for services to the 

paramedic profession. 

She was recognised with a Doctor of 

Philosophy (DPhil) award at P&J Live, 

Aberdeen. 

SECAmb announces 

appointment of new Director 

of Operations 

South East Coast Ambulance Service 

NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has 

announced the appointment of a new 

Executive Director of Operations. 

Jennifer Allan will replace Emma Williams in 

the role following Emma’s decision to relocate 

to the North West where she will join Mersey 

& West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS 

Trust as a Divisional Director of Operations. 

Emma has served as Director of Operations 

since September 2019 and has enjoyed 

an ambulance service career since joining 

London Ambulance Service as a trainee 

qualified ambulance technician in 1996. 

Jennifer will join SECAmb in the autumn as 

the Trust develops its executive team to reflect 

its move towards a regional integrated delivery 

leadership model across its Kent, Surrey and 

Sussex footprint. 

She joins from South West London and St 

George’s (SWLSG) Mental Health NHS Trust 

where she has served as Chief Operating 

Officer since joining in March 2020. 

At SWLSG, she has led on the operational 

delivery and improvement of the Trust’s 

clinical services having previously worked 

at a senior level in a number of hospital and 

community trusts across the capital. 

Prior to working at SWLSG, Jennifer was 

Director of Operations at Guy’s and St 

Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust where she 

led operationally on the Trust’s adult surgical 

services. At Central London Community 

Healthcare NHS Trust she led the delivery 

of district nursing, rapid response and 

rehabilitation services. 

SECAmb Chief Executive, Simon Weldon 

said: “I welcome Jennifer’s appointment and 

look forward to working closely with her. She 

brings with her a great deal of experience at 

a senior leadership level and she will be a real 

asset to SECAmb. 

“I would also like to take this opportunity 

to thank Emma Williams for her dedication 

and hard work with SECAmb since joining 

us in 2019. This, of course, included leading 

Trust operations during the pandemic – an 

extremely significant and challenging task. I 

wish her all the very best for the next stage of 

her career.” 

Jennifer said: “It’s a huge privilege to be 

joining SECAmb at this exciting time and to 

have the opportunity to influence the Trust’s 

strategic development. I am delighted to be 

able to build on the successes delivered over 

the last few years as part of a team dedicated 

to improving patient care. 

“I look forward to drawing on the skills and 

experience I have gained at SWLSTG, which 

is strongly values-led, with a focus on health 

inequalities and creating a compassionate 

culture of care.” 

SECAmb announces 

appointment to new Chief 

Paramedic Officer role 

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS 

Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased to 

announce the appointment of its first ever 

Chief Paramedic Officer. 

Experienced paramedic, Jaqualine Lindridge, 

will take up the board-level position in the 

autumn, following an extensive recruitment 

process. 

The role is aligned to the Trust’s new strategy 

which is designed to empower its most senior 

clinicians to work together to lead service 

delivery and improve patient care. 

Her responsibilities will include all education 

and training within SECAmb as well 

organisational learning and clinical supervision. 

Jaqualine is currently Director of Quality 

Improvement at London Ambulance Service, 

having held a number of clinical roles in the 

capital joining as an ambulance technician in 

2000 and qualifying as a paramedic in 2003. 

Following periods as an emergency care 

practitioner and clinical tutor, Jaqualine 

became a consultant paramedic with LAS 

in 2014 where her role focussed on clinical 

practice, clinical leadership and service 

development. 

She led the introduction of advanced 

paramedic practitioners in urgent care and 

acted as the Trust’s mental capacity lead. 

She also contributed to the development of 

national clinical guidance for paramedics and 

other ambulance clinicians, serving on both 

JRCALC and NICE Guideline Committees. 

SECAmb Chief Executive, Simon Weldon 

said: “I am delighted we have made this 

appointment. I am particularly looking 


34 

35 



IN PERSON 

IN PERSON 

forward to seeing how this new role works 

in partnership with our Director of Quality & 

Nursing and with the Chief Medical Officer to 

truly embed senior clinicians at the heart of 

our leadership team. 

She has also served as a trustee to the National 

Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and 

Death (NCEPOD), and as a Public Governor to 

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation 

Trust - a large mental health trust. 


Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased 

to announce the appointment of a new 

Independent Non-Executive Director. 


36 

“Jaqualine brings a wealth of experience to 

the role, as well as real enthusiasm and I 

know is excited to be joining us. I look forward 

to working closely with her to improve the 

service provide our patients. 

Jaqualine said: “I feel both excited and privileged 

to be joining SECAmb as their first Chief 

Paramedic Officer. It’s a very exciting time for 

paramedics working in ambulance services. I 

look forward to working all my new colleagues 

and making a positive contribution to patient 

care across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.” 

Trust announces 

appointment of new 

Independent Non-Executive 

Director 


Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased 

to announce the appointment of a new 

Independent Non-Executive Director. 

Professor Mojgan Sani began a threeyear 

term on 1 June 2024 and has a has 

a professional background as a Chief 

Pharmacist, Controlled Drugs Accountable 

Officer, and Director of Medicines 

Optimisation in large, complex multi-site NHS 

acute hospitals. 

Her recent positions have included serving as 

Corporate Director of Clinical Outcomes and 

Effectiveness at University Hospitals Sussex. 

Mojgan is the South-East South-Central 

Chair of the National Quality Improvement 

and Clinical Audit Network (NQICAN), a 

visiting professor at a number of universities 

for Medicines Optimisation and Clinical 

Pharmacy, and a non-executive director for 

HIOW ICB and Medway NHS Foundation 

Trust. She has chaired both primary care 

assurance and remuneration committees and 

she is a Champion for Wellbeing and Freedom 

to Speak Up. 

Chair of SECAmb, Usman Khan, also began 

an initial three-year term on 1 June, replacing 

David Astley who stepped down from his role 

at the end of May – previously announced 

here: https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/secambannounces-appointment-of-new-chair/ 

Usman said: “I am delighted to formally 

welcome Mojgan to her new role in SECAmb 

and look forward to working closely with her. 

She brings with her a wealth of experience 

and I know she shares my passion for 

improving the quality of care patients 

receive and further developing the vital role 

the ambulance service plays in the local 

healthcare system.” 

Mojgan said: “I am delighted to join the 

SECAmb team and looking forward to being 

part of the improvement journey for our 

patients, and celebrating the team’s success.” 

Trust announces appointment 

of new Independent Non- 

Executive Director 


Professor Karen Norman fills a vacant post 

and will begin a three-year term with the Trust 

on 8 July. A nurse by background, Karen has 

worked in healthcare for 45 years in both the 

public and private sectors in the UK, Australia, 

New Zealand and Gibraltar. 

She has 20 years’ experience as an Executive 

Director at board level, as Gibraltar’s Chief 

Nursing Officer, including responsibilities as 

Director of Gibraltar Ambulance Services, 

(2004-2013) and as Director of Nursing and 

Clinical Governance at Brighton and Sussex 

University Hospitals NHS Trust (1993-2004). 

She has also worked as a management and 

leadership consultant and was a former 

reviewer for the Commission for Health 

Improvement. 

Karen currently remains a Senior Independent 

Non-Executive Director at Queen Victoria 

Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East 

Grinstead. She also serves as a Visiting 

Professor to the Doctorate in Management 

Programme at the University of Hertfordshire, 

and is also a Visiting Professor at the School 

of Nursing, Allied and Public Health Faculty of 

Health, Science, Social Care and Education at 

Kingston University, London. 

Welcoming Karen, SECAmb Chair, Usman 

Khan said: “I look forward to working closely 

with Karen in the coming years. She has 

a significant experience at both executive 

and non-executive level and it’s clear her 

knowledge and expertise will be of huge 

benefit to SECAmb.” 

Karen said: “I am delighted to joining SECAmb 

and meeting my new colleagues. I have a 

particular interest in Quality Improvement, 

Patient Safety and Leadership development 

and I look forward to helping ensure the Trust 

as a whole and individuals are able to thrive 

across these vital areas and beyond.” 

PREPARING OUR EMERGENCY 

SERVICES FOR EVERY RESPONSE 

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VISITORS 

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37

IN PERSON 

IN PERSON 

• 

Dennis, of Cardiff, started his career in the 

Territorial Army 158 Field Ambulance division 

aged 17 and was inspired to become a 

paramedic after his involvement in the Aberfan 

disaster rescue effort in 1966. 


38 

Welsh Ambulance Service 

stalwart recognised in King’s 

Birthday Honours List 

A Welsh Ambulance Service stalwart has 

been recognised in His Majesty the King’s 

Birthday Honours List. 

Mike Jenkins, Consultant Paramedic and 

Regional Clinical Lead, has been awarded the 

prestigious King’s Ambulance Service Medal 

for distinguished service, it was announced 

tonight. 

Last month, Mike, of Cardiff, celebrated 40 

years in the ambulance service. 

Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the 

Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “We’re 

delighted and incredibly proud that Mike 

has been recognised in the King’s Birthday 

Honours List. 

“During his lifetime of service, he has 

remained steadfast in his commitment to 

improving patient safety, clinical outcomes 

and the patient’s experience. 

“His dedication to develop others and 

encourage future generations into clinical 

leadership positions to help achieve 

the highest standards of care has also 

been exemplary. 

“The Honours List recognises some of our 

very best ambulance professionals, and on 

behalf of everyone at Team WAST, I’d like to 

extend a huge congratulations to Mike.” 

Mike joined the ambulance service in 1984 as 

a Paramedic Supervisor. 

He was among the first in the UK to qualify as 

an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner in 2006 

and continues to practice at this level. 

In 2016, he became the Trust’s Head of 

Patient Safety, Concerns and Learning, and 

a year later, was appointed Regional Clinical 

Lead in south east Wales. 

More recently, Mike has led the development 

and delivery of new national clinical pathways 

for patients with stroke, vascular emergencies 

and respiratory conditions across Wales. 

He has also played an instrumental role in the 

training and education of frontline clinicians. 

Andy Swinburn, Executive Director of 

Paramedicine, said: “Not content with all of 

this, Mike is also now part of a new project 

to further improve stroke care in Wales by 

harnessing video technology. 

“There are many colleagues across the 

Trust and beyond who’ve helped to make 

this happen but without Mike’s dedication 

and commitment, this work would not have 

progressed so quickly or comprehensively. 

“His contribution in designing and delivering 

these improvements for patients has 

been exceptional.” 

Meanwhile, retired paramedic Dennis Moss 

has been made an MBE for his services to 

the Welsh Ambulance Service and to first 

aid abroad. 


He joined South Glamorgan Ambulance 

Service in 1975 and is believed to have been 

the first Asian paramedic in Wales. 

As a member of the National Ambulance 

Service BME Committee, Dennis was a 

trailblazer in the development of the Trust’s 

first equality and diversity policy. 

In 2015, he set up Team India, a group 

of professionals from across the NHS, 

ambulance and fire service, to deliver lifesaving 

skills and equipment to communities 

in India. 

In 2022, the group travelled to New Delhi, 

Amritsar, Darjeeling and Jamshedpur, 

where Dennis was born, to deliver training 

to schools, places of worship, police and 

nursing staff. 

Dennis retired in 2016 after more than 40 

years of service. 

Jason said: “Forty years of ambulance service 

is no mean feat, and the fact that Dennis 

is still helping those less fortunate is very 

commendable. 

“A huge congratulations to Dennis on 

his MBE.” 

More than 1,000 people from across the UK 

have been recognised in the King’s Birthday 

Honours List. 

The focus of this list is individuals who have 

had an immeasurable impact on the lives 

of people across the country, such as by 

creating innovative solutions or driving real 

change in public life. 

Many are active community champions, 

innovative social entrepreneurs, pioneering 

scientists, passionate health workers and 

dedicated volunteers. 

Join us at the South 

Western Ambulance 

Service where the 

beauty and diversity of 

our region is endless and 

so are the opportunities 

to thrive in your role 

About us 

The outstanding beauty, culture and diversity of our region 

– from the coast to city centres, from universities to ancient 

monuments – draws people from across the UK and the world. 

At the heart of this varied landscape, diverse population 

and wealth of history we employ over 6000 people and are 

supported by over 575 volunteers, serving a population that 

increases from 5.7 million up to 23 million throughout the year. 

What we can offer you 

We listen and work with our staff to ensure a progressive, 

clinically advanced service, whilst equipping you with the 

skills, resources and development you need to help you 

thrive in your role. 

We’re proud to invest in education and training to support 

our people and you will have opportunities to progress and 

enjoy continuous professional development. 

With annual performance and wellbeing conversations and 

the support of our team, you will have career potential that 

matches your ambitions. 

So contact us today and start 

your journey with SWASFT 

Visit www.swast.nhs.uk and click Join to find more 



39

Do more 

Monitor 

from your 

seat. 

Care for your 

patients whilst 

in transit, all 

from your seat. 

Patient Box 

Defbrillator 

Heading to the 

Emergency 

Services Show 

Visit us at 

stand F190 

to learn more. 

The Corpuls3 defib/monitor splits 

into three modules to enable seamless 

patient care while you’re seated. 

SafeInTheBack Compliant 

www.theortusgroup.com

Ambulance UK August 2024

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