Foundation Times - Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

South Central Ambulance Service

NHS Foundation Trust

Foundation Times

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

4

A message from Chair, Lena Samuels 6

12

2017 SCAS Happenings

Become a SCAS 100 Virtual Club Member

22

36

SCAS honours outstanding staff

Restart a Heart

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18 If you would like to submit an article for Foundation Times please send it to getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk.

Foundation Times is produced by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

Editor: Monica Moro Design: Clare Daniels Cover photo: by Ashley Buttle (Paramedic) in Wexham

www.scas.nhs.uk

www.twitter.com/scas999

www.facebook.com/scas999

2

www.flickr.com/999scas

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

WELCOME Welcome to the winter 2017/18 bumper edition of Foundation Times.

It’s hard to believe another year is behind us!

We have included information from across the organisation, from our governor elections to winning awards.

We hope you find it informative.

FRONT COVER PHOTO opportunity If you are interested in photography and would like to see your image on the front cover of the next issue, please send it to us along with details of where it was taken to getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk

3

LENA'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE A New Year invariably opens up the opportunity to pause and reflect upon the previous year. As we transitioned from one year to the next we saw our service stretched well beyond what we thought the winter pressures were going to bring and on behalf of the board and the Council of Governors, I want to say that we knew how hard our staff were working to address this and were conscious of the incredible stress that this brought. We are very grateful for their efforts and for all that they did to deliver the best possible care that they could in the circumstances.

The dedication that staff show is an integral part of living our values (caring, teamwork, innovation and professionalism). This year, we will be working to make these values more apparent in all that we do so that we can better connect our practice to our values.

In addition, this year we will pay particular attention to what it means to be professional in our conduct, our communications and in how we inspire professionalism in others. Individually and collectively our staff make a daily

4

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

impact on the lives of others and whilst providing excellent care, it is often the manner for example that we spoke to someone, rather than what we said, whether it be to a patient or a colleague, that leaves the lingering memory.

As the author Maya angelou, said: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

I would like to thank our governors, volunteers and members for their continuing support in developing SCAS further in the interests of patients.

Here’s to a healthy, happy and fulfilling 2018.

5

2017 SCAS HAPPENINGS çJanuary SCAS is one of Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN)’s partners involved in Making Sustainability Happen

èFEBRUARY Dispatch Team C at SCAS’ Clinical Co-ordination Centre in Bicester receives the Team of the Year Award at the Ambulance Leadership Forum Awards 2017

çMARCH

6

New governors on the block - newly elected public Hampshire governor David Luckett together with Berkshire governor Frank Epstein and Mark Davis and Oxfordshire governors Joyce Hutchinson, Mike Fox-Davies and Paul Ader start their three year term with SCAS

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

çAPRIL èè Lena Samuels starts as the new SCAS Chair èè SCAS welcomes new Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service colleagues from Surrey and Sussex èè SCAS welcomes midwives from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust èè 10,000th patient for the Chipping Norton First Aid Unit èè South Central Ambulance Charity receives a grant of £150k from the Government’s Q Volunteering Programme

èMAY èè SCAS amongst the 30-strong list of Diversity and Inclusion Partners for 2017-18 NHS Employers èè SCAS Chief Executive Will Hancock signs a national emergency services dementia commitment, on behalf of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives

çJUNE èè SCAS holds Long Service Awards 7

èè SCAS supports National Blood Week

èJULY Our partner Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance celebrates 10th birthday

çAUGUST SCAS is proud to be the provider of the healthcare logistics service for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

èSEPTEMBER èè SCAS launches the new Thames Valley Integrated Urgent Care (IUC) Service èè Professor Helen Young starts as the new SCAS Executive Director of Patient Care and Service Transformation

8

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

çOCTOBER èè SCAS presented with Gold Award by HRH Prince Harry èè SCAS opens £2m education and recruitment centre in Newbury èè SCAS takes part in the Restart a Heart Day 2017

èNOVEMBER èè SCAS celebrates staff’s dedication and efforts at the annual AMBIES awards èè SCAS backs Road Safety Week campaign

çDECEMBER SCAS announces its new governors 9

Governors election results Thank you to all our members who took the time to vote. We would like to welcome and congratulate those who were elected/re-elected.

Chair Lena, Samuels said: “Governors play a vital role, both in representing the views of the people we serve as well as ensuring we deliver a safe and effective service. To do this we need a high calibre of experience and expertise. I am therefore delighted to congratulate those governors who have been re-elected as well as to welcome new members to the Council of Governors who will no doubt bring a fresh perspective�.

You can view the results in full at http://www.scas.nhs.uk/about-scas/council-of-governors/governors-election/

10

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

The list of successful candidates is as follows: Public: Hampshire - 3 vacancies èè Andy BARTLETT (re-elected) èè Charles MCGILL èè Tony NICHOLSON

The following constituencies were uncontested: Public: Berkshire – 1 vacancy èè Colin Godbold (re-elected)

Public: Buckinghamshire – 3 vacancies èè Bob CROCKER èè Bernadette DEVINE èè Bob DUGGAN (re-elected)

Staff: Contact centres including NHS 111, EOC and NEPTS – 1 vacancy èè Jim Dunderdale

Public: Oxfordshire – 2 vacancies èè Loretta LIGHT èè Stephen HAYNES

Staff: Corporate/support/other – 1 vacancy èè Lynn Dove-Dixon

Staff: NEPTS (Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service) and Logistics – 1 vacancy èè Emma CROZIER

Staff: 999 Operations – North – 1 vacancy èè Kate Moss Staff: 999 Operations – South – 1 vacancy èè David Palmer (re-elected)

The new governors will commence their three year term, on the 1st march

The official election process was conducted on behalf of the Trust by the Electoral Reform Services.

11

00 1 r o ng f i k ers o b o m l e e us m e ar l W p ! s n ber is o m e e g m lic llen be b a u o h p t c t n e s Th Tru soo r n u o i o in dat o n j u o o t F ub l c i C l l b e pu rtua i h V t f 0 o AS 10 C S ed form

Become a SCAS 100 Virtual Club member

12

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

The challenge is on!

How you can help

We are looking for 100 Foundation Trust public members plus members of the public to join our soon to be formed SCAS 100 Virtual Club

*Mystery Shoppers will be members from the SCAS 100 Virtual Club who will be asked to carry out a series of pre-agreed tasks such as telephone calls, enquiries through email or our website or take part in journeys on our services.

Why a Virtual Club?

We want to offer our Trust members and members of the public the opportunity to participate in convenient activism (e.g. being part of a focus group or responding to surveys or consultations issued by the Trust) without having to attend meetings/events if they are unable to do so.

They will then report their findings to the Trust by completing a Mystery Shopper feedback form.

How it will run?

TO REGISTER

When there is a need to involve people externally to the Trust to provide input into surveys, consultations, ideas on cost savings, working with other organisations, improving our services etc., the Trust will email the SCAS 100 Virtual Club members.

You can: èè email us at getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk èè call 01869 36125

Although all correspondence will be via email only, members will also be able to get involved face-to-face with the Trust’s biannual Community Engagement Forums, fundraising for the SCA Charity and with Mystery Shopping* activities if they wish.

èè write to the following postal address (no stamp required) FREEPOST Communications – membership South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Freepost RSJY-USUX-GKBE 7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 6HR

Permanent members of our Community Engagement Forums will be automatically included in the SCAS 100 Virtual Club unless they want to opt out.

Deadline for registration: Friday 23 February 2018

We want to gather members from as broad a spectrum as possible to get a truly representative sample. Both service and non-service users are also welcome.

13

South Central Ambulance Service

NHS Foundation Trust

14

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

999 TED

Tweet us @SCAS999 15

Latest news from the Council of Governors

25

From Steve Garside, SCAS Company Secretary

MEETINGS

The Council of Governors (CoG) held its 25th meeting in public since SCAS achieved Foundation Trust status in March 2012, on 4 October. The meeting was held in the evening in Newbury and 14 of the 20 governors were in attendance, together with a considerable number of members of the Board of Directors.

Two new appointed partner governors – Jeanette Clifford and David Drew - were welcomed to their first CoG meetings.

The Chief Executive provided a comprehensive update on key, current issues for SCAS, and a range of questions were asked by the governors. This was followed by a discussion about the new Ambulance Response Programme (ARP) changes which mean a new set of operational performance standards for the ambulance sector.

Governors noted how these changes were designed to benefit patients.

Hampshire public governors, in particular, have been concerned with ambulance

16

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

handover delays at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. The Board provided an update on the actions being taken by SCAS to try and resolve the problems, acknowledging that not all of the issues are fully under the Trust’s control.

Governors provided feedback on recent member and public engagement events, with governors keen to ensure that they deliver their statutory duty of representing the interests of the Trust’s members and the public as a whole.

PApers Papers for all CoG meetings, and dates of future events, are available on the Trust’s website at èè http://www.scas.nhs.uk/council-of-governors/council-of-governorsmeetings/

The next meeting is on:

16 April 2018

and any members wishing to attend would be warmly welcomed.

17

NE WS 18

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

SCAS NATIONAL

Ambulance Response Programme - SCAS moved to new response standards on 31 October 2017 Following the largest clinical ambulance trials in the world, NHS England is implementing new ambulance standards across the country. On 31 October 2017, SCAS implemented the new national ambulance response standards.

Ambulance services are measured on the time it takes from receiving a 999 call to a vehicle arriving at the patient’s location. Life-threatening and emergency calls, under the current standards, should be responded to in eight minutes. We know that most patients do not need this level of response, therefore under the new standards there are four response categories.

What are the changes?

The changes focus on making sure the best, high quality, most appropriate response is provided for each patient first time.

Historically ambulance services are allowed up to 60 seconds from receiving a call to sending a vehicle.

This wasn’t long enough so from now on call handlers will be given more time to assess 999 calls that are not immediately life-threatening, which will enable us to identify patients’ needs better and send the most appropriate response.

19

Category

Category

Emergency calls

URGENT CALLS

People with life-threatening injuries or illnesses. These will be responded to in an average time of seven minutes and at least nine out of ten times within 15 minutes.

Emergencies that are not life-threatening. These will be responded to in an average time of 18 minutes and at least nine out of ten times within 40 minutes.

one

TWO

The short animation on https://youtu. be/cu3dad-Fkbk explains more about these calls.

The short animation on https://youtu. be/7YLEgZDT9nY explains more about these calls.

Benefits for patients Under the new system early recognition of life-threatening conditions, particularly cardiac arrest, will increase. A new set of pre-triage questions identifies those patients in need of the fastest response.

The new targets will also free up more vehicles and staff to respond to emergencies.

For a stroke patient this means that the ambulance service will be able to send an ambulance to convey them to hospital, when previously a motorbike or rapid response 20

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

CATEGORY

Category

URGENT CALLS

LESS URGENT CALLS

In some instances you may be treated by ambulance staff in your own home.

These will be responded to at least nine out of ten times within 120 minutes (two hours).

In some instances you may be given advice over the telephone or referred to another service such as a GP or pharmacist. These will be responded to at least nine times out of ten within 180 minutes (three hours).

THREE

FOUR

The short animation on https://youtu. be/31uawNJhZvQ explains more about these calls.

The short animation on https://youtu. be/71LBNIktDSA explains more about these calls.

vehicle would ‘stop the clock’ but cannot transport them to A&E. From now on stroke patients will get to hospital or a specialist stroke unit quicker because the most appropriate vehicle can be sent first time.

Patient safety at the heart of new system Patient safety is paramount.

Academics at Sheffield University monitored more than 14 million ambulance calls under the trial and found no patient safety incidents.

21

SCAS hono outstandi 22

Ambies

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

2017

ours ing staff 23

The annual staff and volunteer awards, known as the Ambies, were held by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) at Heythrop Park Crowne Plaza, on Friday 24 November.

The Ambies showcase those members of staff and volunteers who epitomise the Trust’s values of teamwork, innovation, professionalism and care.

This prestigious black tie event is made possible thanks to the generous contribution of a number of sponsors, including main sponsor Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure, along with O&H Vehicle Conversions, Terravix, Ortivus and Zoll.

It was an evening to remember for the winners.

Ambies 2017

24

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Team of the Year Operations Award çç NHS 111 South Team Leaders and Shift Managers, won the Team of the Year – Operations Award – sponsored by Ortivus

WINNERS

Commercial Services Contact Centre Person of the Year Award çç Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service Team Leader, Lenore Mulford (Collected by Jo Burke), based at the Trust’s Southern House in Otterbourne, won the Commercial Services Contact Centre Person of the Year Award,

111 Person of the Year Award èè NHS 111 Clinical Service Manager, Nicola Harper, based at the Trust’s Clinical Coordination Centre in Otterbourne, won the 111 Person of the Year Award

25

Support Person of the Year Award çç Recruitment Advisor, Laura Farrow, based at the Trust’s Bicester Headquarters, won the Support Person of the Year Award

Governors’ Ambassador Award çç Paramedic Team Leader, Caroline Edwards, based at the Trust’s Wexham Resource Centre, won the Governors’ Ambassador Award

Clinical Coordination Centre 999 Person of the Year Award çç Senior Emergency Call Taker, Michelle Barford, based at the Trust’s Bicester Headquarters, won the Clinical Coordination Centre 999 Person of the Year Award – sponsored by Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure

26

WINNERS

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Commercial Services Operations Person of the Year Award çç Senior Operations Manager, Simon Bosher, based at the Trust’s Bicester Headquarters, won the Commercial Services Operations Person of the Year Award

999 Person of the Year Award çç HEMS Paramedics Neil Plant and Andrew Colledge, along with Dr Oliver Hawksley, based at RAF Benson on the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, won the 999 Person of the Year Award

éé Neil, Andrew and Oliver were nominated for their utmost professionalism and teamwork in response to a serious road collision that had left one van driver trapped and critically injured.

They carried out a complex, clinical procedure on the patient in the mangled cab – having to surgically amputate one of his legs.

27

Educator of the Year Award çç Education Manager, Paul Grant (collected by Melanie Saunders), based at the Boars Hill Education Centre, Oxfordshire, and Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) Team Leader, Paul Haly, based at Winchester & Eastleigh Resource Centre, were Joint Winners of the Educator of the Year Award

Team of the Year – Support Award çç The Patient Experience Team, based at the Trust’s Southern House in Otterbourne, won the Team of the Year – Support Award

Volunteer of the Year Award çç Scheme Co-ordinator and Community First Responder for New Milton, Penny Smith, won the Volunteer of the Year Award

28

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Partners and Stakeholders’ Award for Innovation

WINNERS

çç Reading-based paramedic, Spencer Winch and the Royal Berkshire Hospital Occupational Therapy (RBH OT) Team, along with the Demand Practitioner Team (who operate across SCAS) were joint winners of the Partners and Stakeholders’ Award for Innovation, sponsored

by Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure

People’s Pride Award çç Specialist Paramedic, Gary Toohey, based at the Chipping Norton First Aid Unit, won the People’s Pride Award – sponsored by O&H Vehicle Conversions

29

All the winners received their awards from award-winning broadcaster, Chris Tarrant OBE, who said at the event: “When I or members of my family have had to call on the ambulance service, the response has always been fantastic. You are all wonderful people and I thank you for what you do. It was my absolute pleasure to be at the Ambies 2017 and we all had an amazing night.�

30

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

Chief Executive, Will Hancock, said: “The Ambies was a fitting celebration of our most successful year to date and I am very proud of what we have all achieved together.

We had a record number of entries from our staff, partners and members of the public so it was a tremendous achievement to be shortlisted let alone be announced as a winner on the night. On the eve of the NHS’ 70th birthday, our winners and nominees have shown that we have the people with the determination, pride and ability to meet any challenge and keep the NHS the envy of the world.”

31

32

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

SCAS backs Road Safety Week

During the Road Safety Week, which ran from 20 to 26 November our staff urged road users to keep their speed down.

On average five people every day across the South Central region are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

33

34

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

SCAS Director of Operations Mark Ainsworth, said:

Travelling at higher speeds increases the distance it takes to stop in an emergency, both in terms of thinking and braking time, which increases the severity of any crash, the risk of loss of life and the extent of serious injury. A pedestrian hit at 30mph has a one in five chance of being killed; this rises significantly to a one in three chance if they are hit at 35mph.

My colleagues and I have seen far too many times at first hand the devastating impact road traffic collisions can have on the individuals involved and their families.

The small increase in speed has a significant impact on the severity of their injuries. If the pedestrian stepped out on to the road three car lengths in front of a vehicle travelling at 35mph, the injuries they would sustain from the impact would be the equivalent to falling from the fourth floor of a building.

Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 15-24 in our region and almost a quarter of all fatal road traffic collisions involve a driver or rider breaking the speed limit or travelling too fast for the road conditions. Put simply, by slowing down we could save lives and stop hundreds of people being seriously injured on our roads.

SCAS’ support for Road Safety Week was featured in print in the Basingstoke Gazette and Andover Advertiser, as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Oxford and Jack FM. The social media campaign on SCAS’ digital channels was seen by over 62,000 people on Facebook and over 36,000 people on Twitter.

35

Restart a Heart is a hit with over 5200 students and members of the public trained across SCAS 36

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

On Monday 16 October SCAS took part in the Restart a Heart Day 2017. We trained over 5,200 students and members of the public in CPR at events held across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire.

37 secondary schools took part and we also had public CPR training sessions at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, The Oracle Centre, Reading and the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.

Our campaign featured on regional BBC TV, radio and local press – helping raise awareness of the importance of more people learning this vital skill, as well as highlighting the fact that SCAS has the best cardiac arrest survival rate for patients leaving hospital of any ambulance trust in England.

37

SCAS THAMES VALLEY SCAS’ third Military Insight Day a great success On Wednesday 1 November SCAS held the third Military Insight Day at the new Education and Recruitment Centre in Newbury.

The Insight Day focused on showcasing SCAS to service leavers and showing them what potential opportunities could be available to them when they leave service.

We had approximately 30 people attend this event and were inundated with questions at the end of the session by people who would like to take the next steps in joining SCAS. It was great to be able to show people around the educational centre and have talks from the Educational (Operations, Simulation and Driving), HART (Hazardous Area Response Team NEPTS, Co-Responder and Recruitment Teams. We were also joined by NHS Employers who wanted to see how we ran an Insight Day. This was great as we are well known for the success of these.

Thanks to all the SCAS staff involved in making this event possible.

38

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Oxford City Council Staff gets Citizenaid trained by FACT On Tuesday 28 November our First Aid and Clinical Training department delivered another Citizen Course. This time, ten members of staff of Direct Services at Oxford City Council successfully completed the citizenAID™ course in Oxford. citizenAID has been developed by military and civilian medics to teach people about how to provide potentially lifesaving treatment before the arrival of emergency services in the event of an incident with multiple casualties from a shooting, stabbing, explosion, etc. The course complements the information that is available through a free app or pocketbook and is designed to supplement the ‘Run, Hide,Tell’ guidance given by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office. The citizenAID system is intended to give members of the public straightforward information on how to plan, prepare and react to an incident. During the course the students were taught about most the effective ways to deal with the immediate aftermath of an attack when emergency services may be primarily concerned with removing a threat.

The course included first aid skills that could make the difference to casualty outcomes, such as the management of catastrophic bleeding, fractures, burns, triage, handover to the emergency medical services and also the use of day to day items, such as clothing, to control severe haemorrhaging.

For more information about the citizenAID course please contact fact@scas.nhs.uk Also read the Spotlight on FACT section in this issue to find out more about other courses.

39

SCAS SURREY AND SUSSEX

DANCE FEVER AT DAY CENTRE Shortly before Christmas, some of the members of our non-emergency patient transport service team from our Addlestone and Egham bases in Surrey were invited at the end of their shift to join the Christmas celebrations at The Woodham & New Haw Day Centre. Check out those moves!

See the video on SCAS999 facebook

40

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

SCAS SURREY AND SUSSEX

SURREY NEPTS RECRUITMENT DRIVE GETS A NEW BOOST Our Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service in Surrey has started the New Year on a high, thanks to a new way of advertising our vacancies.

David Risebrow, NEPTS Business Manager-Surrey said “We have been working closely with the recruitment team to fill the gaps we have across all sites. A change in how we advertise the positions available has proved successful and I am pleased to say we are now very close to being fully established. Once the new staff are fully trained and operational we will be able to reduce our reliance on private providers. A number of further recruitment days have been planned to keep on top of vacancies.”

BRIGHTON AND SUSSEX UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS PRAISES SCAS NEPTS-SUSSEX Ian Thomson, our Business Manager for NEPTS Sussex, and his colleagues were delighted to receive praise from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.

Our Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service provides vital support to the Sussex Kidney Unit, the main specialist provider of renal services for East and West Sussex, with a catchment population of approximately 1.2 million.

Cristina Osorio, former Matron of the Renal Treatment in Sussex, who has been recently seconded to a director level role, said of our service “A big compliment to SCAS NEPTS. You are doing a great job.”

41

SCAS HAMPSHIRE Portsmouth paramedic and nurse joined International relief effort SCAS Paramedic, Stian Mohrsen, and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust Nurse, Nikki McDonald, are more used to looking after patients in the Portsmouth area, but last October they put their clinical skills to use in the Mediterranean by volunteering for a 10 days as part of a 24 hour emergency medical team responding to refugees arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Stian and Nikki took annual leave from their day jobs and volunteered as part of the Medics Bergen team; an NGO (non-governmental organisation) which has already sent out over 100 healthcare professionals to several parts of the world. They flew out to Lesbos on 20 October.

As well as supporting the humanitarian cause they are both very passionate about, they will use the experience they gained in remote medicine and mass triage to benefit the patients they look after in Portsmouth.

Stian said: “Nikki and I were part of a team patrolling the shores of the north side of Lesbos, near Skala. Our job was to respond to areas where boats carrying refugees land, evacuate those people from the boats, triage them and provide medical and humanitarian care to anyone who needed it. As a 24-7 operation, we were working in shifts.�

Nikki added:

42

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

“Medics Bergen has been sending qualified, volunteer medical personnel from all over the world to the island of Lesbos since November 2015. The media focus has moved on over the last year or so but thousands of refugees are still making the journey on boats and rafts which are often dangerously unseaworthy. Those that do make it to shore are often very tired and have illnesses and injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. There is very little ambulance cover on Lesbos and many adults and children wouldn’t survive without urgent medical help being available on the beach.”

Read more about their trip when they spoke to national newspaper, the i, at èè http://inews.co.uk/news/world/refugee-crisis-greece-island-lesbosnhs-volunteers/

43

Is Your Number Up? #numberup?

Can our staff find your property‌ and you?

Our crews have the assistance of sat-navs and, of course, local knowledge. However, when visiting an address for the first time, not being able to see a name or number clearly from the roadside could result in delays for emergency services reaching people.

Do you have a house name or number?

Lives are at risk because emergency crews cannot see house numbers and property names easily.

Some addresses can be very difficult to find, particularly in rural areas. Every second wasted because paramedics can’t find the right house has a profound effect on the outcome, so we’re encouraging everyone to spend a few minutes doing something about it.

As illness and injuries can occur at any time, we ask you to ensure your house name or number is clearly visible from the road by day and night, so that, when you need us most, we can find you quickly and easily.

It can be frustrating and time-consuming for visitors and delivery people to identify addresses but, in emergency situations, it could literally be the difference between life and death.

Where are they?

It is essential that when the emergency services are called we can find the address as quickly and as easily as possible.

44

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Here it’s how you can help: èè Have the lights on/illuminated sign èè Your house number/letters are BIG èè Car on the drive? Put the hazard lights on èè Shrubbery, nice to look at, hard to read a number through

45

10 winter illnesses and how to deal with them Some health problems, such as asthma, sore throat and cold sores, are triggered or worsened by cold weather.

Here's how to deal with cold weather ailments.

1. Asthma

change colour and become very painful in cold weather. Fingers can go white, then blue, then red, and throb and tingle. The small blood vessels of the hands and feet go into spasm, temporarily reducing blood flow to your hands and feet.

Cold air is a major trigger of asthma symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath.

People with asthma should be especially careful in winter.

In severe cases, medication can help, but most people manage to live with their symptoms.

Top tip: Stay indoors on very cold, windy days. If you do go out, wear a scarf loosely over your nose and mouth. Be extra vigilant about taking your regular medications, and keep reliever inhalers close by.

Top tip: Don’t smoke or drink caffeine (both can worsen symptoms) and always wear warm gloves, socks and shoes when going out in cold weather.

2. Colds

4. Cold sores

It’s also important to keep the house and any household items such as cups, glasses and towels clean, especially if someone in your house is ill.

Top tip: Every day, do things that make you feel less stressed, such as having a hot bath, going for a walk in the park, or watching one of your favourite films.

Top tip: If you get a cold, use disposable tissues instead of fabric handkerchiefs to avoid constantly re-infecting your own hands.

5. Dry skin

You can help prevent colds by washing your hands regularly. This destroys bugs that you may have picked up from touching surfaces used by other people, such as light switches and door handles.

Most of us recognise that cold sores are a sign that we’re run down or under stress. While there’s no cure for cold sores, you can reduce the chances of getting one by looking after yourself through winter.

Dry skin is a common condition and is often worse during the winter, when environmental humidity is low.

3. Cold hands and feet

Moisturising is essential during winter.

Contrary to popular belief, moisturising lotions

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a common condition that makes your fingers and toes

46

Issue Issue Issue 21 2120 Winter Winter Autumn 2017/18 2017/18 2017

and creams aren’t absorbed by the skin. Instead, they act as a sealant to stop the skin’s natural moisture evaporating away.

The illness is unpleasant, but it’s usually over within a few days.

Top tip: When people are ill with vomiting and diarrhoea, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Young children and the elderly are especially at risk.

The best time to apply moisturiser is after a bath or shower while your skin is still moist, and again at bedtime.

Top tip: Have warm, rather than hot, showers. Water that is too hot makes skin feel more dry and itchy.

By drinking oral rehydration fluids (available from pharmacies), you can reduce the risk of dehydration.

6. Flu

9. Painful joints

Flu can be a major killer of vulnerable people.

People aged 65 and over, pregnant women and people with long term health conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are particularly at risk.

Many people with arthritis say their joints become more painful and stiff in winter, though it’s not clear why this is the case.

There’s no evidence that changes in the weather cause joint damage.

Top tip: Many people get a little depressed during the winter months, and this can make them perceive pain more acutely.

Everything feels worse, including medical conditions.

The best way to prevent getting flu is to have the flu jab (or flu nasal spray for children aged 2 to 17). The flu vaccine gives good protection against flu and lasts for one year.

If you are over 65 or have a long term health condition, you are also eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine, which provides protection against pneumonia.

Daily exercise can boost a person’s mental and physical state. Swimming is ideal as it’s easy on the joints.

7. Heart attacks

10. Sore throat

Heart attacks are more common in winter. This may be because cold weather increases blood pressure and puts more strain on the heart. Your heart also has to work harder to maintain body heat when it’s cold.

Sore throats are common in winter and are almost always caused by viral infections.

There’s some evidence that changes in temperature, such as going from a warm, centrally heated room to the icy outdoors, can also affect the throat.

Top tip: Stay warm in your home. Heat the main rooms you use to at least 18C and use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to keep warm in bed.

Top tip: One quick and easy remedy for a sore throat is to gargle with warm salty water. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a glass of part-cooled boiled water.

Wrap up warm when you go out and wear a hat, scarf and gloves.

It won’t heal the infection, but it has antiinflammatory properties and can have a soothing effect.

8. Norovirus

co

47

He

r

a rn lt e h

Also known as the winter vomiting bug, norovirus is an extremely infectious stomach bug. It can strike all year round, but is more common in winter and in places such as hotels, hospitals, nursing homes and schools.

Vanessa Casey appointed as the new South Central Ambulance charity CEO Last October SCAS welcomed Vanessa Casey as the new South Central Ambulance Charity Chief Executive.

Chief Executive Will Hancock said of her appointment: “Vanessa brings a wealth of management and fundraising experience to the charity.

She has worked in hospice care and dementia services, at Roald Dahl’s Children’s Charity, Treloar’s Disabled School and College in Alton, Hampshire, and The Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey.”

Here is what Vanessa told Foundation Times.

“From the moment I saw the role of South Central Ambulance Charity CEO advertised last June, while I was on holiday in France, I knew this was a job I desperately wanted to do. The potential to grow an embryonic charity was immediately clear to me and the knowledge that achieving that growth, with the support of everyone at SCAS, will ensure SCAS can continue to set high standards in the delivery of patient care was too good an opportunity to miss!

I have worked my entire career in the charity sector and for the last fifteen years have been a senior manager and fundraising director in a variety of different charities. I am proud to have raised many millions to fund new buildings, services, equipment and specialist staff roles, leading and working with some fantastic teams.

Funding pressures across the health and social care sectors have become more acute in recent years and it is only through the generosity of the public and other funders that many charities are able to continue providing services that have become so vital to so many.

48

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Much of my time will be focused on increasing our voluntary income so we can support a wide variety of projects from equipment in our ambulances, services to support the wellbeing of our staff and volunteers, improving the working conditions within our ambulance stations and providing life-saving training in the local community.

da t

up

49

Ch

ar

i t e y

I am privileged to be working with an incredible group of volunteers who freely give their own time as community first responders ensuring emergency patients can receive immediate support. Not only that, but each year they prove they are also dedicated fundraisers raising funds to purchase the equipment and vehicles they need to provide that support. I am looking forward to getting round to each and everyone one of them to offer my help whenever I can.�

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

National award for Bishops Waltham CFRs Bishops Waltham Community First Responders (CFRs) were crowned ‘Community Responder Scheme of the Year’ at the UK Heart Safe Awards on Friday 3 November.

The Heart Safe Awards are held annually and are the UK’s leading national awards competition to celebrate organisations and employers who invest in creating heart safe environments and the acts of individuals who have saved lives while at work or leisure.

The Bishops Waltham CFRs were shortlisted alongside East Neuk First Responders, Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, Trossachs Search & Rescue Team and Yorkshire Ambulance Service Community First Responders.

Jake Balcombe, Bishops Waltham CFR and Emergency Care Assistant for SCAS, represented the group at the gala awards evening and said: “It was a brilliant evening and good to see all the amazing nominees. We are honoured to receive this award and would like to thank everyone in our local community who helps the CFRs in Bishops Waltham for their support. We couldn’t keep doing what we’re doing without their help.”

The Bishops Waltham CFR scheme has been running for over 15 years in Hampshire and the volunteers respond to over 500 medical emergencies in the medieval market town and surrounding villages of Upham, Durley and Swanmore.

Nic Morecroft, Lead Community Responder Manager for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS), said: “This is wonderful recognition for the efforts of our amazing volunteers in Bishops Waltham and I felt incredibly proud at the awards ceremony when they were announced as the winners. Their award will go some way to saying thank you for the lifesaving difference they make to their local community, everything they do for us and how highly thought of they are by the public, by SCAS and by their peers across the UK.”

50

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

The Bishops Waltham scheme is a diverse and enthusiastic group and they are always looking for new members. Volunteers would need to be able to offer a minimum of 20 hours cover in their local community per month.

The exact time is completely flexible for each individual volunteer according to the existing work, family and other commitments volunteers have and does not need to be planned rigidly in advance. Volunteers can ‘book on’ and ‘book off’ if, for example, their plans change unexpectedly.

All training is provided by SCAS. To find out more about the role of a CFR: èè Visit http://www.scas.nhs.uk/cfr èè Email cfr@scas.nhs.uk èè Call 0800 587 0207

Community First Responders come from all walks of life. If you are interested in joining SCAS as a volunteer you will need to be over the age of 18, physically fit and healthy, able to carry out effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for up to 20 minutes (after training) and be a car owner with a full UK driving licence.

Community First Responders (CFRs) receive full training by SCAS to provide lifesaving treatment and if they are sent to an emergency they are always backed up with the nearest available ambulance. Every six months, all CFRs must complete training to refresh their skills and there are optional monthly training sessions they can attend too.

da t

up

51

Ch

ar

i t e y

SCAS is currently supporting all CFRs to achieve a national qualification – Level 3 Certificate in Ambulance First Response – which will provide them with enhanced emergency medical skills they will be able to utilise prior to our ambulance crews arriving on scene.

y t i n u m m Co r u o b r a North H ers d n o p s e First R BY SUPPO

RTED

North Harbour CFR scheme receives new vehicle In November North Harbour’s Community Responder Scheme received a new vehicle which was purchased thanks to kind donations to the charity.

The vehicle, based at North Harbour Resource Centre, will support the 25 CFRs in the South East area of Hampshire.

A massive thanks to the vehicles team for sourcing the car and making sure all livery was in place ready for the launch.

52 52

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

Health Service Discounts We would like to remind all our FT members that as a member of South Central Ambulance Service you can take advantage of fantastic offers usually only available to NHS staff, via Health Service Discounts.

It is a website where you can access exclusive offers and reductions when shopping online.

You can also print out vouchers, get advice from confidential, free helplines, book holidays and activities; all in the knowledge that you’ll be saving money.

To take advantage of the discounts on offer you will need to register and you can do this for free.

Registration is straightforward - just fill in the online form as directed.

Simply go to www.healthservicediscounts.com, click on ‘Join’ and fill in the online form, select ‘Foundation Member’.

NHS Health England Partner Offers Want to be a healthier you?

Ready to get started? Thanks to NHS England partners, we have some great ways to help you get going and make simple changes towards a healthier you.

Free Couch to 5K app BBC Get Inspired has teamed up with One You to bring you an exciting new way to start running. The all new Couch to 5K app lets you pick your favourite BBC voice to help you go from the couch to running 5km in just 9 weeks!

Read more at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/ offers#beHSE7dqdR9u9qEm.99

Read more at https://www.nhs.uk/ oneyou/offers#Jr96KbGa7f4ciCyx.99

O

53

ffe rs

Amazon’s One You health hub Amazon’s brand new One You health hub can help you get back to a healthier you.

Whether it’s checking yourself, moving more or tackling sleep and stress, it’s a great place to start.

Membership Get your friends, colleagues and family to join!

Do encourage your friends and family to become members. They can become a member of SCAS as long as they are aged 14 or over and live in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire or Oxfordshire.

They can also join if they, whilst not residing in one of the four counties listed above, have a connection with the Trust. For instance, they may be somebody who receives services from SCAS, works in one of our four counties or has friends or family who work for the Trust or live in the South Central area.

Update your details If we need to cancel an event it is important that we can contact members at short notice.

We would appreciate if you could please promptly notify the membership office of any future changes to your contact details.

Contact

em s

54

Re g it u

la

r

You can contact the membership office with any queries about membership or this newsletter. Please email getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk or telephone 01869 365126.

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

QUIZ 1. Eating like a what is claimed to reduce obesity risk?

a) a Native American b) a Zulu c) a Viking

2. Doing what is said to increase pain tolerance?

a) shouting “ow” (or something stronger) b) clenching your fists c) hopping up and down for a few seconds

may actually be a bad idea to do after a traumatic 3. What event?

a) sleeping on it b) talking to friends and family c) having a good cry

4. Which anniversary will the NHS celebrate this year?

a) 60th birthday b) 65th birthday c) 70th birthday

5. 999 is the world’s oldest emergency service. How

55

O

ER

RN

F C U

N

old is it? a) 55 b) 72 c) 83

HOW ARE WE DOING?

56

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Total 999 activity

Non conveyance

Non conveyance %

380,791

81,441

46.54%

NHS 111 calls answered

No. of NEPTS journeys

No. of CFR responses

667,639

515,821

11,110

What does it mean?

Total 999 activity (Year to date – November 2017) equates to the number of calls which received a SCAS response or were dealt with by our clinical support desks.

Non conveyance is the number of incidents we responded to where the patient was not taken to hospital.

of incidents we responded to where the patient was not taken to hospital.

111 calls answered is the number of calls answered through the non-emergency healthcare service.

CFR stands for Community First Responder.

NEPTS stands for Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service.

Non conveyance % is the percentage

57

Public governors

Berkshire constituency

Colin Godbold

Frank Epstein

Mark Davis

Appointed partner governors

Staff governors

Public governors

Hampshire constituency

Ray Rowsell

Andy Bartlett

Paul Carnell

David Luckett MBE

Richard Coates

Barry Lipscomb

n Starts o 18 rch 20 a M st 1

Debbie Sengelow

David Palmer

Michele Foote

James Birdseye

Coming soon

Cllr Jeanette Clifford

Dr David Chilvers

Cllr Keith House

David Drew

Sabrina Chetcuti

COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS

58

The Council of Governors meets four times a year and represents the interests of members and stakeholder organisations.

Meetings are open to the public. For more information please visit our website at www.scas.nhs.uk/ft

Issue 21 Winter 2017/18

Buckinghamshire constituency

Bob Duggan

n Starts o 18 rch 20 1st Ma

n Starts o 18 rch 20 1st Ma

Vacant

Vacant

Oxfordshire constituency

Paul Ader

n Starts o 18 h 20 rc a M 1st

n Starts o 18 rch 20 1st Ma

Vacant

Vacant

Contact the Membership Office Please get in touch with the membership office if you: èè want more information about what we do èè have a story you want to share with other members èè want us to come along to an event in your local area èè want to change your contact details èè want to get more involved and update your involvement choices èè want membership forms or other literature to distribute èè want to raise an issue with a governor Email: getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk or Tel: 01869 365126

If you would like to get in touch with a governor, you should do so at the following address: Company Secretary South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 7-8 Talisman Business Centre Talisman Road Bicester Oxfordshire OX26 6HR Or you can send an email to company.secretary@scas.nhs.uk

59

999 Ted, our mascot, is hidden in one of our articles……

999 TED

999 Ted

did you spot him?

Quiz answers 1. Eating like a what is claimed to reduce obesity risk? c) a Viking

5. 999 is the world’s oldest emergency service. How old is it? c) 83 years old.

People put on a Nordic diet of wholegrain products, vegetables, root vegetables, berries, fruit, low-fat dairy products, rapeseed oil and three servings of fish a week had reduced levels of inflammation.

The 999 service was launched following a fire at a London doctor’s surgery in November 1935 that resulted in five fatalities and led to a committee set up by the Government to look at how telephone operators could identify emergency calls.

2. Doing what is said to increase pain tolerance? a) shouting “ow” (or something stronger)

The committee proposed that there should be a standard easy-to-remember nationwide number to alert the emergency services, first considering 707, which corresponded to the letters SOS on the telephone dial, and 333, but settling on 999 as the most practical number.

A study found that people who shouted “ow” tended to be able to keep their hands submerged in very cold water longer than people told to stay silent

Initially, each 999 call triggered flashing red lights and hooters to alert exchange operators to give priority to the emergency call, but the hooters were so loud that the operators pushed a tennis ball into the horn to reduce the volume.

3.What may actually be a bad idea to do after a traumatic event? a) sleeping on it A small psychological experiment carried out at Oxford University suggests that sleep could possibly embed traumatic events in the memory.

Glasgow was the second city to introduce the service in 1938, but the Second World War delayed the roll-out across the UK until it reached all major towns and cities by 1948.

4. Which anniversary will the NHS celebrate this year? c) 70th birthday

Source: Chronicle live

The National Health Service was founded on 5 July 1948 60

Issue Issue 21 21 Winter Winter 2017/18 2017/18

Want to know more about what goes on in the Trust?

This newsletter is a very important method for us to keep our members up to date but so much happens across our services every day that it is hard to fit it all in! If you want to know more about what goes on in your ambulance service or want more details on what you have read in this newsletter, there are a number of ways for you to do this: Visit our website http://www.scas.nhs.uk/ Watch our videos on SCAS999 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UC58tlgillDAUA2gVGFNh78A Follow us on Twitter @SCAS999 Like us on Facebook https://en-gb.facebook.com/SCAS999/

61

Produced by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Units 7 and 8 Talisman Business Centre Talisman Road Bicester Oxfordshire OX26 6HR Tel 01869 365000 | getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk | www.scas.nhs.uk