Your Call - Spring Edition 2019

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YourCall

ISSUE 05: Spring 2019

Our miracle fighter born at 25 weeks

“I kept my battle with mental health hidden�

How Catherine coped losing her dear father www.nwas.nhs.uk

Welcome to the spring edition of Your Call We can’t believe that we are more than a third of the way through 2019 already – where does the time go?

It’s been an action packed year for us so far.

As we head out of what is usually one of the busiest times of the year for our service, we would officially like to welcome some new faces to our family and say hello to our Chairman Peter White, Medical Director Chris Grant, Finance Director Carolyn Wood and our brand new Chief Executive Daren Mochrie.

We hope you enjoy this edition which has some real life inspirational stories including the very brave account of one lady who speaks out about losing her terminally ill father and how in the end, his dying wish was all that mattered. We also talk to a mother whose miracle baby was born at 25

weeks and battled on and survived in the face of adversity.

Mental health is fast becoming one of the biggest topics of discussion in all circles and quite rightly so, we talk to one of our clinical advisors in 111 about her own personal battle with mental health.

We also look at how high intensity interval training can really help you get fit and lose weight and how the celery juice movement is taking Instagram by storm.

Do you use our service or know somebody who does? Do you want to have a greater say and influence how we improve the services we deliver? Can you spare an hour or so to give feedback on public education materials and other initiatives? If so you can turn to page 15 for more information or get in touch with us via communications@nwas.nhs.uk Communications Team

Our shared values 2

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“As demand continues to grow, it is important we think outside the box.”

From the blue line to the green After a varied and successful 30 year career with Lancashire Constabulary, NWAS’ new Chairman Peter White swaps handcuffs for a defibrillator as he takes on a new challenge within the ambulance service.

Driven by his values of providing a meaningful service and working with integrity, Peter has been a non-executive director on our board for five years before undertaking the role of chairman in February 2019.

We caught up with Peter to get to know a little bit more about him and his hopes for the future.

“Although the NHS is completely different to the police, I feel that the skills and experience I have gained throughout my career can be used to help the trust look at challenges differently.

“There are lots of similarities between the two linked critical services, they share the same culture of care and need to deliver a quality service in often very difficult and unexpected situations.

“There have been some big changes to our executive team in recent weeks, we have welcomed new Chief Executive Daren Mochrie who brings his operational experience and vast knowledge, as well as changes in our medical and finance director positions and a new nonexecutive director, all of whom bring fresh eyes and perspective. Balanced with the experience of long-serving members, I am confident that we have a really good stable board with lots of new ideas.

“As demand continues to grow, it’s important that we think outside the box. I believe that technology is a key factor and that we should focus on continuing to work together with our NHS colleagues and striving for smooth, joined up care.

“We are the front door to the NHS so we need to be leaders and make it as good as it can be.”

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Feature Feature article Article

s m e l b o r p h t l a e h l a t Men . s u f o r u o f n i e n o t c affe Yet people are still afraid to talk about it.

Michelle Davies, Clinical Advisor for NWAS NHS 111, was diagnosed with post-natal depression following the birth of her daughters, now five and three.

But like many others with mental health problems, the 36-year-old based at the NHS 111 contact centre in Bolton kept her struggles a secret. Michelle said:

“I Kept it very hidden and didn’t tell anyone for a long time including admitting it to myself.

“I can remember sitting there one day reading a story to my daughter and just crying my eyes out, thinking what am I doing here.”

The number of people with mental health problems has not changed significantly in recent years, but according to mental health charity MIND, the number of people who selfharm or have suicidal thoughts is increasing.

Michelle, who worked as a nurse for 12 years at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital before joining NWAS in 2017, said the key for her recovery was accepting she needed help.

She added: “I think it is important to know there is no normal, just because something doesn’t affect someone else doesn’t mean it 4

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is any less significant. It’s what affects you.

Asking for help is not failing, it’s actually very brave.”

Michelle, who lives in Southport, is now using her experience to help others as a peer supporter to offer extra assistance to her colleagues.

The peer supporters are a group of approachable members of staff that are passionate about promoting wellbeing at work and challenging mental health stigma.

Michelle said: “Now I am very open about my own situation which has encouraged both friends and colleagues to open up.

“I understand the need to be able to speak to someone or for someone to just say, ‘are you ok?’

“I think people in this line of work need someone to open up to, to discuss calls and any problems at work or in their home life. We don’t always get chance to speak to each other in work so the peer supporter system is a good way to discuss any issues and get signposted to the right help.”

with difficult or upsetting calls to handle.

“I just try and stay in my bubble to keep positive. I still have low days but now I’m not afraid to talk about how I’m feeling. More people need to do the same.”

Six warning signs of poor mental health: * A change in personality * Uncharacteristic anxiety/mood/anger * Social withdrawal and isolation * Lack of self-care and risky behaviour * A sense of hopelessness * Feeling overwhelmed

Now Michelle has taken up running to maintain good mental health. Last year she completed, alongside her husband, the Mad Dog 10k and the Great North Run. She said: “Running is good for me. It clears my mind and makes me feel happy. I like that I help a lot of people in a day with my job but then there’s days where the job is tough

Whatever you need to know about coping with stress, anxiety or depression, or just the normal emotional ups and downs of life, the NHS Choices Moodzone is here to help.

It offers practical advice, interactive tools, videos and audio guides to help you feel mentally and emotionally better.

Visit the NHS homepage and search ‘Moodzoone’ for more information.

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The grass roots of mental health Amanda Ferguson, Emergency Medical Technician in Kendal has been instrumental in championing mental health both inside and outside of work, ever since we signed a pledge in 2016 committing to supporting our workforce with mental health.

As the group leader for champions and peer supporters, Amanda offers a shoulder of support to those in need of some help, alongside more than 150 other champions across the North West.

This is in support of the national ‘Blue Light Programme’ led by mental health charity MIND. Amanda’s interest in mental health stems from personal experience after suffering post-natal depression and a subsequent mental health breakdown.

“I wanted to show other people that it’s possible to recover from a mental health problem.

“It’s very difficult to see that when you’re caught in a downward spiral. Poor mental health can isolate people and no-one should be alone during a mental health crisis. If we can catch people before they fall, we can provide early intervention before things get to breaking point. Our staff’s mental health is important and we will support them through any problems they may have.”

We offer one to one support for any mental health concerns staff may have, whether that be due to attending a particularly traumatic incident or an issue which may be happening at home.

We’re breaking down the barriers to mental health and reducing the stigma attached with it in as many ways possible.

Local managers are being equipped to take responsibility and accountability for their staff’s mental health and overall wellbeing by having conversations, encouraging take up of health and wellbeing initiatives, providing information about mental health support and signposting to other support available.

If you need some support you can find more information at: www.mind.org.uk.

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Like mother like daughter

#BalanceForBetter Anna Hobson, Strategic Organisational Development Manager at NWAS, tells us what International Women’s Day, which is celebrated annually on 8 March, means to her.

Why is International Women’s Day important?

The recognition of women being equal and celebrating how we have worked collectively over the years to readdress this balance is really inspiring. The fact that we are now able to outwardly support and ‘shout’ about female empowerment is amazing.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To celebrate Mother’s Day this year, we spoke to a mother and daughter team on what it’s like to work together.

Angie Lee, Deputy Sector Manager for Greater Manchester Emergency Operations Centre: I’m very proud of Sophie and I’m glad that she wanted to follow me into the trust. Her role can be very challenging, I knew that if she could handle it, she could handle anything that came her way. During one shift we worked together, one of the other dispatchers told her off for calling me Angie and not Mum!”

This day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the journey women across the world have been on. But it’s also about acknowledging the massive change in direction that society has taken. This is not just down to the hard work of women, but men too. We rise by lifting others.

What women inspire you and why?

My mum – AKA Susie Q. If I grow up to be half the woman she is, I’ve made it in life.

Sophie Lee, EOC Dispatcher “My mum definitely inspired me to start working for the trust! She’s my role model and has worked so hard for our busy family. She’s the rock in our family. The best advice my mum has ever given me was to travel the world, put myself out of my comfort zone and that some rules are made to be broken!”

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d e r e t t a m h s i w g n i y d Dad’s

Feature article

Talking about death is uncomfortable for many, it’s a taboo subject as losing somebody close will be the most distressing experience most of us will ever face.

For Catherine Walker from Hazel Grove in Stockport, talking has been her therapy after the recent loss of her beloved father, Denis. We talk to Catherine about how her dad’s dying wish mattered.

Denis was diagnosed with a form of cancer called mesothelioma, caused by inhaling asbestos, something he did when he was in the Navy at a young age working on the ships.

I asked for them to let me in to see dad. I wasn’t expecting the shock of seeing what I saw which was my father collapsed on the kitchen floor.”

“I didn’t think that when the time came for dad, he would collapse on the kitchen floor making a cup of coffee.”

Catherine talks about her experience with the paramedic who arrived at her dad’s house: “He was so compassionate, he explained what he was doing, what would happen next and asked me if I had any questions. He genuinely cared for the situation we were in and never left us alone throughout it all. It is never easy for somebody to tell another person that their loved one has passed away and this was no exception to the paramedic that was with us and we couldn’t have asked for better support at the time.

Catherine recalls: “Dad was told he had three months to live if he didn’t have chemotherapy and six months if he did. He lived for two years after his diagnosis, doctors said he was a walking miracle.

“Dad refused chemotherapy and all palliative care.

As he was a very private man, he didn’t talk about his cancer, he just wanted to deal with it himself and carry on living life as he was before.”

Catherine visited Denis the day before he died: “He looked like a shadow of himself, he had very rapidly deteriorated. I did some cleaning that day as it was clear he wasn’t able to do things for himself, yet he still refused any type of help or care and wanted things to continue as normal. I went out with my sister and the kids the next day and I had a gut instinct something wasn’t right.

“I went to dad’s house on the way home and when I knocked at the door, there was no reply, I knew something had happened. I called the police and they arrived and had to batter the door down.

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“We tried to talk to dad about his funeral, he wanted somewhere with plenty of parking, a nice cup of tea and a butty for people.

“Because dad looked so fit and well when he was diagnosed and for a long time after, it didn’t register that he was going to die. I had it in my head that when he got very poorly, we could arrange for some help for him and a possible care plan. Call it male pride or his stoic nature but he was adamant he was doing it his way, which was on his own. He would have hated people coming in to help him. In the end my dad passed away in the comfort of his own home, doing what he enjoyed, which was exactly his dying wish.”

In loving memory of Denis Sullivan

Kieran Potts, Community Specialist Paramedic “I felt emotional reading Catherine’s story about Denis’ death; these circumstances are never easy for those involved, inviting our staff briefly into their lives. To hear how my colleagues were there for Catherine and her family and provided support with such compassion and sensitivity gives me a sense of pride. We as an ambulance service are privileged to provide care for such circumstances.”

Stages of bereavement Experts generally accept there are four stages of bereavement:

• Accepting that your loss is real • Experiencing the pain of grief • Adjusting to life without the person who has died • Putting less emotional energy into grieving and putting it into something new – in other words, moving on You can contact local bereavement services through: • Your local hospice / Local GP • National Cruse helpline on 0808 808 1677

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e l c a r i Our m if ghter Talking from their home in Sandbach, Charlotte Weber and Matt Wood are holding their precious miracle baby Alice. Born at 25 weeks gestation, it is safe to say it’s has been a turbulent past six months for Alice and her parents.

Charlotte went to work on 25 September 2018 feeling uncomfortable, she wasn’t in pain or cramping she just didn’t feel right. She came home to Matt and later found a small amount of blood and mucus, something she knew wasn’t a good sign. They went to hospital and Charlotte was checked over. Everything seemed fine, apart from Charlotte having an overwhelming sense of constipation so they went home.

Charlotte recalls what happened next:

“I got home and decided to run myself a bath which only seemed to accelerate my symptoms.

“By this point I was cramping and in a lot of pain and managed to somehow get myself out of the bath and onto the bed, I had an idea of what was happening. Matt was in the next room, I was in so much pain that I couldn’t shout and had to text him.

“Matt called 999 immediately and the ambulance service thought I was in labour.

Within seven minutes the ambulance crew had arrived and my waters broke. It soon 10

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became clear that our baby was going to be delivered at home.”

Charlotte gave birth to Alice at home at 10.18pm, 25 weeks gestation weighing 1 pound and 13 ounces with the assistance from Paramedic Andy and Emergency Medical Technicians Bethan and Laura, who undoubtedly saved Alice’s life as they had to resuscitate her twice. Both Alice and Charlotte were taken to hospital and Alice spent the next five months in various hospitals receiving specialist neonatal care. Charlotte and Matt finally got to meet Alice the day after she was born as the first few hours were critical for her.

Charlotte describes the feeling she had when both Andy and Bethan came to the hospital after they had finished their shift to see if she and Alice were OK as “amazing.”

“Alice has had so many hurdles to face with being transferred from hospital to hospital and she has battled so bravely.”

Alice’s bowel ruptured and she had to have a portion of it removed when she was two weeks old. She’s had laser eye surgery which means she is short sighted and has no peripheral vision.

She also had dangerously low blood sugars and needed glucose, but due to all of the treatment she has needed, her veins kept collapsing and leaking. Alice had to have a Broviac inserted which is a special intravenous line under her skin on her chest wall and into a large vein that leads to her heart which she will have for the forseeable.

There is no denying that baby Alice is a fighter as she is now home and doing really well. She is five months old (eight weeks corrected) and weighs nine pounds.

“I wasn’t aware that my baby could come this early. It happens to a lot of women and it seems to me that there is not enough awareness of it.

“We have been told that in 90 per cent of cases there isn’t a biological reason, it just happens and that has left us wondering what may happen in the future for both us and Alice. Our experience has made us stronger as a family unit and we couldn’t have done it without each other.”

We spoke to advanced paramedic, John Henry about premature births and he says:

family to experience especially when the birth occurs so early in the pregnancy. The threshold of viability in pregnancy is considered to be around 23 weeks and even then outcomes can be extremely poor, especially in unplanned settings, whereby the ambulance clinicians not only have to manage the birth, but also have to contend with the transfer to specialist care as soon as possible.

“At 26 weeks survivability is significantly improved, although organs will still be underdeveloped and it is highly likely that babies will require immediate life support if born at this stage. Ambulance clinicians rarely attend incidents such as this and it demonstrates the extreme diversity of the role and the vital support they provide.

The skill of the NWAS clinicians at this incident has undoubtedly contributed to such a positive outcome for baby Alice and by taking the time to visit the family in hospital shows an unparalleled level of dedication.”

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#IAmNWAS: Working with us We’ve been supporting the ‘We are the NHS’ campaign and using our own hashtag - #IAmNWAS - to showcase some of the 300 plus roles in our service. We want to shout about all the different ways we help the people of the North West, and hopefully encourage people to come and join the NHS team! ‘We are the NHS’ was launched last summer by NHS England,

the Department of Health and Social Care, Health Education England and NHS Improvement. The aim of the campaign is to try and make those thinking about their future career to consider working in the NHS, as well as reminding those who have left how great and worthwhile working for the NHS really is.

You can view our jobs at jobs.nhs.uk.

Emergency vehicles turn electric

We are proud to be one of the first ambulance services in the country to introduce electric rapid response cars into our fleet of vehicles in a significant move towards environmental sustainability.

We currently have four BMW i3s which have been in use for over a year now, during this time no fuel has been used to power them.

The electric motor in these vehicles propels the car from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds making it both the quickest and most efficient electric vehicle within its class.

An additional 25 electric vehicles are joining our fleet soon and we’re looking to replace all rapid response vehicles with new electric models when they reach the end of their lifespan.

Shahid volunteers with Syrian refugees Shahid Ali, Head of Planning and Developments at NWAS, recently travelled to Lebanon to volunteer with Muslim Charity UK. We caught up with him to learn more about his involvement in this life-changing charity work.

What was the aim of the trip?

As part of a team with Muslim Charity UK, I travelled to Lebanon for a week in February to distribute aid and help in the Syrian refugee camps on the border between Lebanon and Syria.

What did you get up to whilst you were out there?

We helped build shelters and distribute aid in the form of school equipment, books, pens, blankets, mattresses, food packs and clothes. As we handed each family their items, we watched their faces glow with happiness at receiving the most basic of essentials which many of us take for granted.

How will the money raised be used?

My colleagues and friends very kindly donated almost £1,900 over a very short period of time, and the team that I went with collectively raised £46,000. This money will be used to directly help these people with all sorts of different aid they so desperately need. It may not change the world, but every single donation will change someone’s world.

Is there one experience that will always stay with you?

The children have very little there, I handed a tennis ball to a little girl and tears welled up in her eyes. The grateful look from boys and girls after being given even the smallest thing, some chocolate, felt tips, books or a football, will stay with me for a very long time.

Paramedic awarded fellowship

From the Cumbrian countryside to the big city of San Francisco, we spoke to Consultant Paramedic for Education, Vinny Romano, who has been awarded a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship, which will see him travel to the United States and Canada to research staff support systems within the emergency services.

Vinny, 43, from Penrith, will be meeting up with his counterparts in areas of the world that are leading in providing mental health support for colleagues working in emergency services.

After witnessing first-hand the difficulties that his colleagues face as a result of the work that they do, Vinny has a passion for supporting staff and currently leads the trust’s Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) programme which helps to support colleagues who have attended traumatic incidents.

“In life you only get a handful of amazing and unique opportunities.

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“I believe this is one of them. The chance to travel to parts of the world and explore how goals can be achieved and barriers overcome allowing me to not only share ideas, but expand and improve on them.”

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust runs the Churchill Fellowships, a unique programme of overseas research grants. These support UK citizens from all parts of society to travel the world in search of innovative solutions for today’s most pressing problems.

Vinny’s role as a consultant paramedic specialises in education, a brand new role in the trust which fits alongside NWAS’ education team to provide a vital clinical input into all aspects of training.

Vinny will start his travels in July when he plans to start in California before heading over to Canada and New Orleans in September.

Follow Vinny’s journey on Twitter

@NWAmb_Vinny

We need you!

We’re embarking on an exciting journey and we’d like your direction. If you are from the North West and would like to share your voice with us about our services then we hope you will read on.

Our new Patient and Public Panel will give you the opportunity to get involved with our work.

It will give you the chance to influence service planning and delivery and to develop service improvements with other members of the North West community.

Who can join us?

Anybody over the age of 16 can apply to become a panel member and influence our plans.

What will it look like?

There are three different levels of involvement available to you from, for example, giving feedback on campaigns to taking part in focus groups to attending Board meetings depending on your level of interest and time. You can even support virtually.

What we need from you?

All we ask for is a little bit of your time to share your opinions. Applications will be taken on our website very soon at nwas.nhs.uk.

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A day at the Palace NWAS Deputy Director of Quality, Neil Barnes was recently awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Medal (QAM) as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2018.

The QAM recognises the distinguished contribution of individuals working in the ambulance service. Neil has worked for the service for over 39 years, dedicating much of his career to frontline duties, training and, more recently, clinical and quality governance.

Neil was one of those overseeing the trust’s response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017 as a strategic commander on the night of this horrific incident.

We caught up with him to hear all about his day at the Palace!

away and it was such a great experience to meet people from all different walks of life, who had achieved so much.

As the host, the Queen entered the Ballroom accompanied by the Yeomen of the Guard. The National Anthem played and then the awards ceremony began. When my turn was up, the Queen placed the medal on my chest with a smile and congratulated me on my honour. It was a very special moment to be able to speak with the Queen, someone who I have admired for a long time, face to face, on a one to one basis.

What does this award mean to you?

Tell us about the day itself

Being awarded this honour is the pinnacle of what has been an extremely worthwhile and rewarding career with the ambulance service and NHS over the last 39 years.

Myself, my wife Karen and our two sons, Johnny and Joe, arrived at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 13 November 2018. Buckingham Palace is an extremely impressive place to have had the honour to enter, it was all that I had imagined and more. The whole occasion really took my breath

I am extremely proud and privileged to have been nominated, recommended and then honoured

by Her Majesty the Queen to receive this very prestigious award, especially in the same year the NHS celebrated its 70th year of existence.

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y p p a ‘ e c i u Green j

There’ a significant amount of attention being given to juicing this ‘marmite’ vegetable on Instagram.

With celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Macpherson and Calvin Harris leading on the juicing movement, it’s no wonder that there are over 106,000 posts tagged with #celeryjuice and nearly 29,000 posts tagged with #celeryjuicebenefits on the app.

The trend stems from a man called Anthony Williams, a Los Angeles-based ‘health guru’ who has 1.7 million followers on Instagram and calls himself the ‘Medical Medium’ and the “originator of global celery juice movement.” Anthony’s Instagram feed is full of success stories from his followers who describe how they have seemingly been cured of their crippling psoriasis, digestive issues, acne, low energy and anxiety to name but a few by drinking this miracle green juice.

Anthony claims that drinking pure celery juice in the morning has many health benefits. It is clear however that Anthony’s ideas are not based on scientific research or medical studies and his claims for this reason are rocking the boat with dieticians and members of the medical community.

In the Evening Standard, Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert is reported saying on the green juice: “We don’t really have any evidence to prove these magical claims to celery juice. A lot of the stuff out there is purely anecdotal. Drinking celery juice should, of course, under no circumstance replace a balanced diet or conventional medicine. If people are enjoying it, there’s no harm in adding a little extra nutrition in the morning.”

James Tanner’s celery soup The jury is still out with us on celery juice so we’ve found a super easy celery soup recipe on BBC.com, created by celebrity chef James Tanner long before the rise in popularity of the veg.

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, chopped ½ red onion, chopped 150g/5½oz celery, chopped 200ml/7fl oz hot chicken stock 2 slices toasted ciabatta, to serve

Add the chicken stock and simmer for 10-12 minutes.

Transfer the soup to a blender and liquidise.

To serve, place the soup into a bowl with the toasted ciabatta alongside.

We hope you enjoy! For a vegetarian alternative try using vegetable stock.

Method Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the garlic, onion and celery over a low heat for five minutes, until softened.

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Bursts of exercise can help you lose weight

An article by the BBC News online caught our attention recently as it looked at why longer, less intense work outs are being superseded by bursts of high intensity interval training (HIIT) when it comes to weight loss.

We wanted to see for ourselves if this form of exercise does what it says on the tin and caught up with one of our fitness assessors and paramedic, David Walker – who also happens to be a fully qualified personal trainer.

David has spent the past 12 years championing exercise and fitness which has come in particularly handy for his role in the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) – which triages and treats patients within particularly hazardous or potentially contaminated areas.

The team is trained in breathing apparatus, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, confined space, urban search and rescue, water related incidents and working at height jobs as well as working closely with armed police and riot training.

The team members are individually required to complete and pass 14 minute fitness tests every six months dressed in full ground kit while wearing breathing apparatus weighing 25kgs.

In addition to his HART paramedic role, David is one of the

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So what is HIIT?

Short bursts of intense exercise followed by a brief resting period over a period of time.

Where can I do it?

Wherever you want, in or out of a gym and with or without equipment.

Benefits of HIIT?

Structured to suit your time, burn calories faster, weight loss, increase aerobic capacity and build muscle.

three members of HART that carries out and assesses fitness tests which include repeating the following four times; 32 steps on an aerobic step carrying two 7kg dumbbells, a 50m walk carrying two 7kg dumbbells with the addition of performing a clinical intervention such as putting on a bandage dressing, a 75kg dummy drag for 15m on the last round and a 50m walk.

“HIIT is ideal for preparing for something like this as it involves repeated bursts of high intensity exercise interspersed with low intensity recovery periods or shorter periods of rest.

Will HIIT training work for me?

Although it may only be a ten minute workout, HIIT

training will help burn more calories in less time and is ideal for a busy life style. Another positive is that HIIT can be done anywhere, and does not have to be in a gym environment. It all depends on what you want the workout to involve. HIIT can also be set out for an individual or group and can be benefited by people of all ages, fitness levels, and athletic ability.

An example of a HIIT Burpees - 20 seconds Rest – 10 seconds Sprint – 20 seconds Rest - 10 seconds Repeat 10 times

“Very few of us have little time these days to fit working out into our hectic schedules and this is why HIIT training works, as you don’t need a great deal of time to see the benefits. In half an hour, you can burn a lot more calories by ‘peaking’ your heart rate with a series of high intensity interval exercises, than using, for example, a running or rowing machine and working at the same pace for half an hour.”

HIIT is not something that everybody can participate in so we suggest you seek advice from your GP before starting any form or exercise.

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#TeamNWAS

Our social media accounts are bursting with news. Follow North West Ambulance Service on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Hello Daren On 1 April 2019, our new Chief Executive, Daren Mochrie, joined us from South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. You can follow Daren on Twitter @daren_mochrie.

Again, really?

After three incidents in March of youths throwing things at ambulances, one of which an emergency medical technician was hit on the head, another ambulance window was recently smashed with a brick-like object thrown at the moving vehicle in Salford. Thankfully no patient was inside and there were no injuries but this is causing a serious risk to life and it must stop.

It’s a wrap After months of filming for series five of BBC One’s ‘Ambulance’ documentary in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and our emergency operations centres, the camera lenses have closed. Keep an eye out for the new episodes very soon and a special in our next edition.

Little cutie Evie How cute is little Evie learning CPR with her dad at the intu Trafford Centre? We think she rocks and just goes to show that you are never too young to learn CPR.

Get in touch Trust Headquarters Ladybridge Hall, Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 5DD Tel: 0345 112 0 999 (local rate) Email: nwasenquiries@nwas.nhs.uk Website: www.nwas.nhs.uk

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