Ambulance UK - December 2018 by Media Publishing Company

Volume 33 No. 6

December 2018

DEDICATED TO THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND ITS SUPPLIERS

INNOVATION

In this issue Infection prevention control for the emergency services A novel method of non-clinical dispatch Life Connections 2019 - 5 venues - 2 conferences and several workshops to choose from

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS 217

EDITOR’S COMMENT

218

FEATURES

218 Infection Prevention Control for the Emergency Services - A new approach to IPC

Ambulance UK This issue edited by: Matt House c/o Media Publishing Company 48 High Street SWANLEY BR8 8BQ ADVERTISING: Terry Gardner, Brenda Pickering

220 A novel method of non-clinical dispatch is associated with a higher rate of critical Helicopter Emergency Medical Service intervention

CIRCULATION: Media Publishing Company Media House, 48 High Street

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NEWSLINE

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

EDITOR’S COMMENT An article in this month’s edition focuses on new guidance on psychosocial and mental health care for pre-hospital care practitioners and first responders. No-one can have failed to see the increasing attention that mental health issues have been afforded over the last year or two. Whether it’s over internal trust communications, social media, or even this publication; we are seeing more and more recognition of the impact that mental health issues have on people, and what we as colleagues, managers and friends can do to spot the signs and help people get the help they need. This trend is not limited to the ambulance service. This has been a national, if not international drive. In the UK, all the emergency services have been focusing on stress and mental health in their staff, as have other areas of the health economy, and the armed services.

“Having a healthy workforce is essential, and something we should all strive for.”

This effort has got to be good for those affected. Having a healthy workforce is essential, and something we should all strive for. Now fully into the winter period, with all the pressures that that brings, it is important that we all keep an eye out for each other. Long hours away from families, with the inevitably increased workload, particularly at this time of year can be very stressful. At the same time, let’s not forget what an incredible job this is. Leanne Parrett, in another article in this month’s edition talks about the amazing work the EMD and clinicians at SWASFT did when they attended the birth of her baby. The words of the SWASFT staff express the sense of achievement this job can bring. So as you’re out and about over the Christmas period, remember what a hugely positive impact you can have on someone’s life, and what it is that makes this such a good job. But make sure you look after each other, and keep an eye out for the signs that your friends and colleagues are struggling. So to sign off, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and we will see you all in 2019.

Matt House, Co-Editor Ambulance UK

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

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The majority of infections are spread by hand to hand contact or by touching a contaminated surface. The primary defence against infection involves a combination of hand hygiene and surface sanitisation. It follows that anything that breaks this sequence will help eliminate the sources of infections. Zenith Hygiene offers a complete range of trusted formulations for use throughout emergency vehicle fleets. Effective against pathogens in just 30 seconds, Zenith’s Bio Sanitiser is independently proven against bacteria, spores, fungi and viruses and is only one of the specially formulated products which provides effective infection prevention. Used by ambulance services for daily and deepclean operations, this sanitiser is effective against Norovirus, C. diff, E.coli, Influenza, MRSA, HIV and many other infections. Products are only as good as their application. That is why Zenith’s Total Hygiene System places significant focus on training and supporting signage and documentation. The pressure to maintain the hygiene of emergency vehicles is vital therefore the approach to IPC and hygiene management must be highly effective, simple and fast acting. To ensure operators in this sector can be successful, interactive product-in-use and COSHH awareness training is offered free-of-charge and delivered classroom-based or via Zenith’s

Monitoring hygiene standards is a key element of Zenith’s Total Hygiene System. Both ATP and Swab Testing is offered by Zenith’s team of experts as part of their own on-site audits of an operator’s fleet and Total Hygiene System. This provides an auditable system that demonstrates to the regulator that the operator has; a thorough and

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ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

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Ambulance crews, vehicle preparation teams and Make Ready professionals now have an effective alternative which allows them to return these items to use quickly and easily. Diversey’s CleanPatch is a CE-Registered Class 1 medical device for repairing damaged mattresses and seats to an intact and hygienic state. It reduces the risk of cross-contamination and extends the life of stretchers to minimise the need for expensive replacements.

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

One issue that ambulance and emergency vehicle operators regularly face is damage to stretchers and seats. This can be a major problem because it usually means the stretcher or the seats cannot be used until it is replaced or repaired, not always easy at short notice or when out on a call.

Damaged stretchers and seats cannot be cleaned properly and could become a risk to patient safety. It is important to catch damage early and restore the surface to an intact and hygienic state in order to preserve performance characteristics and cleanability. This is where CleanPatch is designed to be used. It is made from latex-free, biocompatible materials and has been clinically tested and validated by independent infection prevention professionals. To use, the backing is simply peeled off and the patch applied in the desired position. It then provides a durable barrier which is impervious to fluids under arduous conditions. Moreover, it is resilient to all types of cleaning product which is important because stretchers must be cleaned after each use.

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FEATURE

A NOVEL METHOD OF NON-CLINICAL DISPATCH IS ASSOCIATED WITH A HIGHER RATE OF CRITICAL HELICOPTER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE INTERVENTION Scott Munro1,2,3, Mark Joy1, Richard de Coverly2, Mark Salmon2, Julia Williams3,4 and Richard M. Lyon1,2* Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2018 26:84 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-018-0551-9 © The Author(s). 2018, Published 25 September 2018 Reproduced with permission from the Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

Abstract Background

Results

Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) are a scarce resource

A total of 4703 incidents were included; 2510 in period one and 2184 in

that can provide advanced emergency medical care to unwell or injured

period two. Variation in tasking was reduced by introducing non-clinical

patients. Accurate tasking of HEMS is required to incidents where

dispatchers. There was no difference in median time from 999 call to

advanced pre-hospital clinical care is needed. We sought to evaluate

HEMS activation between period one and two (period one; median 7 min

any association between non-clinically trained dispatchers, following a

(IQR 4–17) vs period two; median 7 min (IQR 4–18). Non-clinical dispatch

bespoke algorithm, compared with HEMS paramedic dispatchers with

improved accuracy of HEMS tasking to a mission where a critical care

respect to incidents requiring a critical HEMS intervention.

intervention was required (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04–1.51, p = 0.02).

Methods

Conclusion

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from two

The introduction of non-clinical, HEMS-specific dispatch, aided by

12-month periods was performed (Period one: 1st April 2014 – 1st

a bespoke algorithm improved accuracy of HEMS tasking. Further

April 2015; Period two: 1st April 2016 – 1st April 2017). Period 1 was

research is warranted to explore where this model could be effective in

a Paramedic-led dispatch process. Period 2 was a non-clinical HEMS

other HEMS services.

dispatcher assisted by a bespoke algorithm. Kent, Surrey & Sussex HEMS (KSS HEMS) is tasked to approximately 2500 cases annually

Keywords

and operates 24/7 across south-east England. The primary outcome

Air ambulance, Helicopter emergency medical services, Emergency

measure was incidence of a HEMS intervention.

medical services, Dispatch, Tasking.

Background Major trauma is a leading cause of mortality and serious morbidity,

Kingdom (UK) there is a wide variation in the criteria used for tasking,

especially in the young [1]. Emergency Medical Services can influence

crew configurations and dispatch arrangements [8]. Different dispatch

the outcome of major trauma patients by the type and quality of pre-

personnel and criteria have been previously studied, however as there

hospital care they deliver [2, 3, 4]. In many regions, advanced medical

is no standardised tasking approach across the different UK HEMS

teams, often including a doctor, respond to accidents as part of a

providers, it is difficult to compare results [9].

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) [5]. For trauma victims AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

and patients who are medically critically unwell, HEMS can deliver

In order to make optimum use of a scarce and costly clinical resource,

specialist clinical care, such as pre-hospital anaesthesia, blood product

the criteria for dispatching HEMS to trauma scenes should have a high

transfusion and advanced clinical intervention, as well as the ability to

sensitivity and specificity in order to reduce over-triage; which may result

rapidly transport the patient to hospital [6].

in high costs and increased risk to crew safety, and under-triage; which may result in patients not receiving the assistance of a specialist HEMS

The role of deploying a HEMS team is a complex and nuanced

team when needed [10].

task. As HEMS is a scarce resource, it is important that they are only tasked to missions with a high likelihood of requiring advanced

A common HEMS dispatch model is to have a dedicated person

clinical intervention, beyond the scope of standard land ambulance

situated within an ambulance service emergency operation centre

crews. This also has important consequences for the accurate triage

(EOC) to screen incoming emergency calls and assess them for

of major trauma patients [7]. Within the air ambulances in the United

suitability of requiring a HEMS response [11]. This model is currently

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FEATURE

Fig. 1 KSSAAT HEMS tasking criteria used by non-clinical HEMS dispatchers. Grade 1 dispatch requires a single trigger to be met. Grade 2 dispatch requires two triggers to be met

used across many UK and international HEMS services [8, 10]. A

compared with HEMS paramedic dispatchers, were as effective at

â&#x20AC;&#x153;HEMS deskâ&#x20AC;? is staffed by a HEMS-trained paramedic who screens

accurately dispatching HEMS to missions requiring critical intervention.

incoming emergency calls from the ambulance service computer-aided dispatch system (CAD). There are limitations of this HEMS dispatch model. There is a lack of a standardisation to HEMS dispatch, with individual clinicians making their own judgment on the need to task HEMS. This system is open to selection bias and significant inter-operator variability [8].

quality research in this field, it is not possible to identify a model that best optimises resource utilisation, with currently no validated criteria to

Setting Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust (KSSAAT) provides two doctor-paramedic teams, one of which operates 24-h a day and the other 12-h a day, responding to emergency calls across southeast England. KSSAAT responds to 70% trauma and 20% medical missions. Missions are selected by a dedicated KSSAAT dispatcher who is present

guide the development of definitive guidelines [11].

in the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) control room and

Due to the limited evidence surrounding optimal HEMS dispatch

can deploy by helicopter or response car. The team consists of a pilot, a

models, this study aimed to investigate any association of clinical

physician from an emergency medicine or anaesthesia background and

training and experience of dispatchers on accurately dispatching the

a paramedic who has undergone additional service-specific training.

HEMS team to incidents where HEMS-specific interventions were

The crews bring advanced clinical procedures directly to patients, such

required. We sought to evaluate whether, in a UK HEMS service, non-

as pre-hospital anaesthesia, advanced analgesia, advanced airway

clinically trained dispatchers using a bespoke HEMS tasking algorithm,

management, blood transfusion and surgical interventions.

continuously screens incoming emergency calls. The KSSAAT teams

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

Two recent systematic reviews concluded that due to a paucity of high

Methods

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FEATURE The KSSAAT HEMS service provides enhanced pre-hospital medical

At the time of the study, all the NCDs came from a background working

care to south east England, a static population of approximately 4.3

in the ambulance service EOC, dispatching land ambulances. As part

million and a transient population of up to a total of 10 million. Patient

of their HEMS dispatch training they were put through an induction

transport to hospital can be by air or road, depending on geography,

course, followed by a four-week development period, starting with

weather, time of day and hospital helipad availability. Statistics from the

observation of the dispatch desk progressing to peer supervised

UK National Audit Office suggest that in this region of the UK, there are

practice and culminating in a sign-off assessment undertaken by an

approximately 630 cases of major trauma annually.

operational manager. The NCDs were aided by a bespoke tasking algorithm, devised by the KSSAAT team. The algorithm was based

HEMS dispatch model

on expert opinion and internal consensus. This algorithm classifies

KSSAAT previously used HEMS paramedic dispatchers (HPD) working

HEMS dispatch into Grade 1 and Grade 2 dispatches for HEMS,

on a dedicated dispatch desk in the EOC of the local ambulance service

based on mechanism of injury, clinical condition of the patient and

to activate the helicopter and its crew. Since January 2016, due to rota

geographical location. The specifics of the HEMS tasking criteria are

constraints and the availability of HEMS paramedics, it was no longer

shown in Fig. 1. The algorithm is paper based. Whilst listening to the

possible to fully cover the HEMS dispatch desk with a designated HEMS

incoming emergency call, dispatchers aim to rapidly identify either one

paramedic. Other means of specialist dispatch were therefore explored

(from Grade 1 criteria list) or two (from Grade 2 criteria list). If these are

and the trust began training non-clinically trained dispatchers (NCDs) to

positively identified, HEMS is dispatched. Grade 1 should be dispatched

work on the HEMS dispatch desk. All NCDs came from an ambulance

within 5 min and Grade 2 within 10 min of receipts of 112/999 call.

dispatch background, with all candidates having extensive experience of working an ambulance control room. This study compares a total of

In addition, NCDs were fully integrated into the KSSAAT Clinical

20 individual HPDs to 5 NCDs.

Governance system. This includes receiving feedback on individual

Table 1 Summary of HEMS dispatch comparing HEMS paramedic dispatch vs non-clinical dispatch Total (n = 4703)

HEMS paramedic dispatch (n = 2519)

Non-clinical dispatch (n = 2184)

p-value

Patient conveyed

1681 (36%)

960 (38%)

721 (33%)

Patient Treated

1228 (26%)

635 (25%)

593 (27%)

Stand down at scene

113 (2%)

68 (3%)

45 (2%)

Stand down en route

1681 (36%)

856 (34%)

825 (38%)

< 0.001

Result

Interventions RSI

490 (10%)

245 (10%)

245 (11%)

Blood products

169 (4%)

77 (3%)

92 (4%)

Code red

122 (3%)

45 (2%)

77 (4%)

Thoracotomy

4 (0.1%)

4 (0.2%)

0 (0%)

Thoracostomy

262 (6%)

116 (5%)

146 (7%)

0.01

Job type RTC

1988 (42%)

1060 (42%)

928 (42%)

Accidental injury

1158 (25%)

589 (23%)

569 (26%)

Medical

522 (11%)

285 (11%)

237 (11%)

Assault

387 (8%)

192 (8%)

195 (9%)

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

Intentional self-harm

258 (5%)

155 (6%)

103 (5%)

Sport/leisure

257 (5%)

151 (6%)

106 (5%)

Other

106 (2%)

70 (3%)

36 (2%)

Exposure

27 (0.6%)

17 (1%)

10 (0.5%)

0.003

Cat 1 (immediate)

1586 (34%)

704 (30%)

882 (40%)

< 0.001

Cat 2 (interrogate)

2056 (44%)

1300 (52%)

756 (35%)

< 0.001

Cat 3 (crew request)

1061 (23%)

515 (20%)

546 (25%)

< 0.001

999 to HEMS, median, IQR

7 (4–17)

7 (4–18)

0.36

999 to scene, median, IQR

36 (26–51)

36 (26–52)

0.97

Job dispatch

Time intervals

HEMS helicopter emergency medical service, RSI rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia, IQR interquartile range

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FEATURE missions, attending Clinical Governance days (CGD) and receiving ongoing training. CGDs are held every 2 weeks with dispatchers attending to partake in clinical case reviews. On average, 10–12 missions are reviewed on each CGD. Dispatchers attend a 1-h update/training session as part of each CGD and share experience with the other dispatchers. Peer review of dispatchers occurs 1–2 times per month by having a member of the KSSAAT senior management team undertake a dispatch shift with them. In order to investigate any association between type of dispatcher and accurate dispatch, a service evaluation of incidents attended by the KSSAAT was undertaken as a prospectively planned project.

Results A total of 4703 incidents were included in this study; 2519 in period one and 2184 in period two. Period one consisted of 335 more incidents being tasked than in period two. The overall summary of HEMS dispatches is shown in Table 1. The introduction of non-clinical dispatch was associated with a higher proportion of Category 1 dispatches (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.54–1.97), a lower proportion of Category 2 dispatches (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.44–0.55) and a rise in the number of land ambulance crews requesting HEMS (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13–1.48). The frequency of the HEMS team conveying patients to hospital was higher during period one group. The HEMS team were stood down en

Data capture A retrospective analysis of collected data from two 12-month periods was performed (Period one: 1st April 2014 – 1st April 2015; Period two: 1st April 2016 – 1st April 2017). Period one consisted of data where clinically trained HPDs were responsible for dispatching the HEMS crew, period two was collected from when NCD were responsible. Data were collected from KSSAAT electronic records, which are captured, on a custom-built electronic database (HEMSbase, MedicOne Systems Ltd., UK). KSSAAT dispatchers and clinical teams all use this web-based database which has pre-assigned fields and drop down menus to allow standardised data entry. The dispatcher enters call details and dispatch details and the HEMS team complete the clinical sections. There were no

route to incidents more frequently in period two. A multi-variant logistic regressions showed that there was an association between NCD and accurate dispatch to an incident where a HEMS intervention (defined as the patient needing RSI, blood transfusion, thoracostomy or resuscitative thoracotomy) was required (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.04–1.51, p = 0.02). The unadjusted figures for correct dispatch also favoured NCD and are shown in Table 2. There was no difference in median time from 999 call to HEMS activation between period one and two (period one; median 7 min (IQR 4–17) vs period two; median 7 min (IQR 4–18). This is shown in Table 3.

changes to the data capture process during the study period. All jobs attended by KSSAAT during these two periods were included in the analysis.

Discussion

Outcome measures

The results of this study suggest that non-clinically trained dispatchers,

The primary outcome for this study was accurate dispatch of the HEMS team to incidents that required pre-specified, pre-hospital interventions that would only be available to the patients in this region by a HEMS team. These included any of pre-hospital anaesthesia; the administration of blood products; resuscitative thoracotomy; chest thoracostomy and a ‘code red’ alert to a major trauma centre. If a single intervention was performed, a positive primary outcome was recorded. The secondary outcome was the

assisted by a bespoke HEMS tasking algorithm and fully integrated into a HEMS service, are more effective at accurately dispatching a HEMS team, as a HEMS-trained paramedic, working in the EOC. This is a significant finding as the wider use of this system could provide a more consistent and cost-effective approach to HEMS tasking. Accurate triage is important for any trauma system [7, 12]. Over triage can lead to unnecessary burden on specialist major trauma centres and

time from initial 999/112 call to activation of the HEMS team.

is inconvenient for patients and their families. Under triage can lead to

Data analysis

which is not available at the receiving hospital [7, 12]. HEMS services

Dispatch data are presented using descriptive statistics, a chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between the HPD and NCD groups and a Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables. The threshold for statistical significance was set at 5%.

are thought to triage more accurately than land-bases services [12]. In KSS, we have a performance indicator aiming to keep over triage < 15% and under triage < 5%. Previous studies have shown outcome benefit when HEMS is tasked to the correct missions [13]. Andruszkow et al. (2014) undertook a large

between accurate dispatch to incidents requiring HEMS intervention and dispatcher type. The dependent variable was accurate dispatch (accurate/ not accurate) and the independent variables were dispatcher type (NCD/HPD); job type (Assault/ exposure/ intentional self-harm/ medical/ other/ other transport/ road traffic collision/ sport or leisure);

Table 2 Unadjusted comparison of clinical vs non-clinical dispatcher for accurate HEMS dispatch Unadjusted correct dispatch for HEMS clinical intervention

categorisation of dispatch and result of incident (patient conveyed to

Yes

hospital/patient treated on scene/stood down en route/ stood down

Clinical

322

2197

at scene). Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are

Non-clinical

332

1852

reported. The statistical software package ‘R’ (R Core Team, 2016,

Chi-square = 5.71, p = 0.017

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

A multiple logistic regression was used to analyse the relationship

significant clinical risk for patients if they require specialist intervention,

version 3.4.2) was used to undertake all statistical analysis.

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FEATURE Table 3 Time from initial emergency 999 call to HEMS activation Overall

HPD

NCP

p-value

Minutes from 999 to HEMS activation, median, IQR

7 (4–17)

7 (4–18)

0.3

Minutes from 999 to HEMS on scene, median, IQR

36 (26–51)

36 (26–52)

HEMS helicopter emergency medical service, HPD HEMS paramedic dispatcher, NCP non-clinically trained dispatcher, IQR interquartile range

retrospective analysis of a trauma database in Germany to investigate

We observed a rise in the number of HEMS activations as a result

the changes in HEMS-associated pre-hospital trauma care over the last

of land ambulance crew requests in Period 2. Unlike HPDs, NCDs

decade and whether a physician-staffed HEMS system has a beneficial

lack the clinical ability to discuss a specific case with the requesting

impact on outcome in multiple traumatised patients. The results

land ambulance crew and give clinical advice. This resulted in land

demonstrate an independent survival benefit of HEMS after multiple

ambulance crew requests being activated upon more readily. There is

trauma. In order to maximise the value of HEMS, they need to be tasked

a need for further research to explore the optimum means of extracting

to the correct patients who will benefit from the interventions that HEMS

the relevant clinical information from a 999/112 caller.

offer. The limitations of this study include its retrospective and observational design. Accurate dispatch is the first step to optimising pre-hospital triage of

As this study was designed as a service evaluation, the external validity of the

major trauma patients. HEMS dispatch is known to be problematic

results need to be interpreted with caution and further research is warranted

[14]. The acceptance of inappropriate activation is system-specific

to further explore the clinical implications of this study. We accept that using

[15]. Where an incident is geographically remote, we prefer an early

HEMS interventions as the sole proxy marker of a positive dispatch is a

activation, with stand down en route if further clinical information from a

limitation. In future, patient outcome would be the desired primary outcome

land ambulance crew indicates HEMS is not required, as this saves on

measure, however this was outside the possibility of this initial study. We

time.

appreciate the defined HEMS interventions are a simplistic measure of assessing accuracy. However, these criteria are unequivocally associated

Having a HPD has been reported to be the most common model used

with the need for HEMS and were therefore chosen. We accept that the

by HEMS teams across the UK [8], however these results suggest that

decision on clinical intervention is at the discretion of the attending HEMS

it may be possible to recruit and train dispatchers, with no prior clinical

team. However, our system operates within clear and defined Standard

experience or training, to accurately dispatch HEMS to incidents where

Operating Procedures so we feel the effect of on-scene decision-making is

HEMS-specific interventions are required. Individual HEMS paramedics

likely to be similar and minimal across both groups.

rely on their clinical experience and apply this to the tasking process

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

in order to select missions, which may be suitable for HEMS. The use

HEMS clearly bring more to a scene than just specific clinical

of a bespoke HEMS tasking algorithm is likely to have supported the

interventions. Advanced clinical decision making, up- and down-triage,

NCD process. Clinical dispatchers may benefit from such an algorithm

supporting road ambulance crews and coordinating multi-patient

and further research is warranted to explore the effect of this algorithm.

incidents are additional benefits of HEMS. Assessing these elements

The drop of individuals from 20 HPD to 5 NCD allowed for a more

objectively is challenging. We have recently introduced pre-hospital

concentrated experience in HEMS tasking.

video recording to assist with research in this area in future.

It is important to remember that NCD in this study were not ordinary

Another limitation is the inability to assess the incidents where a HEMS

ambulance dispatchers, as analysed in previous studies [16]. NCDs

team would have been of benefit to the patient, but were missed

within the KSSAAT service are fully employed by KSSAAT and fall under

by the dispatchers. We did not have access to ambulance service

the KSSAAT Clinical Governance structure, as we have described. They

data to cover critically unwell or injured patients who did not receive

attend Clinical Governance days on a monthly basis, receive direct

HEMS assistance. This prevented detailed sensitivity and specificity

feedback on their HEMS dispatch performance and undergo regular

calculations. Future studies could use hospital data from trauma data

update training. NCDs are solely responsible for HEMS dispatching and

registries to link with pre-hospital data in order to identify patients who

have no responsibility for land ambulance crew tasking. As such, this

were brought to hospital by other means of transportation, but would

has allowed a small group of NCDs to become expert in HEMS tasking.

have otherwise benefited from having a HEMS team present. There are also clearly other benefits that a HEMS team brings to a major trauma

We observed a rise in Category 1 dispatches; suggesting NCDs

scene. These include clinical decision-making, triage and the ability to

are more willing or able to accurately and rapidly follow prescribed

rapidly transport a patient to hospital by air. It is well recognised that

immediate HEMS tasking criteria. Clinical HEMS dispatchers appear

short pre-hospital times can improve outcome, not just for patients with

more likely to wait until a land ambulance crew arrives on-scene in

major trauma [17], but also for other time-critical medical conditions

order to interrogate the call further, by gaining more clinical information

such as stroke and acute coronary syndromes.

from scene to inform the tasking decision. We believe this can lead to significant variation in interpretation. As the HPD also forms part of

While there has been a focus on investigating the validity of different

the HEMS crew rota, there may be unconscious bias to task HEMS,

criteria for dispatching, such as mechanism of injury, call interrogation

especially during times of low activity.

and crew request, this study has provided data regarding the training

224 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

FEATURE and experience of the person doing the dispatching which in itself may

Author details

influence dispatchers’ decision making.

School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences,

University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK. 2Kent, Surrey & A strength of the KSS HEMS system is that all HEMS teams operate under

Sussex Air Ambulance Trust, Redhill Airfield, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5YP,

Standard Operating Procedures, meaning interventions are very comparable.

UK. 3South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust,

There were no significant changes in the HEMS system between period 1

Banstead, Surrey SM7 2AS, UK. 4School of Health and Social Work,

and 2, other than dispatch, allowing us to be more confident of a valid result.

University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, England. Correspondence: richardl@aakss.org.uk

Conclusion

References

The introduction of non-clinical, HEMS-specific dispatch, aided by a bespoke algorithm and Clinical Governance system improved the accuracy of HEMS tasking. This model has the potential to be evaluated in other HEMS services and could significantly improve the accuracy of tasking a valuable, pre-hospital resource to the most seriously unwell or injured patients. Further research is warranted to explore where this model could be effective in other HEMS services. Abbreviations CAD: Computer Aided Dispatch; CI: Confidence Interval; EOC: Emergency Operations Centre; HEMS: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services; HPD: HEMS paramedic dispatcher; IQR: Inter-quartile range KSS: Kent, Surrey & Sussex; KSSAAT: Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust; NCD: Non-clinical dispatcher; OR: Odds Ratio Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank all the KSSAAT dispatch staff for supporting

1. Jansen JO, Thomas R, Loudon MA, Brooks A. Damage control resuscitation for patients with major trauma. BMJ. 2009;338:b1778. 2. Brown JB, Gestring ML, Guyette FX, Rosengart MR, Stassen NA, Forsythe RM, et al. Helicopter transport improves survival following injury in the absence of a time-saving advantage. Surgery. 2016;159:947–59. 3. Funder KS, Rasmussen LS, Lohse N, Siersma V, Hesselfeldt R, Steinmetz J. Long-term follow-up of trauma patients before and after implementation of a physician-staffed helicopter: a prospective observational study. Injury. 2016;47:7–13. 4. Desmettre T, Yeguiayan J-M, Coadou H, Jacquot C, Raux M, Vivien B, et al. Impact of emergency medical helicopter transport directly to a university hospital trauma center on mortality of severe blunt trauma patients until discharge. Crit Care. 2012;16:R170. 5. de Jongh MAC, van Stel HF, Schrijvers AJP, Leenen LPH, Verhofstad MHJ. The effect of helicopter emergency medical services on trauma patient mortality in the Netherlands. Injury. 2012;43:1362–7. 6. Østerås Ø, Brattebø G, Heltne J-K. Helicopter-based emergency medical services for a sparsely populated region: a study of 42,500 dispatches. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2016;60:659–67.

this study.

7. Cameron PA, Gabbe BJ, Smith K, Mitra B. Triaging the right patient to the right place in the shortest time. Br J Anaesth. 2014;113:226–33.

Funding

8. Littlewood N, Parker A, Hearns S, Corfield A. The UK helicopter ambulance tasking study. Injury. 2010;41:27–9.

This study was supported by Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust. Availability of data and materials The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Authors’ contributions RL came up with the concept of the study. SM, MJ and MS undertook the analysis of data. All authors contributed to design of the study and writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Ethics approval and consent to participate As this study was undertaken as a service evaluation with no use of patient identifiable information, approval from an ethics committee was not required. Advice was sought from the University of Surrey Research Integrity and Governance Office.

Not applicable. Competing interests RL and RDC are employees of KSSAAT. MS is a shareholder and director of Medic One Systems Ltd. Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

10. Wigman LD, van Lieshout EMM, de Ronde G, Patka P, Schipper IB. Trauma-related dispatch criteria for helicopter emergency medical Services in Europe. Injury. 2011;42:525–33. 11. McQueen C, Smyth M, Fisher J, Perkins G. Does the use of dedicated dispatch criteria by emergency medical services optimise appropriate allocation of advanced care resources in cases of high severity trauma? A systematic review. Injury. 2015;46:1197–206. 12. Rehn M, Eken T, Krüger AJ, Steen PA, Skaga NO, Lossius HM. precision of field triage in patients brought to a trauma Centre after introducing trauma team activation guidelines. Scand. J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med BioMed Central. 2009;17:1. 13. Andruszkow H, Hildebrand F, Lefering R, Pape H-C, Hoffmann R, Schweigkofler U. Ten years of helicopter emergency medical services in Germany: do we still need the helicopter rescue in multiple traumatised patients? Injury. 2014;45(Suppl 3):S53–8. 14. Giannakopoulos GF, Bloemers FW, Lubbers WD, Christiaans HMT, van Exter P, ESM D L-d K, et al. Criteria for cancelling helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) dispatches. Emerg med. J BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and the British Association for Accident & Emergency Medicine. 2012;29:582–6. 15. Giannakopoulos GF, Lubbers WD, Christiaans HMT, van Exter P, Bet P, Hugen PJC, et al. Cancellations of (helicopter-transported) mobile medical team dispatches in the Netherlands. Langenbecks arch Surg. 5 ed. Springer-Verlag; 2010. 395:737–45. 16. Wilmer I, Chalk G, Davies GE, Weaver AE, Lockey DJ. Air ambulance tasking: mechanism of injury, telephone interrogation or ambulance crew assessment? Emerg Med J. 2015;32:813–6. 17. Brown JB, Rosengart MR, Forsythe RM, Reynolds BR, Gestring ML, Hallinan WM, et al. Not all prehospital time is equal: influence of scene time on mortality. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2016;81:93–100.

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

Consent for publication

9. Coats TJ, Newton A. Call selection for the helicopter emergency medical service: implications for ambulance control. J R Soc Med Royal Society of Medicine Press. 1994;87:208–10.

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

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DATES FOR Y

LIFE CONNEC

MORE CHOICE - GREAT VALUE -

We are pleased to announce our plans for Life Connections 2019 are taking shape and that each of our one day regional events have plenty to offer those wishing to attend. The venues chosen were selected to prevent delegates having to factor in travelling time and costs. Next years one day events are being held in:

Harrogate - Thursday March 28 Edinburgh - Thursday May 16 Bristol - Thursday June 20* Kettering - Thursday October 17 Stoke on Trent - Thursday November 28 First Responder Conference - This Half Day morning Conference will include presentations requested by First Responders, suggested topics include: sepsis, the changing role of the first responder and diabetic emergencies. Sponsored delegate rate: £24 to include VAT, lunch/ refreshments, etc. ONLY 50 PLACES AVAILABLE. FIRST AID Conference - Life Connections are working with Ian Kershaw MBE from The First Aid Industry Body (FAIB) and the Federation of first Aid Training Organisations (FOFATO) and, Rob Shaloe (QNUK) to present 5 Full Day First Aid Conferences in 2019. Each conference will include a number of topical First Aid presentations and workshops as requested by Members of FAIB, FOFATO and QNUK to ensure that they are both relevant and topical. - Usual Member rate of £96 (Including VAT), Lunch and Refreshments provided. ONLY 60 PLACES AVAILABLE. Ultrasound Workshop - Supported by NEMUS Education and Training, a very experienced faculty who have experts in the field of Ultrasound, this full day Workshop is covering the common uses of Ultrasound in contemporary Pre Hospital and Hospital Practice. It is suitable for all Healthcare Professionals especially Paramedics, other AHPs and Nurses as this course is covering FAST Scanning, Focused AAA, Echo and life support, How to diagnose a pneumothorax with Ultrasound, Vascular Access, Basic Ultrasound Science, Reporting, Training and Governance plus Lots of Hands on Scanning - Delegate rate: £90 to include lunch/refreshments, etc. ONLY 40 PLACES AVAILABLE.

Bariatric Workshop - this half day afternoon workshop is being run by Outreach Rescue and is focusing on dealing with Bariatric Patients. The workshop will be looking at tripods, bipods and other lifting systems that can be used for the extrication of casualties or Bariatric patients from a wide range of locations including domestic situations and RTC’s. The emphasis will be on safe assembly and operation of equipment, minimising manual handling issues and, patient care and safety. Practical demonstrations and discussions will also be included in this workshop: Delegate rate: £60 to include VAT lunch/ refreshments, etc. ONLY 40 PLACES AVAILABLE. Trauma Management Workshop - Created by Pre-Hospital Care Consultancy, this two hour morning Workshop will be covering: Basic to Advanced Trauma Skills and include Trauma Patient Assessment, Catastrophic Bleeding, Splintage Skills, etc. Delegate rate: £60 to include VAT lunch/refreshments etc. ONLY 12 PLACES AVAILABLE.

To view all Conferences / Workshops please visit: www.lifeconn

w w w. l i f e c o n n e

YOUR DIARY

CTIONS 2019

- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!!!

Airway Management Workshop - Created by Pre-Hospital Care Consultancy, this two hour afternoon Workshop is covering: Basic to Advanced Airway Skills and will include Positioning, BVM and Basic Adjuncts Done Well!, Direct and Video Laryngoscopy, Emergency Surgical Airway, etc. Delegate rate £60 to include VAT lunch/refreshments, etc. ONLY 12 PLACES AVAILABLE. Attend both the Trauma and Airway Management Workshops for a special combined rate of £96 (saving £24!). Haemorrhage Control - Stepwise Approach Workshop (Harrogate and Kettering only) This half day workshop will be running both morning and afternoon, covering: What is Catastrophic Bleeding?, Changes to Guidelines FPHC, JRCALC, ERC, etc., Coagulopathy, Correct use of Direct Pressure, Use of Pressure Dressings & Their Limitations, Haemostatic Devices and the Safe and Effective Use, Tourniquets - The Safe and Effective Use. Delegate rate £36 to include VAT, lunch, refreshments, etc. ONLY 10 PLACES AVAILABLE ON AM & PM WORKSHOPS 7 ways to die in cold water (Bristol only) - latest concepts in drowning, immersion, submersion and hypothermia and their associated treatments. Delegate rate £60 to include VAT lunch/refreshments etc. ONLY 12 PLACES AVAILABLE AM AND PM.

Combined Conference / Workshop Offers 1. Attend the First Responder Half Day morning Conference plus an afternoon Airway Management or Outreach Rescue Workshop for a special combined rate of £72 (saving £12). 2. Attend the First Responder half day morning conference plus the afternoon Haemorrhage Control workshop for a special combined rate of £48 (saving £12). 3. Attend the morning Haemorrhage Control workshop plus the afternoon Outreach Rescue or Airway Management workshops for a special combined rate of £72 (saving £24). 4. Attend the Bristol First Responder half day morning Conference and attend the afternoon 7 Ways to Die in Cold Water workshop for a special combined rate of £72 (saving £12). 5. Attend the Bristol morning Trauma Workshop and the afternoon 7 Ways to Die in Cold Water Workshop for a special combined rate of £96 (saving £24). 6. Attend the Bristol 7 Ways to die morning workshop plus an afternoon Airway Management or Outreach Rescue Workshop for a special combined rate of £96 (saving £24).

nections.uk.com or call the Organisers Office on: 01322 660434

ctions.uk.com

NEWSLINE DAAT

A Grant to Devon Air Ambulance from Devonshire Freemasons brings total donations to air ambulance charities to £2.3 million

assisted 990 patients, more

to their team’s tireless efforts,

Sam pulled over in a lay by and

than any other year. 50% of

many lives of local people are

called 999 when he realised that

these incidents were medical

saved every year.”

Leanne was about to give birth

emergencies (eg heart attacks)

in the back seat of their car.

with 49% being trauma related

Devon Air Ambulance relies

(for example road traffic collisions,

entirely on charitable grants and

With only the 999 control hub

and accidental injuries). 12% of all

donations from the community,

on the line for guidance baby

jobs attended were to children.

businesses and friends of Devon.

Sebastien arrived moments later,

To make a donation, visit The grant, which comes

www.daat.org

a healthy baby boy weighing 8lb 12oz.

through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, is funded by

Recently a grant of £4,000 was

Freemasons and their families

donated By Ian Kingsbury JP.

from across England and Wales.

The Provincial Grand Master

SWASFT

Leanne said: “I was squatting in

Mum thanks ambulance team after giving birth on the M5

the back seat and I just needed to push, and within two pushes he was out and Sam grabbed

of Devonshire, who on the

During 2018, Freemasons

day was accompanied by Dr.

from around the country will

Reuben Ayres their Provincial

be presenting 20 regional air

Grand Charity Steward to the

A mum from Gloucestershire

ambulances with grants totalling

Devon Air Ambulance on behalf

has been reunited with the

£192,000.

Charles Passmore, Emergency

South Western Ambulance

Medical Dispatcher (EMD) for

of all Devonshire Freemasons.

started to cry.”

Service NHS Foundation Trust

This has brought the total

Caroline Creer, Fundraising and

Masonic support given to all air

(SWASFT) team who helped

Communications Director for

ambulances across the country

deliver her baby beside the

Devon Air Ambulance said “We

M5. Over the past 12 months

to £2.3 million since 2007.

would like to thank the Devonshire

ambulance teams have helped

Freemasons for their continued

approximately 300 babies to

The total contribution to Devon

support and generosity. Support

be born in emergency births

Air Ambulance since 2007 by the

like theirs really does mean a lot

across the South West.

Freemasons is £55,000 and when

and helps to keep Devon’s two Air

adding the donations made by

Ambulances flying.”

individual Devon Lodges the total is over £116,000!

him, and then he (the baby)

Leanne Parrett, 31, from Yate was on her way to Gloucester Royal

Ian Kingsbury JP. Provincial Grand

hospital with husband Sam to have

Master of Devonshire said, “We

her baby when she went into the

The Air Ambulance operates

are proud to be able to support

final stages of labour announcing

right across Devon and in 2017

the Devon Air Ambulance. Thanks

she had the urge to push.

SWASFT took Sam’s 999 call. “The call came to me and it was clear from the start this was going to be an emergency birth as they were still on the motorway. “Pregnancy incidents are one of the most unpredictable calls we face as EMDs, as there are multiple scenarios that could change at any time so I knew I had to be fully focused. “After I gathered the basic information about the scene and the patient details, the baby had already started to show, so time was of the essence. I began giving the instructions to the father to get the mother into the correct position, and to get some towels and other equipment ready for the baby’s delivery.

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

“The baby was delivered in a short amount of time and after making sure that his airways were clear and that he was breathing effectively, it was then my job to make sure the newborn was warm enough. Then the priority was to check on the mother and make sure she was okay and not deteriorating in any way.”

230 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

Leanne said: “The call handler was amazing and stayed on the phone with Sam the whole time (approx. 20/25 minutes) until the

SECAMB

Video laryngoscopy wherever and whenever you intubate

Thousands learn how to save a life

ambulance arrived. Thousands of young people They made sure Sam knew what

and members of the public

to do immediately following the

from across the region learned

arrival of Sebastian!”

how to save a life as part of this year’s Restart a Heart initiative.

The first SWASFT paramedic on scene was Scott King who got

During the week of Restart a

there on his motorbike. Soon

Heart Day (16 October), South

after an ambulance arrived with

East Coast Ambulance Service,

Paramedic, Amy Johnson and

(SECAmb), and its partners and

Emergency Care Assistant, Lloyd

volunteers, including fire services,

Easton arrived on scene.

provided training to more than 11,000 people.

Leanne said: “Scott was first to arrive on the bike and offered

Restart a Heart Day is an annual

me gas and air as I was still in

campaign to raise awareness

pain. He put a hat and nappy on

of the importance of CPR

Sebastian and checked he was

organised jointly by a number

okay.”

of organisations including the British Heart Foundation and the

“Then Amy and Lloyd arrived in

Resuscitation Council (UK).

the ambulance and Sam got to cut the cord and we went to hospital.

This year’s numbers mean that a total of 36,000 people have

“I am so so thankful for everything

received CPR training as part of

the NHS has to offer and these

the initiative since SECAmb’s first

wonderful people made a scary

involvement in 2016.

and stressful situation so calm and memorable.”

SECAmb Voluntary Services Manager Karen Ramnauth said:

Charles, EMD, added: “This was

“We’re very proud to have taken

a brilliant call to be a part of and a

part in this initiative for the third

wonderful moment that I will never

successive year. In addition to

forget and I wish them all the best

our core emergency response,

of luck.”

we’re committed to improving local health outcomes in our region,

Lloyd, Emergency Care Assistant,

and Restart a Heart is an excellent

said: “This was one of the best

opportunity for us to reach out and

jobs I have ever been to. Although

support our communities.

it was an incredibly stressful situation for Leanne and Sam

“I’d like to thank all our staff,

to find themselves in, it had the

volunteers and partners in the fire

best outcome anyone could have

service for their tremendous efforts

hoped for – a beautiful healthy

and for giving up their time to teach

baby being brought into the

others how to save a life. The actions

world.”

taken in the first few minutes when

www.intersurgical.co.uk/info/iview

someone suffers a cardiac arrest are “As a family they can cherish that

vital when it comes to maximising

terrifying but incredible hour of

the chances of survival. If someone

their lives forever and I’m so glad

starts CPR in those first moments,

we were able to be a part of it to

the ambulance crews are much

make sure they were all safe and

better placed to attempt to secure a

well.”

positive outcome for the patient.”

Quality, innovation and choice

NEWSLINE NEAS

2019 Ultrasound Workshops A series of Ultrasound Workshops run by NEMUS Education and Training are

Body worn video cameras to protect ambulance staff from violence & aggression

“Our staff are reporting more

“We will continue to work on

incidents of this nature and we

measures to reduce assaults and

are working closely with the police

liaise with police colleagues to

and other partners to respond to

ensure action is taken following

those perpetrators with warning

any criminal acts against staff

letters and, where necessary,

or the Trust. We encourage all

criminal action.

valuable NHS colleagues not to tolerate such behaviour.”

“From previous reports, we know

planned for 2019 with each workshop covering the common

The North East Ambulance

that most of these circumstances

The number of reported physical

uses of ultrasound in pre-

Service (NEAS) is the first

happen away from CCTV covered

assaults on NEAS staff has

hospital and hospital practice.

Ambulance Service to trial body

areas so using body worn video

increased by 23% compared

This workshop is suitable for

worn video cameras.

cameras will mean that our staff

to last year. The numbers of

can record evidence of abuse or

addresses across the North East

all healthcare professionals especially Paramedics, other

Approximately 40 of the Trust’s

assaults when they happen, such

flagged for the potential caution

AHPs and nurses as it is

frontline staff will be trying out the

as when they are in a residential

or violence has also increased.

covering FAST Scanning,

use of body cameras in a bid to

property attending to a patient.

This sits against a backdrop of

Focused AAA plus lots of hands

offer them greater support against

This move is designed to help us

more than 350 prosecutions that

on scanning.

the rise of incidents of violence

bring more prosecutions against

have been brought for attacks

and aggression.

people who put our staff at risk

on ambulance staff over the last

and reduce the assaults and

year nationally. The scale of the

Only 40 places are available on each of these one day workshops

Alan Gallagher, Head of Risk,

abuse they are currently facing in

problem is believed to be much

at a cost of £90 per person to

said: “The health, safety and

the line of their work. There really

greater.

include VAT, lunch, refreshments

welfare of our staff are of upmost

is nothing more disheartening

etc. For further information

importance. We want to take every

than being hurt by someone that

This follows a new law that was

and to register visit www.

precaution possible to ensure that

you’ve gone to help, particularly

recently introduced, the Assaults

lifeconnections.uk.com or call

our employees are safe whilst at

when they already work in such

on Emergency Workers (Offences)

the organisers on 01322 660434.

work.

challenging circumstances.

Bill, in which individuals who

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

232 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE assault or attack emergency

Trust (SECAmb) is pleased

• The Trust promoted a positive

report. I know that right across

workers will face longer jail

that a significant number of

culture that supported and

the Trust, staff are committed to

terms if found guilty. The Bill

improvements have been

valued staff. Inspectors found

further improve the services we

was designed to recognise the

recognised in a Care Quality

an improved culture across

provide to our patients.

debt of gratitude the public feels

Commission (CQC) report on its

the service since the last

towards emergency services, and

services published on Thursday

inspection. Most staff felt the

for the courage, commitment and

“I welcome last month’s

8 November 2018.

culture had improved and felt

increased funding decision by

dedication they show every day in carrying out their duties.

able to raise concerns to their The report, which follows planned

managers.

inspections of the Trust in July Mr Gallagher continued, “We

and August 2018, has rated

welcome anything that will help

SECAmb overall as ‘Requires

robust and effective with a

to deter people from abusing

Improvement’, a level up from its

marked improvement since

or assaulting our staff and we

previous rating.

the previous inspection.

hope that by reporting incidents

• Medicines management was

Inspectors found elements

and providing credible evidence

The CQC has recommended to

of outstanding medicine

where we can, courts might be

NHS Improvement that the Trust

management, for example

able to be much tougher when

remains in special measures

the way the trust handled

sentencing those found guilty of

while the improvements made are

Controlled Drugs. An external

further embedded throughout the

review also recognised the

Trust.

impressive turnaround in

assaulting and threatening our staff, prosecuting those people to the full extent of the law.” Footage obtained in the event of an assault or abuse will be admissible as evidence in a court of law utilising the features available in the Edesix VideoManager software platform. It will only be used for the purposes of providing evidence to the Police in any enquiry intended for the health, safety and protection of staff. The tamper proof cameras, software and support for the three month trial have been provided free by Edesix. Richie McBride, Chief Executive of Edesix commented, “We’re pleased to provide the North East Ambulance Service with our cameras to enhance the protection of staff and to deter any aggressive behaviour towards NEAS workers.”

SECAmb welcomes improved rating and committed to further progress

make improvements and that we have the future capacity to deliver the service our communities rightly expect and deserve in the years to come.” Trust Chair, David Astley said: “In the short time I have been with the Trust, I have been very impressed with all the staff I have met. They show tremendous commitment every day to our patients and they

While the Trust is disappointed to be remaining in special measures,

ensure that we can continue to

• A new well-being hub which

should be very proud.

it welcomes the improved overall

enables staff to access

rating, which reflects the hard

support in a variety of areas.

“I and the Board are pleased

work put in by staff across the

The service was widely

with what we see as a positive

Trust.

commended by staff during

report but recognise there

the inspection.

is more to be done. We will

It is aware there remains more to be done to ensure it continues

continue to support the Trust • A significant improvement in

to make progress, including

the process for investigating

improving its service to patients

complaints and the quality

who don’t require an immediate

of the Trust’s response to

response and ensuring 999

complaints since the previous

calls waiting for an ambulance

inspection

to attend are managed appropriately.

• Support for maternity patients was excellent. A new

SECAmb is particularly pleased

pregnancy advice and triage

at the improvements made in the

line for pregnant women had

safe and well-led sections of the

been introduced within the

inspection and is delighted that

Crawley EOC.

staff have, once again, been rated as good for the care they provide

Chief Executive Daren Mochrie

to patients.

said: “I am pleased that the CQC have found a significant

Areas of good practice and

number of improvements since

improvements highlighted by

their last inspection and I am

the CQC include:

confident that the Trust is on

• Staff cared for patients with

as it moves forward and make further improvements.”

Trauma Management Workshop A number of half day Trauma Management Workshops run by Jamie Todd of PreHospital Care Consultancy and MedSkills Academy are taking place next year with each workshop incorporating basic to advanced trauma skills, patient assessment, catastrophic bleeding etc. A delegate rate of £60 to include VAT, lunch, tea / coffee etc is

the right path to make further

currently available with only

progress.

12 places available on each of these half day workshops. For

compassion. All staff inspectors spoke with were motivated to

“We are aware that there

more information and to register

deliver the best care possible

remains work to be done and

please visit

and feedback from patients

this has already been taking

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

South East Coast Ambulance

and those close to them was

place since the inspection, prior

or call the organisers on

Service NHS Foundation

positive.

to the publication of the CQC’s

01322 660434.

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

SECAMB

performance.

our commissioners, which will

233 For all your equipment needs visit: www.ambulanceservicesuppliers.com

NEWSLINE WAS

Innovative App a potential game changer in cardiac survival across Wales

In 2016-17 the Welsh Ambulance

and London Air Ambulance

sector partners to strive to deliver

Service attended over 5800

Doctor, and Ali Ghorbangholi, an

the Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest

cardiac arrests, where

Electronic Engineer, Big Data and

strategy in Wales.

resuscitation was attempted in

Cloud Architect, GoodSAM has,

2832 cases. The UK average

since its launch, rapidly grown into

shows less than 10% of patients

a global community operating in

survive. For both trauma and

over 30 countries and is endorsed

cardiac arrest, the major

by the UK Resuscitation Council.

determinant of outcome is time

*British Heart Foundation data

Airway Management Workshop

An App with the potential to

to treatment, and the sooner

Professor Mark Wilson,

revolutionise care in life-

effective Cardio Pulmonary

GoodSAM’s Medical Director

A number of half day Airway

threatening emergencies

Resuscitation (CPR) is started,

and Co-Founder, said: “If a

Management Workshops run

throughout Wales was launched

the better the chance of survival.

patient has a cardiac arrest or

by Jamie Todd of Pre-Hospital

in partnership with the Welsh

For every minute delay, a patient’s

a traumatic head injury, it is the

Care Consultancy and MedSkills

Ambulance Service on

chances of survival fall by 10%*. If

first few minutes after the incident

Academy are taking place

Thursday November 1st 2018.

a defibrillator is readily available,

that determine the outcome – life,

next year with each workshop

patients are six times as likely to

death, or long-term brain injury”.

incorporating basic to advanced

GoodSAM is a pioneering

survive.

airway skills, direct and video

app and web based platform,

“There are first-aid trained people

laryngoscopy, emergency surgical

which alerts trained and verified

By facilitating rapid administration

all around us, but usually the

airways etc. A delegate rate of

Responders to nearby medical

of high quality resuscitation by

first they know of a neighbour

£60 to include VAT, lunch, tea /

emergencies, helping to radically

the community, the impact of

having a cardiac arrest is when

coffee etc is currently available

reduce death from life-threatening

GoodSAM is potentially game

an ambulance appears in their

with only 12 places available. For

illnesses such as cardiac arrest.

changing for cardiac arrest

street. If they could know, and

more information and to register

survival rates across Wales.

start CPR immediately for even

please visit

the few minutes prior to the

www.lifeconnections.uk.com or

time is a critical factor in cardiac

Greg Lloyd, Head of Clinical for

ambulance arriving, the chances

call the organisers on

arrest and being able to alert

the Welsh Ambulance Service,

of survival for that patient can

01322 660434.

volunteer GoodSAM Responders

said: “We are delighted to be

be considerably increased.

to quickly attend nearby

working in partnership with the

GoodSAM now makes this

emergencies, in support of the

GoodSAM team. It’s a well-

possible, connecting those

Ambulance service, will help to

established fact that the sooner

people who have the skills to the

save lives.

effective CPR is started, the

public in their minute of need.”

Evidence shows that response

better the chance of survival for

LAS

HRH Prince Charles launches pioneering mental health car at London Ambulance Service

The highly governed GoodSAM

the patient. Getting a defibrillator

Ali Ghorbangholi, Technical

system works by asking Welsh

to someone in cardiac arrest

Director and Co-Founder said:

Ambulance Service Staff and

quickly, significantly increases

“The technology has already

Community First Responders, to

their chance of survival. Working

been successfully integrated in

with GoodSAM will give us an

UK Ambulance Services such as

His Royal Highness Prince

Responders. From today,

integrated approach to alerting

London, East Midlands and North

Charles visited London

when a life threatening medical

our volunteer responders to a

West Ambulance Service and

Ambulance Service to meet

emergency call is received in the

nearby cardiac arrest, where they

has more than proved its worth in

frontline crews, call handlers

Welsh Ambulance Service Control

can offer potentially life-saving

saving lives. Now the people of

and those working behind the

Room or through the GoodSAM

help. That will, undoubtedly, be a

Wales are set to benefit from the

scenes to respond to 999 and

app, an alert is sent to up to three

major asset.

innovative technology.”

NHS 111 calls across the capital.

are nearest the incident asking

“It is important to stress that the

Thanks to funding from the

The Royal visit came as the

them to attend the scene. The

GoodSAM system is an additional

Cabinet Office and Big Lottery

UK’s busiest ambulance service

GoodSAM Responders are also

resource to the emergency

Fund, GoodSAM has helped

launches its pioneering resource

able to determine the location of

ambulance response, and not a

to revolutionise care in life

for patients experiencing a mental

the nearest defibrillator through

replacement for it. Our crews will

threatening emergencies and it is

health crisis.

the GoodSAM AED Registry.

continue to be dispatched and

anticipated the App technology

GoodSAM Responders who AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

respond as emergency teams

will be operating UK-wide by

As part of his tour, His Royal

The system does not replace

to reports of a patient in cardiac

2019.

Highness met specialist nurses

the role of the Welsh Ambulance

arrest in the way we already do.”

Service, with its own crews

working with paramedics to The Welsh Ambulance Service

form a new team, dedicated

continuing to be dispatched and

Co-founded by Professor Mark

continues to work in partnership

to responding to 999 calls to

respond in the normal way.

Wilson, Neurosurgery Consultant

with Welsh Government and third

patients with mental health

234 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

problems – the first team of its

Once they have assessed the

kind in the country.

patient, they can encourage them to make a GP appointment; refer

In the year the NHS celebrates

them to their mental health team;

its 70th anniversary, Prince

or call an ambulance if they think

Charles was shown a 1949

they need to go to hospital.

Daimler ambulance alongside the Service’s modern fleet of

The team will not be dispatched

ambulances, cars, motorbikes

to patients who have taken an

and bicycles. Focusing on how

overdose or those detained

frontline staff are no longer

under Section 136 of the Mental

“ambulance drivers” but highly

Health Act as they will need an

skilled clinicians.

ambulance.

During his visit, Prince Charles

Consultant Mental Health Nurse

met paramedics, doctors,

Carly Lynch said: “This is such

pharmacists, midwives and

a rewarding job because we

mental health nurses, together

respond to people at a time in

with the wide variety of other

their lives when they are most

staff whose skills are essential

vulnerable.

to operating the UK’s largest ambulance service including: IT

“We never know what will happen

specialists; vehicle engineers;

in a day or who we will see but

fleet, estates and logistics teams;

we do know that we will give

clinical researchers; finance; HR

patients the very best care. Often

and health and safety specialists.

that will mean being able to treat them in their own home and

Heather Lawrence OBE, Chair

helping to alleviate any distress.”

of London Ambulance Service, said: “It was a real privilege to

Of all the calls London

be able to introduce His Royal

Ambulance Service receives

Highness, Prince Charles, to our

every day, nearly 10 percent are

hardworking ambulance crews, call

from people experiencing mental

handlers and colleagues from every

health problems.

i-view™ video laryngoscope

department. Our staff never fail to provide outstanding care to patients

As well as reducing unnecessary

in London 24 hours a day.”

and stressful hospital trips, the new mental health response

CEO Garrett Emmerson said “It

team should free up ambulance

is an exciting time to be working

crews who might otherwise

for London Ambulance Service –

spend a long time on scene

we are developing medical and

dealing with a complex mental

technological innovation and we

health case.

are delighted that Prince Charles’s visit coincided with our latest

The visit from Prince Charles

Pioneer Service: our mental health

comes less than two years after

joint response car.”

separate visits from both his sons. When his youngest son,

The scheme will see senior mental

the Duke of Sussex, visited

health nurses and experienced

he joined London Ambulance

paramedics working together.

Service staff in our 999 control

Both clinicians will assess the

room to talk about wellbeing.

patient, with the nurse able to

This visit was part of the Heads

assess mental health and provide

Together campaign to “change

brief psychological interventions

the conversation” on mental

and the paramedic will be able

health, spearheaded by The

to assess and treat any physical

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

injuries or pain.

and the Duke of Sussex.

Video laryngoscopy wherever and whenever you intubate i-view is the new, single use, fully disposable video laryngoscope from Intersurgical, providing the option of video laryngoscopy wherever you might need to intubate.

www.intersurgical.co.uk/info/iview

Quality, innovation and choice

NEWSLINE NWAS

Hundreds of people cared for closer to home thanks to new ambulance service role

Working on vehicles equipped

working in the 999 control

to treat people on scene, the

centres, speaking to patients on

Urgent Care Practitioners ensure

the telephone to provide clinical

patients who can be cared for at

self-care advice – this is known

home have all the help they need,

as ‘hear and treat’. Just over half

referring them on to other local

(51%) of all the patients spoken to

health services if required.

by the UCPs were supported over

Hundreds of people have

While nurses have been part of

avoided an unnecessary

the ambulance workforce for a

trip to hospital thanks to a

number of years, it is the first

In total, the pilot is estimated

new ambulance service role

time they have been employed

to have saved more than 1,000

dedicated to providing patients

in NWAS in a role responding to

ambulance journeys during

with the right care closer to

patients.

a 90 day period, which is

the phone without needing further ambulance service intervention.

approximately 1,625 hours or

home. Evaluation of the first few months

almost 68 full days of emergency

Earlier this year, North West

of activity has showed that 72%

ambulance time.

Ambulance Service NHS Trust

of patients seen by the Urgent

(NWAS) launched a pilot of a new

Care Practitioners have been

This saving means emergency

Urgent Care Practitioner role.

provided with the right care,

ambulance resources would have

The 12 nurses and paramedics

without needing an emergency

remained available to attend

respond to patients who have

ambulance to take them to

other, more serious incidents.

called 999 but could possibly

hospital - this is known as ‘see

receive support and treatment in

and treat’.

Nathan Garlick was an A&E nurse before he joined NWAS to become

the community, rather than having to go to hospital in an emergency

The Urgent Care Practitioners also

an Urgent Care Practitioner in

ambulance.

spend some of their time

Greater Manchester.

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

236 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

“The Urgent Care Practitioner pilot is just one of the initiatives we’ve been working on to ensure we’re well placed to provide that right care closer to home and working together with local health care providers to support more patients in the community.”

NEWSLINE He said: “I saw this job

Carter review which said that the

to respond more quickly to life-

value for money. For more details

opportunity and immediately

NHS could free up millions of

threatening emergencies.”

and to register visit

thought of the endless

pounds if ambulance services

possibilities and immense

were able to ‘see and treat’ more

potential. Nurses can make a

patients.

huge difference to way pre-

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

Life Connections 2019 - Important Date Notification

or call the organisers on 01322 660434.

hospital care is delivered in the

Mark Newton, Assistant Director

future and it’s great to see the

of Transformation, said: “The

ambulance service responding to

findings from the Urgent Care

Due to unforeseen circumstances

the changing needs of the public.

Practitioner pilot are really

our Life Connections event in

encouraging. People deserve to

Kettering has been moved from

There are two half day Haemorrhage

“We can conduct a holistic

get the right care, at the right time,

October 10 to October 17. Using

Control Workshops planned for

assessment of the patient’s

in the right place, every time and

individual rooms this event will

2019, these will be taking place

needs, looking at their health,

for many, that doesn’t necessarily

include First Responder and First

in Harrogate on March 28th and

social and wellbeing needs and

mean an emergency ambulance

Aid Conferences plus individual

Kettering on October 10th. Each

how we can improve our patient’s

to the nearest A&E department.

workshops covering the use of

workshop will be covering ‘what is

Ultrasound in the pre hospital care

catastrophic bleeding’, ‘haemostatic

lives. We use every opportunity

Haemorrhage Control Workshop

to promote health and self-care.

“The Urgent Care Practitioner pilot

setting, Haemorrhage Control,

devices, tourniquets etc’. Only 10

We’re getting a really excellent

is just one of the initiatives we’ve

Handling Bariatric Patients,

delegate places are available on

reception from patients, their

been working on to ensure we’re

Trauma Management and Airway

each workshop at a cost of £36

relatives and other health care

well placed to provide that right

Management Workshops.

to include VAT, lunch, tea / coffee

professionals and every day I get

care closer to home and working

100% job satisfaction.”

together with local health care

With delegate rates starting from

providers to support more patients

just £24 to include VAT, lunch etc

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

The pilot evaluation follows the

in the community. This helps to

we feel our 2019 Life Connections

or call the organisers on

recent publication of the Lord

keep ambulance resources free

one day events offer tremendous

01322 660434.

etc. For more information and to

WHY NOT WRITE FOR US? Ambulance UK welcomes the submission of clinical papers and case reports or news that you feel will be of interest to your colleagues. Material submitted will be seen by those working within the public and private sector of the Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance Operators, BASICS Doctors etc.

If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via: info@mediapublishingcompany.com

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com

237 Life Connections - The Affordable CPD Provider: www.lifeconnections.uk.com

NEWSLINE SWASFT

Police Inspector Thanks 999 Call Handler A Metropolitan Police Inspector has thanked a South Western Ambulance Service NHS

31 October to thank Olivia in

have agreed to run workshops

on the 11th December 2018

person.

within some of our Life

at The Royal Geographical

Connections 2019 events.

Society, London. The

“I thought that was it,” he said.

symposium, supported by

“I was on my own, and needed

MedSkills are providing a

ZOLL Medical, will bring

help. It was a desperate situation.

Pre-Hospital Major Incidents

The response from everyone was

Workshop which will update and

together an internationally

amazing.”

prepare those fulfilling healthcare professional roles at eh scene

renowned faculty of experts in the field of cardiac arrest management to address

“I wanted to thank Olivia

of a major incident. The JESIP

personally, because call handlers

principles will be discussed

don’t tend to get the recognition

within theory sessions and

alone on an isolated footpath.

they deserve.”

will form the focus of practical

Inspector Dave George collapsed

Inspector George also sent a

triaging, radio communications,

letter of thanks to SWASFT Chief

passing a METHANE message

Executive, Ken Wenman. He

and identifying and establishing

said: “The call handler was totally

casualty clearing stations and

‘Airway managements in

exceptional. She dealt with a very

ambulance loading points. This

cardiac arrest’, ‘New techniques

difficult and challenging call in

workshop is taking place in

in CPR’ and ‘Targeted

the most superb way.

Harrogate (March 28), Edinburgh

temperature management’ to

(May 16) and Kettering (October

name just a few. Book your

“crushing” chest pains and

“The kindness and calm

17) and has a delegate rate of £90

place today to ensure you are

was struggling to breathe after

professionalism that she showed

including VAT, lunch, refreshments

part of this great event.

walking for several hours in the

deserves special praise. I don’t

etc. Only 10 places are available

heat.

think I could have got through

at each event. A CPD certificate is

To book your place, see the

that hour alone without her

included.

full programme and view

Foundation Trust (SWASFT) 999 call handler for saving him when he became seriously ill,

in hot weather on the South West Coast Path between Penzance and Land’s End in Cornwall during a solo training exercise for a charity walk.

sessions which will include

The 43-year-old experienced

Inspector George, who was off-

staying on the line and talking

duty at the time of the incident

to me.”

Enhanced Care Services Ltd are running a Minor Injuries Workshop

in August, feared the worst, but Inspector George was later

in Kettering only which is ideal

diagnosed with serious heat

for those regularly managing

SWASFT Emergency Medical

stroke. He has since made a full

patients with minor injuries as

Dispatcher, Olivia Molyneux,

recovery.

part of in-or pre-hospital care.

managed to call 999 to get help.

The specific topics being covered

assessed his condition and stayed on the phone to him while location.

Life Connections Update

Inspector George made a special

We are pleased to announce

visit to the SWASFT North Clinical

that MedSkills Academy and

Hub near Bristol on Wednesday

Enhanced Care Services Ltd

crews travelled to the remote

are - wound assessment and closure, joint assessment and common joint injuries, ear, nose and throat emergencies, common eye injuries. Only 30 places are available on this workshop at a delegate rate of £96 to include VAT, lunch, tea / coffee etc. To reserve your place on any of these workshops please visit

key questions concerning this most critical of medical emergencies. There is great speaker line-up confirmed, covering a wide range of ‘hot topics’, including

presentations from previous events, please visit www. londoncardiacarrestsymposium. com

Bariatric Workshop As series of half day Bariatric Workshops run by Outreach Rescue and focusing on dealing with bariatric patients are taking place next year. Each workshop will be looking at lifting systems which can be used for the extrication of casualties or bariatric patients from a wide range of locations including

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

domestic situations and RTCs.

or call the organisers on 01322

Practical demonstrations and

660434.

discussions will form part of these workshops. Only

The London Cardiac Arrest Symposium is back

40 places are available at a

2018 will see the return of

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

the London Cardiac Arrest

or call the organisers on

Symposium, taking place

01322 660434.

238 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

delegate rate of £60 to include VAT, lunch, refreshments etc. For further information and to register please visit

NEWSLINE WAA

Two Awards of Excellence won by Wiltshire Air Ambulance A dedicated volunteer and a successful fundraising campaign for its new airbase has resulted in Wiltshire Air Ambulance winning two prestigious awards. The charity enjoyed their success at the Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence, run by the Association of Air Ambulances, at a ceremony in London on Monday 12 November. Colin Smith, of Chippenham, Wiltshire, won the Charity Volunteer of the Year award, while Wiltshire Air Ambulance won the Campaign of the Year award for its Airbase Appeal. The awards recognise exceptional people in the air ambulance community who are helping to save and improve lives. Colin, 78, is Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s longest-serving volunteer and coordinates the charity’s collection tins, which are in shops, pubs and businesses all over the county. In his 19 years with the charity, Colin has helped increase the

Colin Smith, Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s volunteer collection tin coordinator, on the helipad at Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s airbase at Semington. number of collection tins from

grandchildren, said: “I was

Airbase Appeal was successful

50 to 1,000 across the county,

extremely pleased to win the

in attracting new supporters,

travelling 40,000 miles – the

award, but I have received it on

including grant-making trusts

equivalent of more than one and

behalf of all the other volunteers

and businesses.

a half times around the world –

at Wiltshire Air Ambulance who

without claiming a single penny in

do such good work.

David Philpott, chief executive of Wiltshire Air Ambulance,

mileage expenses. “I enjoy volunteering with

said: “We are delighted to

In total, Colin has volunteered

Wiltshire Air Ambulance because

have picked up two awards in

21,600 hours of his time (the

it is a way of giving something

the Air Ambulance Awards of

equivalent of 2.46 years), helping

back. I like travelling around the

Excellence.

to raise in the region of £475,000

county and meeting people who

from the collection tins.

raise funds for the charity by

“Colin Smith’s dedication to our

having collection tins.”

charity is inspiring. He doesn’t

Colin, who is married to Joy, and has two daughters and five

volunteer to win awards and is Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s

extremely modest, but he richly

Airbase Appeal was the other

deserves this accolade from the

big winner on the night, after

Association of Air Ambulances.

being successful in raising the

He has built such a good rapport

funds needed for a new airbase,

with our supporters and he is

bringing together the helicopter,

conscientious, hard-working and

operational and fundraising

reliable.

Semington, near Melksham,

“Our Airbase Appeal was

opened in May 2018.

a major capital appeal that involved the whole Wiltshire Air

Members of Wiltshire Air Ambulance receiving the Campaign of the Year award at the Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence.

The campaign included a

Ambulance team. The success

dedicated Airbase Appeal

of the campaign is due to the

microsite and a 16-month

hard work of everyone involved

readers’ appeal in local

and the wonderful support we

newspapers raising awareness

received, which enabled us to

and donations. As well as

secure our future by building and

targeting existing supporters, the

owning our own airbase.”

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

team. The new airbase at

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

NEWSLINE New guidance on psychosocial and mental health care for pre-hospital care practitioners and first responders Recent events, such as the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London; the Grenfell Tower fire; the increase in knife crime; flooding and other effects of

The Telegraph newspaper on

The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care

it can give the best possible

23 September 2018, talked

(FPHC), at The Royal College of

support to practitioners of

about how, although there had

Surgeons of Edinburgh (https://

pre-hospital care by providing

been positive changes in how

fphc.rcsed.ac.uk), Britain’s

guidance on improving the care

society perceives people with

oldest surgical Royal College,

of practitioners themselves,

mental health problems, this

is launching a new project to

including doctors, trainee

had not yet found its way into

develop practical guidance for

doctors, paramedics and nurses,

supporting clinicians working

paramedics, doctors, trainee

as well as offering guidance

on the frontline who face

doctors and nurses who work in

regarding the management of

traumatic events in the course

pre-hospital care. The guidance

patients who may be of concern

of their work.

will improve detection, prevention

to staff.”

and alleviation of psychosocial Pre-hospital care is a well-

and mental health problems

Professor Richard Williams,

established branch of medicine,

among colleagues, as well as

currently the Adviser on

delivered by a broad range

patients.

Disaster Management to the

of practitioners including first

President of the Royal College

severe weather highlight the

aiders, ambulance staff including

Two groups will be responsible

of Psychiatrists, will direct the

increasingly demanding role

paramedics, doctors and nurses

for delivering the project. One

project.

of everyone who is involved in

as well as by other first response

will produce guidance describing

pre-hospital care. The Secretary

organisations including police,

the nature and impact of distress

Professor Williams said: “The

of State for Health in England,

fire, mountain rescue and the

as it affects people working in

project, which is based on

Matt Hancock, speaking to

RNLI.

pre-hospital settings and how

appropriate current scientific

to meet better the psychosocial

evidence, best clinical and

and support needs of these

managerial practice and

practitioners. The guidance

emerging guidance, will learn

will be tailored to professional

from recent emergencies.

responders who are likely to be

We are keen to engage

first at the scene of any situation.

practitioners in contributing their

MedSkills Academy Trauma Management Workshop Thursday March 28, Pavilions of Harrogate, Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate

This continuing education course that teaches the principles of PHTLS is ideal for first responders, EMS practitioners, etc. Topics being covered include: Airway/ Oxygenation & Ventilation, Circulation and Shock, Traumatic Brain Injury & Spinal Trauma. AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

Only 12 places are available at a rate of £50.00 plus VAT (50% below normal Course costs). To register please visit:

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

knowledge and experience to The other group will develop

developing the guidance as

guidance to help staff support

well as its dissemination and

patients whose behaviour is

implementation. To this end,

causing concern, and which

we are establishing two project

may indicate mental disorder or

delivery groups.”

substance misuse, or who are threatening to harm themselves

Dr Andrew Wood, a senior

in pre-hospital settings.

trainee in anaesthetics who has completed training in pre-hospital

A major part of the project is to

emergency medicine, said:

disseminate and implement the

“Increasingly, we aware of the

guidance developed.

challenges and risks posed to the health of staff who respond to

Professor David Lockey, Chair

emergencies and crises. We aim

of the FPHC, said: “The Faculty

to produce up-to-date guidance

is aware of the emotional labour

to help organisations offer better

that working in pre-hospital

support to their frontline staff.

settings necessarily creates.

Central to this is our awareness

Sadly, recent events, such as the

that fulfilled and healthy staff

terrorist attacks in Manchester

provide compassionate, high-

and London, knife attacks, the

quality care for their patients. Our

Grenfell fire and the tram crash

guidance is important; it will help

in Croydon, have emphasised

healthcare providers meet their

the importance of us providing

duty to care for the wellbeing

leadership in this area, but

and mental health of staff who

the day-to-day toil involved in

respond to emergencies, as well

responding to more common

as reinforcing our commitment

emergencies is also demanding.

to compassionate care for

The Faculty wants to ensure that

everyone.”

240 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

NEWSLINE Professor David Lockey said:

Based on previous twelve-

emergency services and will seek

Julian Tagg, Chairman of Exeter

“We want this project to provide

month figures, by the end of

to bring criminal proceedings

City Football Club, said: “Exeter

a sound basis for delivering high

this year, over 1,400 police

against offenders. I welcome the

City Football Club and CITY

quality, consistent, evidence-

officers from Devon & Cornwall

new law to double the maximum

Community Trust are proud to

based care and support for

Police, Dorset Police and Avon

sentence from six months to

stand alongside all emergency

practitioners who work in pre-

& Somerset Police would have

12 months for assaulting an

services, across the south west, in

hospital environments.”

been assaulted while carrying out

emergency services worker.”

their aim to reduce the number of

duties to keep the peace within

assaults against our emergency

The project launched in

their local communities (491 in

Emergency services personnel

services. We are incredibly reliant

September 2018 and will run over

Devon & Cornwall Police; 214 in

from across the region have

on the emergency services and

Dorset Police; and 701 in Avon &

been sharing their experiences in

the role they play in making match

Somerset Police).

a video: https://www.youtube.

days at St James Park a safe and

com/watch?v=dwi0QE3agzE

secure place. Only recently we

a period of two years.

SWASFT

Emergency services unite to tackle #Unacceptable assaults on staff

Ken Wenman, of Chief Executive SWASFT, said: “Like all our

Campaign goal – #Goal999

emergency services colleagues,

The goal of the campaign is

our crews and control staff work in

to keep emergency services

extremely difficult circumstances

personnel safe by raising public

and are often under threat of

awareness and reducing the

attack or abuse. This is totally

number of assaults while on duty.

Emergency services from

unacceptable and we will take

across the south west are

whatever action is necessary to

In support of this, and with the

working together to highlight

ensure that our staff are protected

backing of the Exeter Chiefs

the unacceptable trend in the

and those responsible for such

and Exeter City Football Club,

number of assaults on their staff

attacks are prosecuted.

the #Goal999 social media

whilst on duty, by launching a

“We are very proud to be part

challenge encourages supporters

new campaign #Unacceptable.

of this important campaign and

and members of the public to

hope that together we can make a

post photographs or videos of

As well as fellow blue light

significant impact in reducing the

their most creative goal, using

number of assaults on our staff so

the hashtags #Goal999 and

that they can continue to provide

#Unacceptable. When they post

an excellent service to the public

their entry, they can nominate

without fear of attack or abuse.”

friends and family to share their

services, the campaign is being supported by Exeter City Football Club and the Exeter Chiefs who are encouraging the public to get behind the initiative by showing their support on social media. Police, ambulance, fire and healthcare staff are regularly subjected to attacks including serious injury, verbal abuse, spitting and biting, and even sexual assault from those they are trying to help. Over the last 12 months South Western Ambulance Service reported 1,049 incidents relating to violence and aggression with

Assistant Chief Constable Paul

work carried out on a match day after a supporter was sadly taken ill during the game. “It is sad to see that abuse to our emergency services has risen in recent years, which is why we at Exeter City and CITY Community Trust are backing the #Unacceptable campaign. “It is important that, alongside the Exeter Chiefs, we stand united in support of emergency services and remind everyone that they are here to aid us in a variety of ways. We hope that this campaign will raise awareness of the excellent work that the police, fire and rescue, ambulance and the health service do, and ensure that they

Davies on behalf of Devon &

Goals don’t have to be sport-

Cornwall Police and Dorset

based, they can include anything

Police said: “Our officers and

positive; whether that be climbing

staff, along with other emergency

a mountain, painting a landscape

services colleagues, demonstrate

or growing vegetables. The winner

commitment, courage and

of the ‘most creative’ goal could

dedication on a daily basis.

scoop an early Christmas present

They signed up to helping and

in the form of a signed shirt by

protecting the public, not coming

the Exeter Chiefs or Exeter City

into work each day with the risk

Football Club.

much for our local communities.

this can have on them, their

Please get involved and show

is for those service personnel to

colleagues and their families can

your support by posting your

then be submitted to assault or

have lasting effects long after

photos or videos to Twitter with

abuse whilst carrying out their

physical scars have healed.

the hashtag #Unacceptable

duties.

of being assaulted. The impact

an increase of 97 reports for

are treated with respect when going about their duties.” Tony Rowe OBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Exeter Chiefs Rugby, said: “Every day our emergency services put themselves at the forefront of so However, what is not acceptable

or on the Facebook page

the same period in 2016/17.

“Together, the emergency services

UnacceptableNotPartOfTheJob.

“As a club we are fully support of

Bournemouth NHS saw 236

want to ensure our personnel can

Full details are given on www.

the #Unacceptable campaign,

assaults during this time. Sadly,

deliver the best possible service

devon-cornwall.police.uk/

which we believe will not only

however, it is thought that these

to our communities; but in order

unacceptable or www.dorset.police.

bring these issues into the minds

figures do not represent the

to do this we need injury-free

uk/unacceptable. Also featured are

of the public, but will help to make

entirety of assaults, as many are

and healthy work forces. We

videos of case studies from the

a real difference to those who

never reported by the victims.

will not tolerate assaults on our

police and other agencies.

continue to serve us so well.”

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

Foundation Trust (SWASFT) staff

goals too.

have seen incredible and efficient

241 Life Connections - The Affordable CPD Provider: www.lifeconnections.uk.com

NEWSLINE SWASFT

Lifesaving Responders Win Heart Award A South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) team have won a national accolade for saving lives and creating heart safe environments across the region. The SWASFT Community First Responder (CFR) team were given the Public Services Award at the 2018 Heart Safe Awards on Friday 26 October. The award recognises organisations, including local authorities and emergency services, who have invested in lifesaving equipment and staff training to provide heart

MedSkills Academy Essentials of Advanced Airway Management Thursday March 28, Pavilions of Harrogate, Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate

Learn the full range of Airway Management techniques, including: The Use of Extraglotic Devices, Video Assisted Intubation and Surgical Cricothyrotomy.

safe environments for their

and their passion for what they

employees and the public.

do empowering the community in a safe and supportive way. I

A hearts safe environment is one

am immeasurably proud for the

where life-saving equipment,

team to be recognised under

such as a defibrillator, and

this national spotlight.”

training are provided for staff or customers so that, should a sudden cardiac arrest occur, people are fully prepared to perform resuscitation and additional life support immediately. Kevin Dickens, SWASFT Community Responder Officer for Gloucestershire, said: “To win this award is a huge credit to our team, our volunteers, and the people who we’ve engaged

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

with to create cardiac safe

Only 10 places are available at a rate of £50.00 plus VAT (50% below normal Course costs). To register please visit:

www.lifeconnections.uk.com

environments across the South West by raising awareness of basic life support and

Judges said they were impressed by the way the team managed its governance of the defibrillator scheme, which offers advice and support to many organisations and communities who wish to purchase or have purchased the device. They also praised the accreditation scheme, which provides support by offering weekly and monthly reporting to ensure all Automated External Defibrillators are rescue-ready when needed.

defibrillator stations.” The also picked-up on their Rob Horton, SWASFT Responder

tri-service work in Cornwall,

Manager, said: “This is fantastic

which is a collaboration between

recognition for the team and the

the police, fire and ambulance

Trust. It reflects the commitment

in response to emergency

of the individuals in the team

incidents.

242 For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

IN PERSON NWAS News

North West Ambulance Service announces new Chief Executive Following the retirement earlier this year of North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) Chief Executive, Derek Cartwright, the trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Daren Mochrie who will be joining NWAS in spring of next year. Daren Mochrie, currently the Chief Executive of South East Coast Ambulance Service, was appointed following an intensive recruitment process which took place in the summer, involving commissioners, non-executive directors and external representatives. Daren has worked for the NHS since the age of 17. He has extensive experience of managing ambulance services in both rural and urban settings. Prior to joining South East Coast Ambulance Service Daren was Director of Operations for the Scottish Ambulance Service and the lead for ambulance provision in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Daren has also held the position of specialist advisor with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), leading four recent CQC inspections of ambulance trusts in England. NWAS Chair, Wyn Dignan said: “We’re very pleased to be welcoming Daren to the trust, he has a wealth of experience within the NHS, and

As the Innovation Excellence award-

manager. “They now feel confident in these

winning team, they were considered to have

situations and knowing that they’re able to do the

demonstrated vision and commitment to make

right thing gives them increased job satisfaction.”

a lasting difference to the quality of services offered to people living with cancer.

The team has also received interest from other ambulances services across the UK and

The project has focussed on improving and

beyond, keen to learn from their experience.

promoting best practice in cancer, palliative and end of life care for patients living with cancer

Ed Murphy, Macmillan’s Head of Services

across the south west of England who access

for the South West said “Congratulations to

urgent and emergency care by calling 999.

the Macmillan Cancer Care Development Project team at South Western Ambulance

As well as creating a broad education package

Service NHS Foundation Trust on winning the

for paramedics, the project team of four has also

prestigious Macmillan Innovation Excellence

developed and improved systems and protocols

Award. This pioneering project has provided

to give ambulance clinicians access to specialist

much needed education and training to

advice and guidance whilst they are on scene.

enable paramedics to give the best and most

Ultimately, this ensures cancer patients receive

appropriate care to people with cancer. I

the right care in the right place at the right time.

am delighted that their hard work has been recognised by this award.”

“What paramedics within SWASFT now have are options,’ says Lynn Dunne, one of the

The Macmillan Excellence Awards, which are

project’s three cancer care development

now in their seventh year, were developed

facilitators. ‘They know who to phone, they

to celebrate the outstanding work carried

know what their resources are both in hours

out by Macmillan health and social care

and during the out-of-hours periods, and they

professionals across the country. The event

didn’t have access to these things before. It

recognised excellence in three areas: service

doesn’t mean that we don’t take patients to

improvement, innovation and integration.

hospital, it means that when appropriate we can treat people at home or facilitate a referral

Over 350 health and social care professionals

to a more appropriate health setting.”

and guests attended the awards ceremony.

“It’s been great for the patients and great for

For support, information or if you have any

their relatives, but it’s also been great for the

questions, call Macmillan Cancer Support

paramedics too,’ says Paramedic Joanne

free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday,

Stonehouse, the Macmillan cancer care project

9am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk.

in particular the ambulance sector, and we look forward to continuing to provide the best care for our patients under Daren’s leadership.”

SWAST News

Ambulance team honoured at Cancer Care Innovations A team of ambulance clinicians from the south west has been honoured for their innovative Care Development team at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) won the Innovation Excellence Team award at the prestigious 2018 Macmillan Cancer Support Excellence Awards, held at The Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel on Thursday 8 November. Awards host, multiaward-winning journalist and broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire, presented project manager Joanne Stonehouse with the award.

Victoria Derbyshire, the team and Grainne Kavanagh, Head of Specialist Advisory and panel member

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

work in cancer care. The Macmillan Cancer

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

IN PERSON SECAmb Chair David Astley said: “While I was

SECAMB News

Trust Chief Executive to move to new role

disappointed to hear of Daren’s decision, I am

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS

every success.

pleased that he has the opportunity to further his career by leading North West Ambulance Service from next Spring and we wish him

Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has announced that Chief Executive Daren Mochrie has taken the decision to leave the Trust in Spring 2019, to take up a new role as Chief Executive of North West Ambulance Service. Daren, who joined SECAmb in April 2017, has overseen a significant programme of improvement and change at SECAmb, which has been recognised in the latest report published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and in the recently-announced additional funding agreed by commissioners.

“The fact that Daren has been recruited to such a major role reflects the high regard in which he is held nationally and is testament to the improvements he and everyone at SECAmb has made since he joined the Trust. “Daren has laid the foundations for our continued development and to further improve our services to the public. I know that he will continue this work, alongside our strong

“I am and will remain immensely proud of the real progress we have made at SECAmb during the past 18 months.”

executive team, during his notice period.” Daren added: “I am and will remain immensely proud of the real progress we have made at SECAmb during the past 18 months. I know

“I have not taken this decision lightly and have greatly enjoyed my time as Chief Executive of SECAmb. While the process to recruit

The Trust would like to thank Daren for his

that there is still more to do but as a Trust we

my replacement is under way, I remain fully

hard work and leadership, which leaves the

have already made significant steps forward

committed to SECAmb and look forward to

organisation with a strong platform to make

and I know I will be leaving the Trust with a

working hard with my colleagues and the wider

further improvements. The recruitment process

strong leadership team who are committed to

NHS on providing the best care possible to our

to appoint Daren’s successor will now begin.

making this happen.

patients.”

All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com

If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via: info@mediapublishingcompany.com

244 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

We always have room for more inside • Paramedics • Newly qualified paramedics • Qualified emergency medical technicians

For more information, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01234 243200 or to apply visit:

eastamb.nhs.uk

AUK_August_AUK_August_2013 11/10/2013 10:53 Page 254

THE CLASSIFIED SITE For For further further information make information or or to to make aa reservation reservation please please contact contact

Terry Terry or or Brenda Rachel Tel: Tel: 01322 01322 660434 660434 Fax: Fax: 01322 666539 email:

info@mediapublishing info@mediapublishing company.com or by post to: Media Media House, 48 High Street 48 Swanley Swanley KentBR8 BR88BQ BQ Kent

Life Connections 2014 Exmed Study Day

Theme: Difficult Airway Course EMS™ – An introduction Thursday 15TH May 2014 Kettering Conference Centre, Kettering NN15 6PB

AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER

246

TIME: A.M

PRESENTATION

TIME: P.M

08.30 - 09.00

Registration

12.00 - 12.30

09.00 - 09.15

Introduction & History of the Course

09.15 - 09.45

The Airway Algorithms

12.30 - 13.30

09-45 - 10.30

Prediction of the Difficult Airway

13.30 - 14.00

10.30 - 11.15

BVM and Laryngoscopy

11.15 - 11.30

Tea/Coffee, Exhibition

11.30 - 12.00

Skills Stations (4 rotations/30 min. each)

PRESENTATION Skill Stations Rotation 2 Lunch, Exhibition Skill Stations Rotation 3

14.00 - 14.30

Skill Stations Rotation 4

Group 1

BVM, ETI

14.30 - 14.45

Group 2

EGD’s & Rescue Airways

14.45 - 15.00

Group 3

Needle & Surgical Airway

15.00 - 17.00

Group 4

Video Laryngoscopy

17.00

Airway Self Scope Video Tea/Coffee, Exhibition Practical Moulages Wrap up

Topics and Speakers correct at the time of press but may be subject to change

CPD certificate provider

Delegate Rate: £72.00 (inc VAT) includes: delegate bag, refreshments and the opportunity to visit over 60 trade stands.

Only 7 places remain available!!

To register call 01322 660434 or visit:

www.lifeconnections.uk.com For more news visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com

PARAMEDICS - SOUTH WEST £23,023 to £36,644 pa (plus unsocial hours payment)* Join us and you’ll find an Ambulance Service that understands the better we look after you, the better equipped you’ll be to look after our patients. We are passionate about providing care closer to home and equip all of our staff with the training, support and skills they need to deliver a higher level of care, enabling more of our patients to be treated without conveyance to hospital. And we want a better future for you too. Our career framework supports our paramedics to develop specialist or managerial careers, with the progression of many of our current staff testament to our commitment to internal progression and career development Whether you crave a coastal location, the best of the British countryside or the historic cities of Cheltenham, Bath and Bristol (to name but a few), you really will find a better lifestyle outside of work here in the beautiful South West. • • • •

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