Ambulance UK June 2024

Volume 39 No. 9 

June 2024 

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CONTENTS 

CONTENTS 

Ambulance UK 

4 EDITOR’S COMMENT 

6 FEATURE 

6 IS THERE MORE TO THIS ECG? 

8 THE MELIA REVIEW 

11 NEWSLINE 

28 IN PERSON 

30 COMPANY NEWS 

COVER STORY 

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This issue edited by: 

Matt House 

c/o Media Publishing Company 

Greenoaks, Lockhill 

Upper Sapey, Worcester, WR6 6XR 

ADVERTISING: 

Terry Gardner, Samantha Marsh 

CIRCULATION: 

Media Publishing Company 

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October, December 

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PUBLISHERS STATEMENT: 

The views and opinions expressed in 

this issue are not necessarily those of 

the Publisher, the Editors or Media 

Publishing Company 

Next Issue August 2024 

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3

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

EDITOR’S COMMENT 

Welcome to this issue edition of of AUK. AUK 

AMBULANCE UK UK – - JUNE 

68 

4 

“So while the 

sun is out, take 

“The time pay to banish rises 

the winter blues, 

implemented 

time to rethink 

hardly 

your work/life 

fi t 

balance and make 

the an effort bill, to and give 

yourself time to 

I fear there 

enjoy and reflect 

is on a the real things that 

are positive within 

danger your life that and 

recruitment 

make space for 

things that make 

and you retention happy.” 

in the NHS 

will be 

adversely 

affected.” 

It Well, was I’m International offi cially retired Nurses and day just on to May indulge the 12th, myself so a let little, me start I’m going by recognising to begin by our considering colleagues how and the 

vital ambulance part they service play in has our evolved NHS and since urge I started whoever some sets 35 the years budget ago. to recognise Does anyone the contribution remember the of arrival Nurses, of 

Doctors defi brillators and Ambulance on the ambulance? staff and At the the very time real a revolution, difference they complete make with to peoples a walkman lives…there recorder are to some ensure 

personal that you used stories it within absolutely this edition by rote. that Consider maybe that people now in we power are delivering should read. them remotely by drone and the 

progress can easily be seen. The Paramedic syllabus was contained in a little red book, now there are so 

After many 180 more days skills of rain and here knowledge in Lancashire, requirements the sun no-one has at goes last decided on duty to without shine and JRCALC has done their so with smart a phone. 

vengeance There were with few temperatures medicines, pain reaching relief was the limited high 20’s. to entonox With the and sun the comes most a diffi sense cult of skill well-being was strapping that ties in 

nicely someone to the into Mental a Neil Health Robertson, Awareness now paramedics month of May. regularly We (nearly!) administer All think advanced of Mental drugs Health and as perform something life 

that saving happens surgical to interventions. people and as I’m an proud illness. to We have worry been about on that and journey make efforts and continue to maintain to follow our physical with interest the 

wellbeing changes to but come. spend little time on working towards our mental wellbeing. We talk about being happy, but 

everyone has highs and lows in life, you’re happy when you marry but sad when the airline cancels your 

honeymoon Summer is apparently flight. Most here, of us well navigate as near the as highs we get and in lows Lancashire, and aim I’m for continuum guessing most of contentment of you are looking but we 

never forward know to holidays what’s around and time the with corner. family Particularly or friends. in It the can caring be a professions great time but we at experience the same not time only stressful our with 

own the price ‘bads’ increases but the nature we have of care seen means across that all aspects we sometimes of life. The take pay on rises the trauma implemented of others. hardly If there fi t the is a bill, and 

bottle I fear there inside is us, a real its where danger we that store recruitment negative emotions and retention and experience, in the NHS will it sometimes be adversely only affected. takes a minor I wonder life 

event how many to knock of todays off the Paramedic lid and allow cohort the negative will be around feelings for to the overwhelm. next 30 years. Over my Given career the I high have demands, lost several both 

good practical friends and to mental, suicide I suspect and the worst that many thing will is no-one move on expected to different any pastures of them. You and will that have there had will the be same far fewer 

experience retiring in the where future, relatives especially say “I since knew the they current had been NHS having retirement a bad age time continues but they to seemed increase. much Maybe, brighter.” like 

The many brightness of my peers, comes I have when seen a mind the golden that’s been age of in the turmoil ambulance suddenly service. finds a Whatever solution to the bring future an end brings, to the I hope 

problem. the summer But will suicidal deliver thinking you all and a well that earned emotional break. crisis As doesn’t for me, I’m exist looking outside for of a job… person until they speak 

it aloud. Then not only does it force them to confront the thoughts but also allows the opportunity for 

someone to help. Whether it be depression, anxiety, stress or whatever is affecting the happy hormone 

balance Sam English, talking Co-Editor helps. So Ambulance whether its UK you dear reader or someone you know or care about, this month give 

them or yourself the opportunity to talk. It may well help a stranger or save a life. 

So while the sun is out, take time to banish the winter blues, time to rethink your work/life balance and make 

an effort to give yourself time to enjoy and reflect on the things that are positive within your life and make 

space for things that make you happy. 

Enjoy the coming Summer 

Sam English, Co-Editor Ambulance UK 

Publishers Statement 

Publishers Statement 

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CHARGE For nearly in 40 the years, knowledge thanks to that trade those support, receiving we have our dedicated been able bi to monthly provide Ambulance publication enjoy UK FREE having 

something OF CHARGE to read in the during knowledge their free that time those however, receiving return our dedicated on investment bi monthly seems publication to be the enjoy buzz having word 

amongst something Ambulance to read during Service their Suppliers free time these however, days, return therefore on investment if you enquire seems about to be the a product buzz word advertised, 

amongst Ambulance Service Suppliers these days, therefore if you enquire about a product advertised, 

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please mention Ambulance UK as it help us confirm to the trade that we are reaching the right 

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providing advertisers 

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In 

In 

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we 

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to thank the following companies for their support as as without their their contribution towards our our print print and and 

postal costs this issue would not have been published - - Alliance Bluelight Pioneer, UK, DS Bluelight Medical, uk, Eberspaecher, 

DS Medical, 

EVS, Eberspacher, Ferno, Galen, EVS, Ferno, Intersurgical, Medacx, Ortus Med Medical, Learn Training, Synergy, Ortus, VCS, Proact, Vimpex, St Johns Webasto. WA, SWAST. 

Terry Gardner 

Terry Publisher Gardner 

Publisher 

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FEATURE 

IS THERE MORE TO THIS ECG? 

Jerry W. Jones, MD FACEP FAAEM 

Is There More to This ECG? 

Jerry W. Jones, MD FACEP FAAEM 


You guessed it – another random ECG! This is from a 33 y/o male. 

You guessed it – another random ECG! This is from a 33 y/o male. 

of the evening. Let’s get to it! 

central, pressure-like chest pain, would these changes be enough 

to warrant a call to the cardiologist? Let’s understand something 

The machine’s interpretation states “Normal sinus rhythm. Normal ECG.” Sometimes, the more 

The machine’s interpretation states “Normal sinus rhythm. Normal right now: those symptoms would be enough to pursue a chest 

you ECG.” Sometimes, learn about the more ECGs, you learn the about less ECGs, normal the less normal they begin pain to workup look. even I without would these certainly changes on agree the ECG. that Time for I see a 

they begin to look. I would certainly agree that I see nothing on 

“reminder” PEARL! 

nothing on this ECG that makes me concerned about this patient’s immediate well-being and I 

this ECG that makes me concerned about this patient’s immediate 

would not have any qualms about signing-off 

well-being and I would not have any qualms about signing-off on this 

PEARL! on this tracing, agreeing with the machine 

interpretation. tracing, agreeing with the But… 

While an abnormal 12-lead ECG can help RULE IN the diagnosis of an 

machine interpretation. But… 

acute MI, a normal 12-lead ECG cannot RULE OUT the diagnosis of 

an acute MI. 

There are are a few a things few here things worth mentioning here worth – things that mentioning you would – things that you would probably never notice 

until 

probably 

3 

never 

am 

notice 

with 

until 

a very 

3 am with 

sick 

a very 

patient 

sick patient 

and an on-call Of cardiologist course, you want that to know probably if the ST elevations just got are significant home enough after 

cardiologist that probably just got home after doing his second PTCA 

doing his second PTCA of the evening. Let’s get to make it! a diagnosis based on THOSE changes. My answer would be, 

“If this patient were not having symptoms of chest pain or a chest pain 

First, the basics: this is sinus rhythm and there is no evidence of AV block. 

equivalent, I would say NO!” For the sake of discussion, let’s say this 

First, the basics: this is sinus rhythm and there is no evidence of ECG was done as part of an insurance physical while the patient was 

AV block. 

asymptomatic, and the rest of his exam was normal. 

Is there any ST deviation? Yes, there is. Look at Leads II, III and aVF. So, how about the ST elevation in the inferior leads? That STE is very 

Those leads manifest a small amount of ST elevation. Is there any ST classic (and typical) for early repolarization. Some are now referring 

depression? No… not really. If this person were having persistent, to early repolarization as “normal variant,” but I do not. The reason 

6 

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FEATURE 

is that there are a number of other unrelated findings related to ECG 

interpretation that are also referred to as “normal variant.” I still use 

the term “early repolarization,” but not “benign early repolarization.” 

And especially not for the early repolarization found on this ECG! Early 

repolarization limited to the inferior leads and/or the lateral leads is the 

type that can rarely result in sudden cardiac death. How rare is it? It’s 

so rare that we don’t do anything about it until it happens. It would 

certainly be worth asking the patient about palpitations or episodes of 

lightheadedness. 

Why am I not particularly concerned about the ST elevation possibly 

being due to acute epicardial ischemia? The T waves – though a bit 

too symmetrical for my taste – are still normal size with no evidence of 

hyperacuity, the QT interval is quite normal and most of all – we have 

determined that this ECG is being done on a healthy 33 y/o male with 

no symptoms. In electrocardiography, context is everything! 

where did our septal q waves go? They went to the inferior leads. Look 

in Leads II, III and aVF and you will easily see obvious septal q waves. 

Septal q waves are always less than 40 msec (less than one small 

square) – usually closer to about 20 msec. They can appear in 

the inferior leads as well as the lateral leads – and there is no bad 

connotation when they do appear in the inferior leads. This typically 

happens when the mean QRS axis in the frontal plane (ÂQRS) is more 

rightward (more positive than +60°). In this ECG, the ÂQRS is about 

+75°. In this case, the ÂQRS is such that we have a combination 

of inferior (II, III, aVF) and lateral (I, V6) leads manifesting the 

septal depolarization. 

What does it mean if there is NO sign of septal depolarization – no 

septal r’s and no septal q’s? The first diagnosis to consider would be 

an old infarction of the mid septum. Time for another 

So far, we’ve seen some early repolarization in an area where we would 

prefer not to see it, but we really aren’t very concerned. Personally, 

I would say nothing to the patient about it – assuming there was no 

family history or personal medical history of anything suggestive of a 

dangerous venricular dysrhythmia. It would only lead to anxiety that 

could become more debilitating than the finding itself. He is as likely to 

get struck by lightening as experience a sudden cardiac event (unless 

you have elicited a family history of sudden death at a relatively young 

age or episodes of syncope, near-syncope or palpitations). 

One of the first things I look for on an ECG is proof that depolarization 

is taking place normally. How do we go about doing that? First, look for 

the septal r waves in Leads V1 and V2. Those two leads are the only 

precordial leads that manifest septal r waves. The r waves that may 

appear in V3 and occasionally in V4 are not septal r waves. The septal 

r waves in V1 and V2 indicate that the depolarization of the ventricles is 

proceeding normally from left-to-right. Again, only the r waves in Leads 

V1 and V2 indicate that. 

PEARL! 

When we speak of “septal depolarization” on a 12-lead ECG, we are 

speaking of depolarization of the mid-septum. Since that is where 

normal ventricular depolarization is initiated, that is the location we are 

seeing depolarized. We cannot see what is happening to the upper 

septum because that area is not depolarized until later and is hidden in 

the QRS complexes. We really can’t see the depolarization of the lower 

septum well because it is mixed in with what is happening in Leads 

V3 and V4, which record Vector #2 – the depolarization of the lower 

septum combined with the apical and paraseptal areas. 

I hope you have enjoyed this discussion. 

As a famous author once said, “I would have written something 

shorter… but I didn’t have time!” 

PEARL! 

Actually, septal depolarization is occurring in BOTH directions, but 

we can see only the left-to-right depolarization of the septum on the 

ECG. Septal depolarization normally takes about 30 msec because it is 

being depolarized from both directions. When it is depolarized in only 

one direction – as in bundle branch block – it takes about 60 msec, 

sometimes longer. 

There are four more leads that usually manifest septal depolarization, 

but… they are all left- sided leads and so they manifest septal 

depolarization not with a small r wave but with a small q wave – the 

septal q wave. These septal q waves are not just benign, they are 

always a very welcome sight. And that’s because they, too, tell us that 

ventricular depolarization is proceeding normally. We usually find them 

in Leads I, aVL, V5 and V6. Let’s take a look at them… 

Wait a minute! They aren’t there! Well, you can see a very small q 

wave in V6, none in V5, none in aVL and – if you can enlarge the ECG 

on your computer – you will see a very, very small q wave in Lead I. 

What happened to our septal q waves? Is septal depolarization NOT 

proceeding normally on this ECG? Well, of course it is! The septal 

r waves in Leads V1 and V2 have already established that fact. But 



7

FEATURE 

THE MELIA REVIEW 

In 2023, the National Guardian’s Office flagged a number of ways that 

the culture of Ambulance Trusts was limiting staff’s ability to speak 

up. Its report talked about the impact of “cliques between directors, 

managers and workers”, cases of bullying and harassment, and 

how CQC inspections failed to capture the true picture of workers’ 

experiences. The most recent NHS Staff Survey backs up this picture, 

showing how the ambulance sector is below the NHS national average 

across all seven elements of the People Promise. 

Now, an independent review by Siobhan Melia (Chief Executive at the 

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust) has drilled down into the 

issues. The headline has been the same: there are problems in general 

with the ambulance working culture, resulting in negative impacts on 

the ability of staff to speak up about their concerns, their wellbeing, 

and in turn, the safety of patients. Overall, the Melia Review calls for 

more of a balance between meeting the all-important operational 

targets and providing support for people — not one at the expense of 

the other. 

The report sets out six broad recommendations for Trusts to improve 

their culture through more of a focus on HR: developing leaders and 

managers; improving the operational environment, line management 

and undergraduate training; putting a focus onto dealing with bullying 

and harassment — and in general, prioritising and supporting HR and 

Organisational Development functions. 

Across the recommendations there’s an implicit theme: staff at all 

levels in the Trusts are working so hard to meet targets that the 

niceties of people management can come second. It’s easy to 

insist on the importance of more development, more training, better 

people practices, but implementation in the thick of daily demands is 

something else. 

a team climate characterised by interpersonal trust and mutual respect 

in which people are comfortable being themselves. There is a sense of 

confidence that the team will not embarrass, reject or punish someone 

for speaking up.” 

In other words, making real progress in dealing with the issues 

identified by the National Guardian’s office and the Melia Review, will 

mean practical progress on introducing psychological safety in to 

ambulance trusts. That means work around the following areas: 

1. Having a clear vision and strong mission to uphold values and 

standards of behaviour 

When it comes to organisational culture, there are three key ingredients 

to ensure it is healthy: a strong mission and vision that help to drive 

clarity for people in their roles; having individual values that align with 

company values; and the prospect of professional growth. 

2. Creating a ‘safe’ environment 

It’s useful to introduce ground rules for how staff need to interact with 

one another. These could be as simple as: show empathy; welcoming 

all ideas equally; never placing immediate blame or judgement; treating 

failures as opportunities to learn. 

3. Developing curiosity and an open mindset 

In order to develop more an open mindset at the workplace, Trusts 

should encourage teams to share feedback with one another; help 

them learn how to respond to input from other; and, rather than 

criticism, encourage teams and individuals to see feedback as a way to 

strengthen and build upon their ideas and processes. 

This is why lessons from the wider NHS, dealing with such similar 

kinds of pressures, are so important. Work by Trusts, like that at 

NHS Lothian, has become a model for the rest of the NHS. This has 

focused on getting the fundamentals of change right: what makes an 

organisation a good place to work? It’s where people feel comfortable 

with themselves and their relationships with others, so it’s easier to 

speak up when they need to, confident they will be listened to, and 

issues will be dealt with in fair and reasonable ways. 

4. Lead by example 

It is vitally important that senior staff in ambulance trusts demonstrate 

the practices needed for psychological safety, in order for them to 

become the norm. For example, by asking for upward feedback; 

acknowledging mistakes; and being open to opinions that differ from 

their own. 

5. Setting up a framework for speaking up 


The expertise of CMP in building this kind of Clear Air culture was 

used to set up an in-house mediation service, upskilling managerial 

staff in handling difficult conversations and training key staff as internal 

mediators. The Trust also used CMP’s experience to advise on the 

infrastructure and materials required to manage, monitor and evaluate 

the service, and as the source of external conflict resolution partners to 

bring in for particularly complex or sensitive cases. 

Niggling concerns and clashes between managers and line reports 

only become a real problem when there is a lack of a sense of 

‘psychological safety’, defined as the “shared belief held by members 

of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. It describes 

Making sure there are a range of systems in place that staff are familiar 

and comfortable with as options for discussing issues. That could 

include the use of informal mediation at an early stage (rather than 

in response to a relationship breakdown), neutral assessment, or a 

technology platform to facilitate reporting such as #notme. 

Sam Little, Consultant at workplace relationships expert CMP, 

www.cmpsolutions.com 

8 


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9

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NEWSLINE 

Air Ambulances 

UK Launches 2024 

General Election 

Manifesto 

Embargoed until Monday 

22 April 2024 11:00am 

Air Ambulances UK (AAUK), the 

national charity supporting the 

lifesaving work of the UK’s air 

ambulance charities, is calling 

upon all UK political parties, 

MPs, Government bodies and 

Prospective Parliamentary 

Candidates (PPCs) to pledge 

their support for critical 

policy initiatives ahead of the 

forthcoming General Election. 

With 21 independent air 

ambulance charities operating 

across the UK, air ambulance 

crews bring the Emergency 

Department to patients who 

have suffered a life threatening or 

life changing trauma or medical 

emergency; providing advanced 

critical care to save lives. 

These crews provide advanced 

critical care, often arriving at the 

scene within an average of 16 

minutes, ensuring prompt and 

effective specialist intervention for 

patients in need. 

In 2021, the collective missions 

undertaken by air ambulance 

charities across the UK totalled 

over 30,100, reflecting the 

indispensable role these services 

play in emergency lifesaving 

critical care. In 2023, the demand 

surged by 53%, with over 

46,000 missions undertaken, 

illustrating the growing need for 

support and resources to sustain 

these lifesaving operations in 

local communities. 

Simultaneously, the average 

cost of air ambulance helicopter 

missions in the UK increased 

by 4% in 2023, highlighting the 

increased costs faced by these 

vital charities. As such, Air 

Ambulances UK, in collaboration 

with Air Ambulances UK Member 

Charities, is advocating for four 

policy pledges to address these 

challenges effectively: 

Pledge 1: Pledge to ensure that 

all new and existing UK Major 

Trauma Centres and specialist 

hospitals (such as cardiac 

centres) have 24/7 accessible onsite 

primary hospital helipads. 

Assist Local Planning Authorities 

in developing a specialised 

safeguarding process to protect 

UK-wide hospital helipads against 

adverse effects from planning 

and developments. 

Establish an efficient consultation 

pathway to proactively engage 

Air Ambulances UK and air 

ambulance charities in strategic 

planning discussions, concerning 

hospital helipads and community 

landing sites in the UK. 

Pledge 2: Pledge to secure safe 

access to NHS patient data for 

air ambulance charities to enable 

them to gain further insight into 

the full patient pathway and 

ultimately the patient outcome. 

Pledge 3: Pledge to support 

the air ambulance community 

to enhance methods of income 

generation through distribution 

of UK-wide grants and capital 

funding, ensuring that air 

ambulance charities can operate 

effectively with equitable service 

provision to continue to meet the 

surge in demand and increased 

operational costs. 

Pledge 4: Pledge to oppose 

the proposed statutory levy of 

0.1% of ‘gross gambling yield’ 

(GGY) on lotteries. Advocate for 

a zero rate of statutory levy for 

lotteries and a continuation of 

the current system of voluntary 

contributions, in recognition of 

the unique contribution lotteries 

make to charitable causes, such 

as air ambulances. 

Simmy Akhtar, CEO of Air 

Ambulances UK, emphasised 

the importance of these pledges, 

stating, “Air Ambulances UK is 

dedicated to ensuring that every 

individual across the UK receives 

the lifesaving care they deserve 

during times of crisis. As the 

demand for air ambulance services 

continues to rise, it’s imperative 

that we advocate for policies that 

support the dedicated crews and 

air ambulance charities. Our four 

policy pledges aim to address 

critical challenges faced by air 

ambulance charities, empowering 

them to save even more lives each 

day. Together, with the support of 

political parties and prospective 

parliamentary candidates, we 

can make a difference. Every 

pledge represents a step towards 

a safer, more resilient future for all 

our communities.” 

As the General Election 

approaches, Air Ambulances UK 

urges all political stakeholders 

to prioritise the support and 

enhancement of air ambulance 

charities, enabling them to 

continue saving lives and remain 

at the forefront of pre-hospital 

emergency care. 

For more information and to 

read the full 2024 General 

Election Manifesto for the UK Air 

Ambulance Sector, visit here. 

** All air ambulance charities 

are independent with differing 

operational model(s) and so 

figures/data within this report are 

averages. The cost of mission 

varies depending on geography, 

patient need, clinical and 

operational models of the local 

air ambulance charity. All data is 

based on the year of 2023. ** 

HELP Appeal 

Provides Support 

to Midlands 

Air Ambulance 

Charity’s Strensham 

The HELP Appeal has granted 

£1.8 million to Midlands Air 

Ambulance Charity which 

will fund the redevelopment 

of its Strensham airbase 

on the Worcestershire / 

Gloucestershire border. The 

redevelopment will include 

a new hangar replacing the 

existing one which is over 

20 years old. 

Based in the Midlands, the HELP 

Appeal, operated by County 

Air Ambulance Trust (CAAT), is 

the only charity in the country 

dedicated to funding helipads at 

hospitals and at air ambulance 

airbases across the country. 

Such is the HELP Appeal’s 

long-standing commitment to the 

region, this is the third time that 

it has funded the Strensham air 

base – first when it opened and 

again in 2010. 

During the refurbishment work, 

the helicopter will be temporarily 

located at Babcock’s operating 

base in nearby Staverton in 

Gloucestershire, allowing full 

operational capability to be 

maintained, and ensuring the 

security of the aircraft whilst the 

building work is completed. The 

airbase itself will continue to be 

operational throughout, providing 

support facilities for the clinicians 

and the charity’s fleet of critical 

care cars. 

Midlands Air Ambulance 

Charity has now attended more 

than 75,000 missions across 

Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, 

Shropshire, Staffordshire, 

the West Midlands, and 

Worcestershire, and continues 

to be the busiest air ambulance 

in England. 

Julian Spiers, Midlands Air 

Ambulance Charity’s clinical 

operations manager for 

Strensham, said: “As you 

can imagine, during any 

refurbishment work there will be 

a lot of disruption. The temporary 



11

NEWSLINE 


move to Staverton ensures our 

helicopter and critical care teams 

will continue to be available for 

lifesaving missions in the region 

whenever required.” 

Hanna Sebright, chief executive 

of Midlands Air Ambulance 

Charity, said: “We are sincerely 

grateful to the HELP Appeal for its 

continued support and for funding 

the necessary remedial work at 

Strensham Airbase. Strensham 

is our primary southern operating 

airbase, within 10 minutes flight 

time of critically ill or injured 

patients in Gloucestershire, 

Herefordshire, Worcestershire, 

and surrounding areas. In January 

2024 Midlands Air Ambulance 

hours of operations extended 

to 24/7, 365 days a year. The 

redevelopment of our Strensham 

airbase will futureproof our 

life saving service across our 

southern counties, improving 

organisational resilience and the 

long term sustainability of our 

pre-hospital emergency critical 

care service.” 

Robert Bertram, chief executive 

for the HELP Appeal added: “We 

are delighted to support Midlands 

Air Ambulance Charity’s airbase 

at Strensham. The importance of 

airbases can be often forgotten 

about in emergency care, but if 

air ambulances can’t land and 

take off safely or quickly from their 

airbase, patients’ lives could be 

put at serious risk. This is why 

we have donated £1,800,000 in 

total to ensure MAAC’s airbase 

helipads – from Shifnal to 

Strensham – are fit for purpose.” 

To find out more about Midlands 

Air Ambulance Charity’s lifesaving 

work, visit midlandsairambulance. 

com and follow the organisation 

on social media. For further details 

about the County Air Ambulance 

Trust and the HELP Appeal, visit 

countyairambulancetrust.co.uk 

and www.helpappeal.org.uk 

New helipad 

launches at Salisbury 

District Hospital 

Salisbury NHS Foundation 

Trust has officially opened 

its new upgraded hospital 

landing site for air ambulances. 

The helipad was funded by a 

£321,000 donation from the 

HELP Appeal, the only charity 

in the country dedicated to 

funding hospital helipads. 

Senior executives from the 

Trust, Wiltshire Air Ambulance, 

the HELP Appeal and other 

stakeholders attended the event 

at which an air ambulance and 

crew were in place. 

Lisa Thomas, Chief Executive 

of Salisbury NHS Foundation 

Trust, said: ”Approximately 

60 patients each year arrive 

at our hospital via helicopter. 

To ensure we provide this vital 

service for many years to come, 

a replacement of our helipad was 

urgently required. 

“We have been successful 

in securing all the funding 

required for this work from 

the HELP Appeal charity and 

we are indebted to them for 

their continued support. This 

project represents a significant 

investment in our hospital, 

benefiting some of our most 

critically ill patients.” 

After an extensive survey and 

tender process, contractors were 

commissioned and work began 

on the new helipad in January, 

and the site was closed. The 

helipad is reopening following 

successful test flights. 

The new helipad, which is the 

third HELP Appeal funded helipad 

to open across the country this 

year, is larger in size, has been 

fitted with new lights to support 

night flights and signage, and 

meets all best practice and is 

compliant with latest Civil Aviation 

guidance. A weather station is 

being fitted to provide pilots with 

site specific weather information. 

Robert Bertram, Chief 

Executive of the HELP Appeal 

says: “Patients have this 

incredible hospital, amazing 

medical teams and local air 

ambulances, so it’s only right 

that they have a state-of-the-art 

helipad too, that’s fit for purpose 

and able to accommodate the 

immediate landings and transfers 

of critically ill patients, any time 

of the day or night. Thanks to our 

supporters we are able to fund 

this new helipad, which is going 

to make patient transfers easy, 

efficient, and expeditious.” 

Wiltshire Air Ambulance 

safety and ground operations 

manager Richard Miller adds: 

“We can’t thank the HELP Appeal 

enough for investing in the new 

helipad for the trauma centre at 

Salisbury District Hospital. 

“This now ensures the helipad 

complies with the latest CAP1264 

regulations (Standards for 

Helicopter Landing Areas at 

Hospitals), enabling ourselves 

and neighbouring air ambulance 

resources to safely convey 

patients to the Emergency 

Department on a regular basis.” 

The Project Board leading this 

work includes membership 

from the HELP Appeal, Wiltshire 

Air Ambulance service and 

the Hampshire and IOW Air 

Ambulance service, with support 

from the HELP Appeal, aviation 

and healthcare stakeholders. This 

partnership will ensure that the 

new helipad will meet the needs 

of our patients and remains fit for 

purpose, for many years to come. 

Image caption: Wiltshire Air 

Ambulance on the new helipad at 

Salisbury District Hospital. 

Charity calls on 

Government to 

make CPR training 

part of the driving 

licence tests 

Resuscitation Council UK 

(RCUK) has launched a 

landmark report to address 

inequalities in resuscitation. 

Every second counts: Tackling 

inequalities in resuscitation 

warns that socio-economic 

deprivation, a person’s ethnicity, 

or cultural background shouldn’t 

determine whether a person is 

more or less likely to survive a 

cardiac arrest. 

It recommends that the UK 

should join nearly half of the 

countries in Europe, who teach 

CPR training through the driving 

licence test, so that people who 

are less likely to receive training 

in the workplace – those who 

work in manual and ‘unskilled’ 

jobs - are guaranteed lifesaving 

skills via an alternative route. 

Well over half (67%) of drivers in 

manual or ‘unskilled’ jobs depend 

on a private vehicle for transport 

to work. 

The report compiles important 

evidence of UK research on 

inequalities in resuscitation, 

and shows the huge disparities 

between rich and poor, and 

people from different cultural 

backgrounds, when facing the 

ultimate medical emergency. 

RCUK commissioned research 

to understand the views and 

expectations of people from 

certain ethnic minority groups 

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NEWSLINE 

in England, around learning and 

performing CPR. The study found 

that seven in ten people didn’t 

know where their nearest defib 

was - this is in contrast to the 

wider UK population where six in 

ten did know. 

Early defibrillation can more 

than double survival rates, yet 

defibs are lacking in areas where 

people from ethnic minority 

backgrounds live – over half 

(56%) of these areas have no 

defibs in comparison to 31% of 

areas where predominantly white 

British people live. They’re also 

lacking in the most deprived parts 

of the UK - almost half (44%) 

have no defibrillator registered 

on The Circuit, the national 

defibrillator network. 

The report which is being 

launched today at the Houses 

of Parliament to key decision 

makers, partners, and cardiac 

arrest survivors, gives key 

recommendations on how to 

close the inequalities gap that 

currently exists when someone 

has a cardiac arrest. 

James Cant, CEO at RCUK 

said: “A lack of public awareness 

that anyone can use a defib, 

as well as not knowing where 

these devices can be located, is 

a major obstacle to increasing 

the chances of surviving a 

cardiac arrest. Our research 

suggests that this is a particular 

issue among many minority 

ethnic groups. This is unfair 

as it further widens existing 

health inequalities. To address 

this, we must ensure everyone, 

everywhere has bystander CPR 

training that is tailored to their 

needs, and they understand that 

a defibrillator is there for them 

to use. 

“Targeting public-access defibs 

in areas, where the data tells 

us they’re needed most and 

ensuring they’re registered on 

The Circuit will be a significant 

step in reducing inequality and 

ensuring everyone has an equal 

chance of survival.” 

Many people from ethnic minority 

backgrounds across the UK 

are also facing disparities to 

accessing CPR training - Just 

22% received training in the 

last ten years, compared with 

41% of the UK population in the 

same period. 

Nearly a third (32%) said they 

have had first or second-hand 

experience of cardiac arrest, 

yet six in ten (59%) said they 

lacked the knowledge and skills 

to perform CPR. 60% said they 

have never been trained in using 

a defibrillator, and a third (34%) 

mentioned a lack of awareness of 

training opportunities. 

James continues: “Evidence 

shows that increasing CPR 

knowledge and training in the 

community is an effective way to 

give people everywhere an equal 

chance of surviving a cardiac 

arrest. Strategies to increase 

bystander CPR must also 

tailor resources to people from 

certain minority ethnic groups, 

where English is not the primary 

language, and where disparities 

in technology literacy and digital 

access exist.” 

RCUK is recommending several 

initiatives to address these 

existing inequalities including: 

• Continue to collect ‘out-ofhospital 

cardiac arrest’ data 

as part of national strategy 

- Data saves lives. The routine 

collection of comprehensive 

data that effectively identifies 

and targets hotspot areas 

will be invaluable in tackling 

Highest 

IP66 

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inequalities in out-of-hospital 


• Legislate for CPR training 

to be part of driving 

licence tests - The UK can 

significantly reduce disparities 

in CPR training access across 

occupational and ethnic 

groups by legislating for CPR 

training to be part of the driving 

licence test, and the DVSA’s 

Compulsory Basic Training for 

motorcycles and mopeds. This 

public health initiative is low 

cost and provides a greater 

foundation of CPR knowledge 

among the UK population who 

may not otherwise be trained. 

• Increase bystander CPR 

rates through targeted 

monitoring of CPR training 

in schools - Governments 

and local authorities across 

the UK have committed to 

giving every young person 

CPR training during their 

school career. However, some 

young people across the four 

nations are leaving school 

without this lifesaving skill. 

Governments across the four 

nations can work with schools, 

Local Authorities, and the 

Department for Education, to 

ensure CPR training is being 

carried out in an equitable 

manner across all schools. 

CPR training must be tailored 

to meet the language, cultural, 

and educational needs of all 

learners, to create a generation 

of lifesavers in currently 

underserved communities. 

Every second counts outlines 

that if we are to tackle inequality 

in resuscitation it will require 

strategic leadership from central 

and devolved governments. There 

also needs to be successful 

delivery at regional and local 

levels, which will be dependent 

on healthcare professionals, and 

policy makers working together 

to play their respective parts 

in making these practical and 

achievable recommendations a 

reality without delay. 

Dr Mohammed Khanji, British 

Islamic Medical Association 

(BIMA) Lifesavers national 

team and Consultant 

Cardiologist at Barts Health 

NHS Trust said: “The report 

suggests that understanding 

the different types of actions 

that can be taken when 

witnessing a cardiac arrest 

is low, amongst people from 

certain minority ethnic groups. 

Engaging influential community 

members or institutions is 

key to tacking inequalities in 

resuscitation. By reaching out to 

those community leaders who 

are trusted and influential, the 

value of learning CPR, and the 

positive impact it brings, can be 

effectively promoted. 

“We are very proud of our 

growing number of volunteers 

and mosques supporting the 

BIMA Lifesavers programme, 

which is open to the general 

public. The community 

engagement and feedback has 

been humbling.” 

EEAST wins 

contract to continue 

paramedic services 

at Stansted Airport 

The East of England 

Ambulance Service (EEAST) 

has been awarded the 

contract to continue to 

provide paramedic services at 

Stansted Airport. 

EEAST were successful in a 

competitive procurement process 

for the five-year contract for first 

aid and an emergency response 

service at the UK’s fourth 

busiest airport. 

Having robust medical provision 

is essential for the day-to-day 

operation at Stansted Airport 

which saw just shy of 28 million 

passengers in 2023 – its third 

busiest year on record. 

Those passenger numbers 

showed the airport has made 

a good recovery from the 

coronavirus pandemic which 

significantly impacted the 

aviation industry. 

At the height of pandemic, 

when demand for flights was 

significantly reduced, EEAST 

reached an agreement with the 

airport to pause the contract 

until restrictions were eased 

and passenger numbers started 

to increase. 

Passenger numbers are forecast 

to increase further in the coming 

years and there is provision for 

this in the new contract which 

started on 1 May 2024. 

During the busiest periods from 

May to September, the level of 

cover can be increased from the 

current 18 hours a day to roundthe-clock 

provision. 

One or two crews made up of 

paramedics and emergency 

medical technicians are based 

at the airport every day. They are 

deployed by the airport control 

room to attend any incidents on 

the airport estate that require 

medical attention. 

Kate Vaughton, director of 

integration and deputy chief 

executive at EEAST, said: 

“It is great news we will be 

continuing to provide paramedic 

services at Stansted Airport. 

“To secure the contract after a 

competitive procurement process 

is testament to the service we 

have provided at Stansted Airport 

over the last six years. 

“We look forward to continuing 

our excellent relationship with 

Stansted Airport and its operator, 

Manchester Airport Group.” 

Fire and ambulance 

services partnership 

set to save more 

lives in Hertfordshire 

A life-saving pilot has been 

launched in Hertfordshire 

which will see firefighters 

provide back-up to some of 

the most serious medical 

emergencies alongside 

ambulance crews 

As part of the trial firefighters from 

Berkhamsted Fire Station will now 

be able to respond to cardiac 

arrest emergencies in the area 

together with the East of England 

Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

(EEAST), speeding up response 

times and getting help quicker to 

people in need. 

According to the National Institute 

of Health and Care Excellence 

(NICE), around 60,000 cases of 

suspected cardiac arrest happen 

while someone is not in hospital 

every year, and those who receive 

cardiopulmonary resuscitation 

(CPR) have double or even 

quadruple the chance of survival. 

Survival rates rise to 50 to 70 

per cent if the patient receives 

defibrillation within three to five 

minutes of collapse. 

If successful, other fire stations in 

Hertfordshire could be included 

in the innovative approach to 

providing emergency medical 

support, alongside their existing 

duties. EEAST already works 

closely with fire stations in 

Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire 

and Norfolk to provide backup 

for the most urgent calls 

they receive. Across the east of 

14 


NEWSLINE 

England there are now 13 fire 

and we hope to have more fire 

commitment to working in 

rapid response vehicle to help 

stations offering their services, 

stations across Hertfordshire 

partnership with other agencies 

the ambulance service respond 

with more to come. 

taking part soon. 

to help save more lives across the 

to serious medical incidents. 

county. It’s about making the best 

Having these partnerships in 

place and increasing blue light 

collaboration allows for quicker 

responses to patients in medical 

emergencies. All fire service 

crews involved have received 

training from EEAST in basic life 

support including resuscitation 

and defibrillation. 

Tom Barker, Community 

“Firefighters are not intended to 

replace the ambulance service, 

but instead offer extra support 

as best practice shows that 

the earliest arrival of multiple 

responders is beneficial in the 

critical early stages of a cardiac 

arrest.” 

Andy Hall, Head of Operational 

Response at Hertfordshire 

use of the emergency services’ 

capabilities, regardless of which 

uniform they wear.” 

New emergency 

vehicle for RAF 

Honington volunteer 

co-responders 

The fully equipped emergency 

vehicle has been kindly donated 

by Triple9, a specialist company 

which converts vehicles for bluelight 

use. 

The new rapid response vehicle 

(RRV) will allow the team to 

provide a first response to more 

999 calls in the area. 

Responder Manager at EEAST, 

said: “It is great to have the 

first fire station in Hertfordshire 

ready to respond to medical 

emergencies, as part of EEAST’s 

expanding blue light collaboration 

with other emergency services. 

Fire and Rescue Service, 

said: “Firefighters are trained to 

provide immediate emergency 

care and already carry trauma 

kits and defibrillators on our fire 

engines. It makes sense for us 

to use these life-saving skills to 

Military co-responders are 

military personnel who volunteer 

their time outside of their military 

duties to provide an extra level of 

support for the East of England 

Ambulance Service NHS Trust 

support the ambulance service in 

(EEAST). This means that, when 

“Having crews available at 

situations where we can get to a 

available, they can respond to 

Berkhamsted Fire Station will 

patient quickly. 

A team of dedicated volunteers 

serious medical emergencies and 

help us get life-saving support 

at RAF Honington have 

often be first on scene before 

to patients in that area faster, 

“This trial is part of our continued 

received a new emergency 

ambulance crews arrive. 

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Military Co- Response teams 

in the region have amassed 

thousands of hours of 

volunteering and responding 

to 999 calls for the NHS and 

this new vehicle will allow for 

additional shifts to be undertaken 

by the team at RAF Honington. 

Tom Barker, Head of 

Collaborative Response at 

EEAST, said: “This new rapid 

response vehicle for the volunteer 

military co-responders at RAF 

Honington will make a huge 

difference to the incredible work 

they do for the local community. 

“It will allow the team to bolster 

their response to medical 

emergencies and the support 

they provide to ambulance crews. 

EEAST would like to thank Triple9 

for donating this vehicle to the 

volunteer co-responders at 

RAF Honington.” 

Corporal Dave Dobson, Team 

Leader of RAF Honington’s 

Co-Response Team, said: 

“We want to thank Triple9 for 

providing us with a brand-new 

rapid response vehicle to add to 

our existing emergency vehicle. 

The RRV will operate in the west 

Suffolk area and will provide 

a clear benefit to patients by 

cutting down on travel times 

responding to life-threatening 

emergencies. 

“I am incredibly proud of the 

work our co-responders do at 

RAF Honington, going above and 

beyond by volunteering their own 

time to serve the community. 

I look forward to getting the 

new RRV out on the road and 

supporting EEAST in responding 

quickly to 999 calls.” 

Tom Ward, Chief Executive 

Officer of Triple 9 Group 

Ltd, said: “We are immensely 

proud to support the RAF 

Co Responders by providing 

them with a vehicle to aid the 

East of England Ambulance 

Service NHS Trust. Together, we 

strengthen emergency response 

capabilities and reaffirm our 

commitment to saving lives in 

our communities.” 

Military co-responders also 

volunteer for EEAST at RAF 

Marham, RAF Wyton and RAF 

Henlow, and have emergency 

vehicles which they can 

use when responding to 

medical emergencies. 

Photo caption: Military 

co-responders from RAF 

Honington with their new rapid 

response vehicle. 

82-year-old tennis 

player rescued 

in race against 

time at Hampton 

Court Palace 

A seamless response by first 

aiders helped save an 82-yearold 

tennis player after he had 

a cardiac arrest at Hampton 

Court Palace. 

David Peregrine-Jones, from 

Hampton Wick, was playing a 

competition final at the Royal 

Tennis Court. He had just won a 

singles game playing against a 

“sprightly” 22-year-old when he 

suddenly collapsed. 

The Royal Tennis Court members 

and Palace staff quickly ran to 

help and, with no time to lose, 

fitted a nearby defibrillator to his 

chest. A defibrillator is a machine 

which uses an electric shock to 

restart a patient’s heart when 

they’re in cardiac arrest and their 

heart has stopped beating. 

David said: “It was a fantastic 

effort and I’m very lucky. The 

reason the team successfully 

handled my cardiac arrest initially 

was because they installed 

defibrillators very close to the 

court and they were trained in 

life-saving skills. 

“When I had the arrest, the Royal 

Tennis Court team stepped in 

within seconds. There was no 

delay. It was seamless.” 

David’s heart was restarted by 

their prompt actions even before 

London Ambulance Service 

arrived on scene in six minutes. 

Ambulance crews, including 

Glenda Hall, Jean-Pierre Kotze, 

Paul Nethersole, Elisa-Maria 

Livesey and Mark Faulkner took 

over David’s treatment at the 

tennis court. 

Consultant Paramedic Mark 

Faulkner, who also leads the 

London Ambulance Service 

Resuscitation Programme, said: 

“David is incredibly lucky that 

life-saving equipment was on site, 

and the trained responders and 

expert help arrived so quickly. 

When someone has a cardiac 

arrest every second counts and 

the minutes before the arrival of 

the ambulance service are vital to 

ensure the patient survives. 

“The interventions needed are 

simple and can be learnt in just 

a few minutes. You buy time by 

applying chest compressions 

hard and fast in the middle of the 

chest. Whenever there is a public 

access defibrillator available, this 

should also be used.” 

David received treatment, 

including surgery for an 

implantable cardioverterdefibrillator 

(ICD) to provide a 

shock if his heart stops again. 

David is now recovering at home 

and looks forward to getting back 

to an active life, including tending 

to his allotment, dinghy sailing 

and charitable work with his 

livery company. 

Looking back over the most 

traumatic experience of his life, he 

added: “They were all so careful, 

compassionate, and clear about 

what needed to happen to me to 

get the best outcome. I’m very 

happy to have come through it 

all intact.” 

Nick Wood, Head Professional at 

the Royal Tennis Court, said: “A 

combination of being prepared 

and good fortune enabled myself 

and fellow Royal Tennis Court 

members to act so quickly. 

Having a defibrillator located 

nearby undoubtedly increased 

the chances of successfully 

resuscitating David.” 

Going the distance: 

charity runner races 

in full ambulance 

uniform and 

response bag 

An emergency responder at 

London Ambulance Service ran 

a half marathon wearing his full 

uniform and heavy response 

bag to raise money for charity. 

Christopher Newman ran 

the London Landmarks Half 

Marathon on Sunday 7 April but 

to make it even more challenging 

he wore green uniform, bulky 

work boots and carried his 13kg 

response bag. He finished the 

race in a time of two hours fiftyone 

minutes. 

Christopher was one of 17 

#TeamLAS runners who took part 

in the 13 mile race through the 

16 


NEWSLINE 

City of London and Westminster. 

The team collectively raised 

£8,783 for the London 

Ambulance Charity. 

Christopher, 60, said: 

“Just wearing the uniform 

trousers alone makes running 

very difficult, then adding the 

boots and the rucksack is such 

a weight. 

“But I did it to raise money for 

the London Ambulance Charity, 

which supports the wellbeing and 

welfare of our ambulance crews.” 

Christopher has been an 

emergency responder for 10 

years which means he is a trained 

volunteer who attends 999 calls 

in full uniform and in a blue-light 

response car. 

He regularly volunteers for shifts 

at London Ambulance Service 

despite having a busy full-time job 

in Monaco. 

He said: 

“It is incredibly rewarding 

to volunteer and we make a 

difference every shift. Sometimes 

that difference can be helping to 

save someone’s life; sometimes it 

will be making a patient smile. 

“But I see first-hand how hard 

LAS crews work. It can be a 

tough and demanding job and 

we definitely need to support 

their welfare – and the charity 

can make a real difference to 

their lives.” 

London Ambulance Service has 

more than 100 ERs from a diverse 

range of professions and logged 

more than 12,000 volunteer hours 

last year. 

All the money raised by the 

race will help fund wellbeing 

initiatives for fellow staff and 

volunteers, such as wellbeing 

cafes and support vehicles which 

deliver wellbeing check-ins, hot 

drinks, and nutritious snacks to 

ambulance crews on the road 

and people answering 999 and 

111 calls. 

The charity also provides 

financial hardship support, and 

helps save more lives by training 

communities in life-saving skills. 

LAS Chief Executive Daniel 

Elkeles said: 

“Christopher certainly got himself 

noticed wearing his full uniform 

and carrying his kit bag – what a 

challenge to have set himself! 

“It was great way to draw 

attention to the brilliant work 

of our charity and the way it 

supports our hard-working crews. 

“Christopher also demonstrates 

the important role volunteers play 

– not just at LAS – but across 

the NHS.” 

You can still sponsor Christopher 

through his JustGiving page. 

Pioneering London 

Ambulance Service 

trial hailed as one of 

most important heart 

studies of 2023 

Ground-breaking research 

which found the majority of 

people whose hearts have 

stopped have the same chance 



17

NEWSLINE 

of surviving if taken to the 

nearest hospital rather than 

a specialist cardiac arrest 

centre has been hailed one of 

the most important studies of 

last year. 

The ‘Arrest’ trial was named one 

of the four most important trials 

in the world relating to cardiac 

care in 2023 according to the 

Resuscitation Journal, the official 

journal of the Europe’s 32 national 

Resuscitation Councils. 

The Arrest trial was run by 

London Ambulance Service in 

collaboration with King’s College 

London and the London School 

of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

It involved 616 London 

Ambulance Service clinicians, 

860 patients and 35 hospitals 

across London. It took 10 years 

from inception to completion 

with a period during the 

COVID pandemic when, like 

much research, the trial was 

temporarily halted. . 

to team up for a fundraising 

afternoon of Dragon Boat 

racing to support its work 

improving the health of 

patients and the wellbeing of 

staff and volunteers. 

The charity’s inaugural Dragon 

Boat Race competition will take 

to the water at 1pm on Thursday 

18 July at Surrey Quays Docks, 

and promises an exciting summer 

atmosphere complete with 

racing, music and food. 

The money raised will help fund 

projects like wellbeing initiatives 

for staff and volunteers out on 

ambulances or answering 999 

calls and help save more lives by 

training London communities in 

life-saving skills. 

To find out more about the event 

and how to be involved, please 

email Olivia Peters, Events 

and Community Fundraiser, 

at olivia.peters1@nhs.net to 

receive your Dragon boat race 

participation booklet. 


The trial found taking certain 

cardiac arrest patients to nearest 

emergency department – as 

LAS had been doing - was as 

important as getting to a 

specialist cardiac hospital. This 

was good news as it meant not 

all cardiac arrest patients needed 

immediate specialist intervention 

but a period of stabilisation in a 

normal hospital. 

However, patients experiencing 

a specific type of cardiac arrest 

known as ‘STEMI’– where an 

electrocardiogram (ECG) can 

detect a blockage of the artery 

supplying the heart - do benefit 

going straight to a heart attack 

centre which is current practise. 

Dr Fenella Wrigley MBE, Deputy 

Chief Executive and Chief 

Medical Officer for the London 

Ambulance Service on the 

ground breaking trial said: 

“I’m very proud this has been 

recognised as a world class 

piece of research. This trial was 

extremely complex but allowed us 

to prove that we were providing 

our cardiac patients with the care 

that would give them the best 

possible outcome. 

“Our commitment to developing 

and hosting research studies, 

means we are improving 

emergency medical care and 

outcomes in not just in London 

and the UK but worldwide.” 

It compared outcomes for 

patients being taken directly 

to one of seven Cardiac Arrest 

Centres in London to those who 

were taken to the nearest A&E. 

Arrest was the first randomised 

trial in the world to answer 

this question. 

It was already known patients 

having a STEMI heart attack 

benefitted from specialist 

hospitals. It was reasonable 

to assume that all patients 

who suffered a cardiac arrest 

would benefit from specialist 

intervention but there was no 

clear evidence of benefit when 

the patient did not have a STEMI. 

The trial was made possible 

thanks to a generous 

research grant from the British 

Heart Foundation. 

Enter the Dragons: 

an afternoon of team 

building, pumping 

adrenaline and 

fundraising! 

The London Ambulance 

Charity is calling on Londoners 

Each team of 10 rowers and a 

drummer setting the rhythm in 

the distinctly designed dragon 

boats will complete a series of 

200 metre races in order to lift 

the winning trophy. The sport 

requires a high level of teamwork 

and communication, making it an 

excellent team-building activity 

or fun for friends and family. The 

fastest teams are not necessarily 

the strongest, but those that can 

synchronise their paddling and 

work together most effectively. 

It’s an inclusive event suitable for 

all ages and skill levels—no prior 

experience is necessary, just 

eleven willing team mates and 

buckets of enthusiasm! Entrants 

have until 17 June to sign up. 

Jessica Burgess, Head of the 

London Ambulance Charity, said: 

“We’re always looking for exciting 

and creative ways to raise money 

for the London Ambulance 

Charity, from climbing the O2 

and runs across London, so the 

Dragon Boat Race is a perfect 

event for our fundraisers. 

“We’re so proud of what our 

supporters have raised for us this 

year and I know the excitement 

of a Dragon Boat race will be 

another amazing opportunity for 

them. Thanks to their efforts and 

enthusiasm, we will be able to 

support more paramedics and 

call handlers who care for the 

capital every day.” 

Annual cardiac arrest 

report - bystander 

CPR key to improving 

survival rates 

The use of a defibrillator on 

cardiac arrest patients, prior to 

the arrival of ambulance crews, 

is vital in improving cardiac 

arrest survival rates, a report 

published today by South East 

Coast Ambulance Service, 

(SECAmb), shows. 

The report, which looks at out-ofhospital 

cardiac arrests attended 

by SECAmb between April 2022 

and March 2023, reveals that 

if a defibrillator is used prior to 

its arrival, the average time to 

shock a patient is more than 

four minutes quicker than when 

the first shock is delivered by 

ambulance teams. 

And remarkably, of those patients 

successfully resuscitated prior 

to ambulance arrival by shocks 

from a defibrillator, who did not 

rearrest, all survived at least 

30 days. 

In the year covered by the report, 

SECAmb attended a total of 

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8,824 cardiac arrest patients, 

and it was viable to commence 

resuscitation attempts on 2,891 

people (33 per cent of patients). 

Despite the challenging 

environment faced by ambulance 

services during the period, 

a Return of Spontaneous 

Circulation or ROSC was 

maintained to hospital 27 per 

cent of the time, while 9.5 per 

cent of patients’ lives were saved 

(271 people were alive 30 days 

after their cardiac arrest). 

While the percentage of survivors 

is slightly down on the 11 per cent 

revealed in the previous year’s 

report, the total is still the second 

highest reported in SECAmb and 

is 1.5 per cent higher than the 

national average of eight per cent 

for the period. 

Cardiac arrest survivors are found 

to have a number of predominant 

features related to their arrest; 

they are more likely to have 

someone witness their collapse 

or have been found early, more 

likely to have CPR performed, 

and to have presented in a 

shockable rhythm. 

Key to early CPR and defibrillation 

is the attendance of SECAmb’s 

more than 400-strong team 

of volunteer Community First 

Responders, (CFRs), who are 

trained by SECAmb to respond 

to emergencies. CFRs respond in 

areas where they live and work, 

meaning they can often be at the 

scene of an emergency before 

ambulance crews. More here: 

https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/joinus/community-first-responders/ 

CFRs, who are equipped with 

defibrillators, were on scene in 

nine per cent of resuscitation 

attempts in the period covered 

by the report or 255 incidents. 

CFRs were first on scene in 45% 

of those incidents, reducing 

response times to patients 

in cardiac arrest by close to 

five minutes. 

The report also reveals: 

• On average, SECAmb 

attended 735 cardiac arrests 

each month - close to one 

every hour. 

• 79 per cent of patients received 

CPR from a bystander prior to 

ambulance arrival 

• 259 defibrillators were used 

before ambulance arrival, 

(10 per cent) 

• 80 per cent of cardiac arrests 

occurred at home or at a 

private address 

• 9 per cent of patients were 

aged under 40 

• 50 per cent were patients were 

aged over 70 

• 66 per cent of resus attempts 

were on males, with a median 

age of 69 

• 34 per cent of resus attempts 

were on females, with a 

median age of 71 

SECAmb Consultant Paramedic, 

Dan Cody, said: “We are 

committed to improving our 

cardiac arrest survival rates as 

we recognise that they are still 

some way behind the highest 

rates seen internationally, 

but we are pleased SECAmb 

continues to perform above the 

national average. 

“There are a number of key 

factors vital to improving out-ofhospital 

cardiac arrest survival, 

including increasing community 

engagement in learning CPR 

and increasing the availability of 

Public Access Defibrillators. We 

must also continue to ensure we 

are maximising the benefits our 

volunteer CFRs bring to improve 

response times to cardiac 

proactmedical.co.uk 

Metal Max COMBI 50 Laryngoscope System 



19

NEWSLINE 


arrest patients. 

“As we continue to study and 

improve our response to cardiac 

arrests, I would urge everyone 

to take the time to learn CPR. 

Your actions could prove vital to 

a person’s survival and mean a 

loved one is able to spend many 

more years with their family 

and friends.” 

The report, featuring five 

stories of cardiac arrest 

survivors SECAmb has reunited 

with ambulance teams, is 

available to download in full 

- 2022-23-SECAmb-Annual- 

Cardiac-Arrest-Report-final.pdf 

The Resuscitation Council has 

created a “CPQR code” - a heart 

shaped QR code that directs 

people to a short video on how to 

do CPR. 

The British Heart Foundation 

has an online training tool, 

RevivR, a free and easy-to-use 

15-minute training course - 

https://bit.ly/4a0V8T6 

Face-to-face first aid and CPR 

courses can also be booked 

through St John Ambulance and 

the British Red Cross. 

Crawley cardiac 

arrest survivor 

thanks ambulance 

team 

A Crawley man has been 

reunited with a number of the 

ambulance team who helped 

save his life a year on from 

suffering a cardiac arrest. 

Retired Health and Safety Officer, 

Dave Mortimer, 67, visited South 

East Coast Ambulance Service’s 

Make Ready Centre in Crawley 

this week to pass on his thanks in 

person for the team’s effort. 

Dave was accompanied by 

Nicky Carr and Steve Grant, 

who as an off-duty student 

nurse and off-duty Met Police 

officer respectively, sprang into 

action to help, calling 999 and 

commencing CPR when Dave 

collapsed at the wheel of his car 

at Three Bridges Tesco petrol 

station on 16 April 2023. 

The trio have since gone on 

to become good friends and 

recently celebrated with a meal 

to mark Dave’s ‘alive’ day on the 

anniversary of his cardiac arrest. 

With support from Nicky, 

Steve performed around seven 

minutes of chest compressions 

while on the phone to SECAmb 

Emergency Medical Advisor, 

Layah Garside. 

Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) 

Bradley Gander was first to arrive 

at the scene with Paramedic, 

Carly Scarborough. 

“When I arrived at the scene, 

it was clear to me that Steve 

was delivering excellent chest 

compressions,” said Bradley. 

“It’s always a welcome sight to 

see when we arrive at a cardiac 

arrest. Their quick-thinking and 

actions were absolutely vital in 

ensuring Dave was given the very 

best chance of survival.” 

Bradley and Carly were joined 

at the scene by then Student 

Paramedic, Craig Higginson 

and Associate Ambulance 

Practitioner, James Dickson 

as well as CCP, Carl Tocknell, 

and Operational Team Leader, 

Phil Smith. 

Dave received a shock with 

a defibrillator to establish a 

more normal rhythm for his 

heart and was stabilised and 

sedated before being rushed to 

Royal Sussex County Hospital 

in Brighton, requiring a further 

shock en route to hospital. 

After being fitted with a stent, 

Dave spent 10 days in an induced 

coma and three further weeks 

recovering in hospital. 

Dave, who was due to drive to 

Wales on the day of his collapse, 

said: “I have little, if any, memory 

of what happened, but I have 

pieced together various pieces of 

information and found that I had 

purchased a bottle of Gaviscon 

for pain I had put down to being 

indigestion - I obviously was 

having a heart attack. 

“I feel so privileged to have 

met the team to thank them in 

person. I will forever be grateful 

for everything everyone did to 

save my life. In Nicky and Steve 

I have two new amazing friends 

for life and I and my whole family 

are so thankful to them both for 

stopping to help me despite they 

both had their children with them 

in their cars. They truly made 

the difference. 

“The hospital team, from who 

I received brilliant care too, 

explained to me that I only 

suffered two per cent damage to 

my heart and this is down to how 

quickly and expertly everyone 

responded. Throughout my own 

career I have done a fair bit of 

planning and I don’t think I could 

have planned the response and 

treatment I received any better!” 

“I am humbled by the 

professionalism and skills of each 

and every one of these people 

honed by their years of training 

and experience. I feel blessed 

and honored to have met them 

to pay this tribute. It means 

everything to me.” 

Steve said: “I’ve been trained 

in CPR for many years in my 

role as a prison officer and now 

in the police. Sadly, I hadn’t 

had a successful resuscitation 

before and it was a very different 

situation and quite scary to 

suddenly have to deliver CPR off 

duty. I would encourage everyone 

to take the time to learn CPR 

though and not be afraid to use 

it if needed. It was great to find 

out that Dave had survived and 

go on to become friends with him 

and Nicky, who gave me amazing 

support at the scene. I couldn’t 

have done it without her.” 

Nicky said: “I’m in awe of 

ambulance crews. Steve was 

amazing and then the teams did 

a fantastic job. Dave, Steve and I 

will be friends forever.” 

CCP, Bradley added: “The 

actions of Steve and Nicky 

meant that were in the best 

possible position we could be 

to commence advanced life 

support and aid Dave’s survival. 

They should both be very proud 

of everything they did. It was an 

amazing team effort from start to 

finish which continued at hospital. 

On behalf of all my colleagues I’d 

like to wish Dave and his family all 

the very best for the future.” 

Dartford heart attack 

survivor reunites 

with lifesaving crew 

A father from Dartford who 

suffered a heart attack at his 

home has been reunited with 

the two ambulance service 

colleagues who helped save 

his life. 

Ian Harris, 52, from Dartford, 

Kent was washing his car at his 

home on the evening of 20 May, 

2023, when he started to feel 

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NEWSLINE 

pain and discomfort in his hands, 

as well as coming over flustered 

and dizzy. 

Through his many years of 

watching 999 programmes on TV 

with his family, Ian’s first thought 

was to go inside his home and lay 

down on a flat surface. He raised 

his legs up on the bathroom 

sink and called 111 as initially, he 

didn’t realise he was suffering 

from a heart attack. 

As his symptoms worsened, 

Ian called 999, and Trainee 

Associate Ambulance Practitioner 

Samantha Rees and Paramedic 

Fran Brewer were luckily 

just around the corner from 

his address. 

Ian said, “I didn’t realise the 

severity of the heart attack until 

I was back at home and reading 

through the paperwork. I am very 

lucky to be alive.” 

On arrival, Samantha and Fran 

quickly diagnosed Ian as having 

a severe heart attack and he 

was immediately taken to The 

William Harvey Hospital in 

Ashford for surgery and further 

medical treatment. 

After spending two days in 

intensive care, Ian was then 

transferred to the hospital 

ward where he stayed for 

several further days to recover. 

Subsequently, Ian then 

underwent a procedure to have a 

permanent stent fitted, facilitating 

improved blood flow through 

narrowed or blocked arteries. 

Along with his wife, Kerry, 

daughter, Emily and son in law 

Colin, Ian visited a South East 

Coast Ambulance Service’s 

(SECAmb) ambulance station 

in Dartford recently for the 

emotional reunion with 

Trainee Associate Ambulance 

Practitioner, Samantha and 

Paramedic, Fran. 

Ian said, “The incident has really 

made me re-evaluate life and 

confirm what’s important to me. 

Since the incident happened, I 

have rekindled a relationship with 

one of my daughters who I hadn’t 

spoken to in 14 years. For this, I 

am eternally grateful.” 

Ian is still on his journey to a 

full recovery and is very much 

looking forward to taking a trip 

to Spain with his family, shortly 

after the one-year anniversary 

of his heart attack. After the 

incident, Ian and his family also 

got a dog which Ian is enjoying 

taking for short walks in the 

neighbourhood. 

Samantha said, “When we 

received the many letters of 

gratitude from Ian’s family it 

brought me and Fran to tears. 

We were over the moon to be 

seeing Ian again, and in such 

good health.” 

Emergency 

responders helping 

hundreds of patients 



21

NEWSLINE 


Two teams of volunteer 

Emergency Responders, 

(ERs), participating in a trial 

to understand how they can 

improve patient care, have 

responded to hundreds of 

seriously ill patients over the 

past year. 

The first team of responders 

began operating out South East 

Coast Ambulance Service’s 

(SECAmb’s) Ashford operating 

unit, in Kent, in February 2023, 

focussing primarily on the 

Romney Marsh area. The second 

team, now operating out of 

Crawley and Horsham in West 

Sussex, began responding to 

patients in March 2023. 

The scheme works in a similar 

way to the Trust’s volunteer 

community first responders, 

who are trained by SECAmb to 

respond to emergencies in the 

areas that they live and work and 

can deliver care to patients in the 

minutes before ambulance crews 

arrive. Rather than being based 

from home or work, the ERs, 

who have undergone additional 

training, book on for a shift and 

operate out of a SECAmb base or 

standby point. 

Together, the 21 ERs have 

volunteered more than 9000 

hours, operating on dedicated 

vehicles equipped to respond 

on blue lights and sirens. They 

have been dispatched to over 

1600 incidents, (1,687), including 

281 immediately life-threatening 

Category 1 calls. The teams have 

also responded to hundreds of 

non-life threatening incidents 

including to patients who 

have fallen. 

Since their launch in the New 

Romney area alone, the ERs 

have attended more than 100 

Category 1 calls and averaged a 

response time of 7 minutes and 

46 seconds. The West Sussexbased 

ERs have attended 171 

category one incidents with 

an average response time of 6 

minutes 58 seconds. 

ERs focus on providing a safe 

and effective initial response and 

receive back up from ambulance 

crews as required. 

Each ER is subject to a robust 

recruitment process and 

have undertaken additional 

extensive training including a 

nationally-accredited blue-light 

driving course and additional 

clinical training. 

SECAmb Head of Community 

Resilience, David Wells said: 

“With both of our Emergency 

Responder teams now having 

been operating for more than a 

year, I would like to say a very 

big thank you to every volunteer 

for their dedication to this 

important project. 

“While we will need to formally 

evaluate the trial, the volunteers 

involved have shown they are 

very capable of responding to 

patients in this way. The ERs 

complement our Community First 

Responders offering and help 

to ensure our patients, including 

those in an immediately lifethreatening 

condition, receive the 

treatment they require as quickly 

as possible.” 

Dan Garrett, Operating Unit 

Manager for Gatwick said: “We 

are very fortunate to have the 

ERs working in our area. Their 

availability and option to respond 

under emergency conditions 

is of real benefit as we look 

to strengthen our response 

to our most seriously ill and 

injured patients.” 

Nick Keech, Operating Unit 

Manager for Ashford added: 

“New Romney is an area which 

can be challenging for us to 

respond to as quickly as we 

would like for Category 1 calls in 

particular. While there are many 

variables which can impact on 

our performance, we have seen 

an improvement in our response 

times of around two min since the 

launch of the ERs and I would like 

to thank every volunteer for their 

dedication and hard work.” 

Father of three 

recovering from 

cardiac arrest after 

son’s miracle chest 

compressions 

An Ashford father of three who 

suffered a cardiac arrest at his 

home in May 2022 has been 

reunited, alongside his family, 

with some of the ambulance 

team who helped save his life. 

Gerard Quinn, 59, from Ashford, 

Kent, was at his family home with 

wife Jenny, daughter, Elizabeth 

and son, Solomon when he 

collapsed on 29 May, 2022. 

After calling 999, wife Jenny was 

able to move Gerard to a safe 

space on their bedroom floor, 

before Solomon performed lifesaving 

chest compressions while 

ambulance crews made their way 

to the scene. 

Ambulance colleagues arrived in 

under two minutes and, working 

with colleagues from Kent Fire 

and Rescue Service, were able to 

safely transfer Gerard to William 

Harvey Hospital in Ashford, where 

he remained in a coma in the 

intensive care unit for more than 

a month. 

SECAmb Critical Care Paramedic, 

Chris Fudge, said: “Gerard is 

here because of Solomon. Often 

people are not able to perform 

chest compressions on a loved 

one, but Solomon did with flying 

colours. Thanks to everyone’s 

efforts, Gerard has made a 

good recovery.” 

Gerard said: “I woke up in hospital 

thinking, I didn’t go to bed here. 

As scary as it was, the event has 

made us closer as a family.” 

Gerard and his family were 

reunited with ambulance 

crew Julia Lewis, Ambulance 

paramedic, Sophie Emery, 

Trainee Associate Ambulance 

Practitioner, and Jenna 

Woodcock, Ambulance 

paramedic, as well as John 

Sweeney, Operational Team 

Leader and Chris Fudge, Critical 

Care Paramedic. 

Gerard is currently on his journey 

to full recovery and hopes to 

get back to work soon as a 

mechanic. Gerard currently has 

no recollection of the cardiac 

arrest or his time in hospital. 

His wife Jenny said: “When 

Gerard first woke up from the 

coma he couldn’t move, or even 

open his eyes. Every single 

day since then his situation has 

improved, which is a miracle.” 

Julia said: “Sadly with this type 

of incident, there is a low survival 

rate. I’ve been on the road for 

14 years and I can only count 

on one hand how many cardiac 

arrest returns we’ve successfully 

completed. We were all thrilled to 

see Gerard with his family and we 

wish him the best of luck with his 

continued recovery.” 

Paramedic 

completes epic 

mountaineering 

expedition 

A South East Coast Ambulance 

Service (SECAmb) Critical 

22 


NEWSLINE 

Care Paramedic (CCP) has 

achieved an extraordinary feat 

by conquering one of the most 

challenging ski mountaineering 

expeditions in the world, all 

in support of The Intensive 

Care Society. 

On Tuesday, 9 April, Paddock 

Wood CCP, Jim Walmsley, 

together with his team, 

completed the Patrouille des 

Glaciers, covering a total of 

more than 70km of uphill skiing, 

alpine climbing, and deftly 

dodging seracs, ascending a 

staggering total of over 7,000m 

in altitude with peaks reaching 

beyond 3,600m. 

Leading up to the challenge, 

Jim successfully reached his 

personal fundraising goal, 

raising an impressive £5,241 

for The Intensive Care Society. 

Together with the wider team, 

they also surpassed their original 

fundraising target, raising over 

£33,000 to date. 

Jim said, “Having surpassed my 

original fundraising target, the 

team have raised over £33,000 

so far - it’s safe to say it’s been 

an amazing experience. A 

tremendous thank you to all 

who so generously supported 

and donated – it’s humbling to 

experience such generosity.” 

Jim’s work at SECAmb means 

that he is in close contact with 

both patients and families alike 

who need the services of The 

Intensive Care Society. 

Jim said: “As a Specialist 

Paramedic (Critical Care) within 

the pre-hospital arena, I am 

in close contact with patients 

considered to be ‘time critical’. 

Intervening early to treat, stabilise, 

and safely support such patients; 

often as a pre-hospital medical 

service, I am handing over to ICS 

teams in hospital.” 

The Intensive Care Society 

provides a range of wellbeing, 

training and CPD opportunities 

for all associated clinicians who 

work in Intensive Care, allowing 

for improved care, well-being, up 

to date training and many more 

opportunities. 

To find out more about Jim’s 

expedition, and to visit his 

fundraising page, click here. 

Thanet clinical hub 

reducing demand 

on A&E 

A clinical co-ordination hub 

organised and implemented by 

South East Coast Ambulance 

Service NHS Foundation Trust, 

(SECAmb), in partnership with 

East Kent Hospitals staff at the 

Queen Elizabeth The Queen 

Mother Hospital in Margate is 

delivering positive early results. 

The hub, based at SECAmb’s 

Thanet Make Ready Centre, 

in Ramsgate, follows trials 

established at the Trust’s 

Paddock Wood and Ashford 

operational sites. 

The Thanet hub, established in 

February 2024, involves multidiscipline 

teams from across the 

Kent healthcare system, joining 

SECAmb Advanced Paramedic 

Practitioners to help ensure 999 

calls made in the Thanet area 

receive the most appropriate 

response and care. 

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23

NEWSLINE 


By reviewing 999 calls, the hubs 

are helping to reduce pressure 

on A&E by guiding patients to 

the most suitable service and 

supporting ambulance crews at 

the scene of an incident. 

In the eight weeks since the 

Thanet clinical hub began 

operations, it has triaged more 

than 300 patients, which in turn 

avoided admission to A&E, with 

most of these being discharged 

at the scene for further 

community input. 

Joshua Byrne-Smith, SECAmb 

Practice Development Lead, said: 

“We have long aspired of working 

more closely with our external 

system partners and the ongoing 

relationship with the Complex 

Acute Response Team (C-Art) 

and the Canterbury Frailty Team 

has provided key opportunities 

to support our patients, while 

ensuring we are providing the 

correct care. 

“The success of our other hubs 

was pivotal in allowing the roll 

out to continue to Thanet. Since 

its set up, the team has grown 

in understanding of what our 

community partners can provide, 

and collaboratively, they work 

together to ensure the right care 

gets to the right patient at the 

right time.” 

Dr Jacqueline Gilbert, a 

consultant geriatrician 

specialising in frailty at QEQM, 

said: “The Thanet hub has 

provided expert advice and 

liaison, ensuring our patients get 

the right care in the right place, 

first time. In addition to accessing 

care in the community, the hub 

facilitates direct access to Same 

Day Emergency Care (SDEC) and 

the frailty assessment unit (FAU), 

avoiding the need to go through 

the Emergency Department 

(ED). This has greatly relieved ED 

pressures and wait times and 

provides a much more positive 

experience for our patients.” 

Injection of 

nature to relieve 

stress for Welsh 

ambulance staff 

Ambulance staff are being 

offered a dose of the outdoors 

to cope with the pressures – 

and occasional trauma – of life 

on the health care front line. 

The Welsh Ambulance Services 

University NHS Trust is joining 

with mental health charity Mind 

Over Mountains to provide a 

series of back to nature respite 

days for its staff. 

The next event is over the May 

bank holiday weekend in the 

foothills around Llanberis and 

Dolbadarn in Gwynedd. Walkers 

are accompanied by qualified 

coaches and mental health 

counsellors alongside the usual 

mountain leaders. 

“Whether you’re a paramedic, a 

call handler, corporate staff or any 

of the other varied roles within 

the Trust, all our jobs come with 

a certain amount of stress,” says 

Catherine Lloyd, Organisational 

Development Experience and 

Engagement Lead at the Welsh 

Ambulance Service. 

“Working for the ambulance 

service can be incredibly 

rewarding, but it’s inevitable 

that our professional staff will 

be called upon to face difficult 

situations. That is why the 

wellbeing of our staff is so 

important to us,” she adds. 

“Days like this give our valued 

staff the opportunity to press the 

pause button and to walk-andtalk 

with colleagues and mental 

health professionals.” 

As well as special events for the 

blue light services, Mind Over 

Mountains provides walks and 

retreats for anyone who feels they 

could benefit. 

Upcoming retreat in North 

Llangollen (13-15 September). 

“We offer much more than an 

escape into nature. Enjoying 

the Welsh mountain scenery 

has a therapeutic effect on its 

own – and we add mental health 

support in that unpressured 

setting,” explains the charity’s 

chief executive Ian Sansbury. 

“Our events give you the 

opportunity to explore 

beautiful places in Wales 

while accompanied by skilled 

counsellors and coaches 

who walk, talk and, most 

importantly, listen.” 

Anyone can sign up to the 

Mind Over Mountains retreats. 

There is a fee to cover 

accommodation plus the cost 

of the guides and counsellors, 

with funded places also available. 

For more information visit 

www.mindovermountains.org.uk 

Sky’s the limit for 

drone-delivered 

defibrillators 

THE Welsh Ambulance Service 

is moving closer to using 

drones to fly defibrillators 

to patients. 

The Trust has partnered with 

the University of Warwick and 

industry partners SkyBound 

to explore whether dronedelivered 

defibrillators could 

make a difference to someone in 


When someone has a cardiac 

arrest, they either stop breathing 

entirely or take gasping or 

infrequent breaths. 

As well as immediate 

cardiopulmonary resuscitation 

(CPR), a defibrillator can help to 

restart their heart while waiting for 

the emergency services to arrive. 

Carl Powell, the Welsh 

Ambulance Service’s Clinical 

Lead for Acute Care, said: 

“In a cardiac arrest, every 

second counts. 

“We will always send an 

ambulance as quickly as possible 

on lights and sirens, but starting 

chest compressions and 

delivering an electric shock with a 

defibrillator in the meantime could 

mean the difference between life 

and death. 

“If you’re helping someone 

in cardiac arrest, it might be 

difficult to find a defibrillator soon 

enough to make a real difference, 

especially in rural areas and 

especially if you’re the only 

person there, which is why we’re 

thinking about better ways to get 

help to patients. 

“In Sweden, ambulance services 

have used flying drones to deliver 

defibrillators to people after 


“Nobody has yet demonstrated 

how we could do this in the UK – 

until now.” 

More than 6,000 people have a 

cardiac arrest in the community in 

Wales every year. 

Professor Nigel Rees, the Trust’s 

Assistant Director of Research 

and Innovation, said: “Dronedelivered 

defibrillators might 

sound like something from a sci-fi 

movie, but if it’s the quickest way 

to get a defibrillator to a patient, 

it’s a fantastic tool in our locker to 

improve survival rates. 

“Lone bystanders aren’t currently 

instructed by ambulance call 

handlers to leave a patient to 

retrieve a nearby defibrillator, 

as the priority is the chest 

compressions. 

“Delivering a defibrillator directly 

to them would negate the need to 

leave the patient, and potentially 

24 


TESTED 

improve chances of survival.” 

Funding from Resuscitation 

Council UK enabled the Drone- 

Delivered Defibrillators study 

– or ‘3D Project’ – to conduct 

a number of test flights to 

demonstrate the feasibility of 

delivering a defibrillator via drone 

after a 999 call. 

Further funding from the National 

Institute of Health Research and 

Health and Care Research Wales 

has enabled the 3D Project to 

enter its next phase, which is 

to interview people who have 

helped someone in a real-life 

cardiac arrest to understand the 

difference that a drone-delivered 

defibrillator could have made. 

This summer, researchers will 

also perform long-distance 

‘beyond visual line of sight’ flights 

to demonstrate how real-time 

communications between the 

999 control room and a drone 

operation team would work 

during a cardiac arrest call. 

Dr Christopher Smith, Clinical 

Lecturer in Emergency Medicine 

at the University of Warwick, 

said: “Early CPR and defibrillation 

are crucial if we are to improve 

survival from out-of-hospital 


“This collaboration represents 

a significant step forward 

in leveraging technology to 

potentially save lives, particularly 

in remote areas where access to 

defibrillators can be challenging. 

“Our involvement underscores 

the very reason SkyBound 

came into fruition, as the initial 

inspiration came from the 

experience I gained as a beach 

lifeguard where I dealt with a lifecritical 

incident. 

“This was the foundation of 

our commitment to harnessing 

innovative drone solutions to 

enhance emergency response 

and ultimately, save lives.” 

The 3D Project is one of a 

number of studies involving the 

Welsh Ambulance Service, which 

earlier this month was granted 

University Trust status by Welsh 

Government in recognition of its 

commitment to drive research 

and innovation. 

Professor Rees said: “We have 

an extensive research portfolio, 

and this is an example of the 

longstanding partnership we have 

with the University of Warwick 

and other partners conducting 

research and innovation that is of 

international significance. 

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“Drones may be one way of 

getting a life-saving defibrillator to 

more patients faster than before. 

“This project allows us to optimise 

the processes required and is 

an important step in making 

an effective drone-delivered 

defibrillator system a reality for 

the UK in the near future.” 

Gemma Alcock, Chief Executive 

at SkyBound, added: “We 

are excited to be part of the 

pioneering effort with the 

Welsh Ambulance Service and 

University of Warwick in exploring 

drone-delivered defibrillators. 

“University Trust status formally 

recognises the world-class 

research we undertake to 

improve public health and patient 

care-enhancing knowledge, as 

well as advancing treatments in 

the NHS and making a difference 

to people’s lives. 

“It also helps our patients, 

population and stakeholders 

to understand the vital links 

between health, education and 

research which lead to better 

outcomes for us all.” 

The 3D Project is due to conclude 

in October 2024 and the results 

will be available in early 2025. 

Contact us for further 

information and brochures 



25

NEWSLINE 

Welsh Ambulance 

Service awarded 

University Trust 

status 

THE Welsh Ambulance Service 

has been awarded University 

Trust status. 

The sought-after status has been 

granted by Welsh Government 

in recognition of the Trust’s 

commitment to develop its 

current and future workforce and 

to drive research and innovation. 

With effect from 01 April 2024, 

the Trust’s new name will be 

the Welsh Ambulance Services 

University NHS Trust. 

Chief Executive Jason Killens 

said: “We’re delighted to have 

secured University Trust status, 

but this is much more than just a 

name change. 

their skills – currently, more than 

250 student paramedics are 

being trained with more than 

100 more about to enter fulltime 

study. 

“Securing University Trust status 

will only serve to strengthen our 

links with universities in Wales 

and the wider university network.” 

Professor Nigel Rees, Assistant 

Director of Research and 

Innovation, said: “WAST was 

amongst the first ambulance 

services internationally to 

embrace academia and has 

a longstanding reputation for 

developing and delivering high 

quality research and innovation. 

“University Trust status is a 

fitting recognition of the efforts 

our people, and national and 

international partners who are 

collaborating to develop world 

class efficient, effective and 

sustainable healthcare.” 

to Wales and is based on a 

robust assessment of a broad 

range of evidence across our 

three criteria – Research and 

Development; Training and 

Education; and Innovation.” 

The Trust has embarked on a 

phased re-branding exercise to 

reflect University Trust status, 

as well as its new Crown Badge 

following the coronation of 

King Charles III. 

Ambulance service 

pledges enhanced 

support for people 

with hidden 

disabilities 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

NHS Trust has joined the 

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 

network to better support its 

staff, volunteers and patients 

who have an invisible disability. 

diabetes, chronic pain, long 

COVID, cancer and coeliac 

disease. There are currently 910 

non-visible health conditions 

listed on the Hidden Disabilities 

Sunflower website. Many people 

experience a combination of 

visible and invisible disabilities. 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive 

at Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service, said: “I am thrilled that 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service 

has joined the Hidden Disabilities 

Sunflower network. Our 

membership is another vital step 

in enhancing our status as an 

inclusive organisation.” 

Paul White, Chief Executive 

Officer at Hidden Disabilities 

Sunflower, said: “Yorkshire 

Ambulance Service provides a 

vital service to people in need. 

At times of fear, worry, pain and 

confusion, the Sunflower acts as 

a tool to communicate that the 

wearer has an invisible disability 


“It’s an exciting opportunity 

to formally recognise the role 

we play in the education and 

development of ambulance 

workers and the world-class 

research we undertake to 

improve public health and 

advance treatments in the 

NHS, making a difference to 

people’s lives.” 

Jo Kelso, the Trust’s Head 

of Workforce Education and 

Development, said: “We are 

committed to ensuring colleagues 

have the very best education and 

development opportunities, and 

our partnership with universities 

is key to this. 

“Hundreds of colleagues across 

the organisation, in every area of 

the service, have been supported 

to expand their capabilities and 

knowledge through the many and 

various career pathways in place. 

“That’s not to mention the 

plethora of clinical colleagues that 

have been supported to develop 

Non-Executive Director Hannah 

Rowan, who is Chair of the 

Trust’s Academic Partnerships 

Committee, added: “The move 

to become a University Trust 

articulates, emphasises and 

recognises the work that we 

undertake with universities and 

shows the ever-greater focus on 

training and research. 

“We’re grateful to Welsh 

Government for supporting us to 

navigate this journey, which has 

been several years in the making.” 

Cabinet Secretary for Health and 

Social Care, Eluned Morgan, 

said: “I am very pleased to grant 

University Trust status for the 

Welsh Ambulance Service. 

“This represents a commitment 

by the Trust to ensure university 

expertise and activity is improving 

the quality of care and outcomes 

for patients. 

“University Trust status is unique 

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower 

symbol indicates to people that 

the wearer may need additional 

support, help or a little more time. 

By becoming a member of the 

initiative, Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service is committed to: 

• ensuring that its staff and 

volunteers with a nonvisible 

disability are, and feel 

supported and can access the 

help they need 

• providing our staff and 

volunteers with training to 

enable them to better support 

colleagues and patients with 

invisible disabilities. 

One in seven people live with a 

disability and 80% of those are 

hidden. Non-visible disabilities 

are not immediately apparent. 

They can be physical, mental 

or neurological, for example 

autism, ADHD, anorexia, asthma, 

learning difficulties, dyslexia, 

endometriosis, hearing loss, 

– giving silent communication to 

the ambulance teams to allow 

extra time, understanding and 

patience. Joining the Sunflower 

network also signals to staff who 

have non-visible disabilities that 

they will be supported at work.” 

Find out more about the Hidden 

Disabilities Sunflower on 

their website. 

£16m Workforce 

Wellbeing 

Programme launched 

to support NHS 

staff wellbeing and 

mental health 

NHS Charities Together have 

launched a £16m Workforce 

Wellbeing Programme to 

support NHS staff across the 

UK. The ambitious programme, 

which is being announced at 

the charity’s annual member 

conference for over 230 NHS 

charities, aims to improve NHS 

26 


NEWSLINE 

staff health and wellbeing, 

in turn making sure patients 

are provided with the care 

they need. 

NHS Charities Together will 

commit an initial £6.0152m to 

support healthcare staff across 

the UK, with the fund being 

shared proportionately across 

the four nations, along with 

aspirations to fund a further 

£5 million over the duration of 

the programme. 

In England the independent 

charity’s contribution will be 

match-funded by NHS England 

who will contribute £5 million 

to the programme as part of 

its People Plan to support 

staff wellbeing. 

The Workforce Wellbeing 

Programme will run for three 

years with initiatives co-designed 

and co-led by NHS staff. Support 

will be tailored to the individual 

needs of the NHS organisations 

and their workforces, 

supplementing existing support 

provided to staff. 

After a period of co-design with 

NHS staff, NHS England and 

others throughout the summer, 

the charity will invite NHS 

charities in partnership with 

their associated NHS Trusts or 

Health Boards to apply for grants 

from the Autumn. The impact of 

projects will be monitored and 

evaluated so that learnings can 

be shared and scaled across 

the UK. 

NHS charities, which provide 

extra support in every NHS 

trust and health board across 

the UK, have a successful track 

record in making a difference 

to staff and patients, with 

over 90% of the thousands of 

projects NHS Charities Together 

funded during the pandemic 

through the network of NHS 

charities continuing to have a 

lasting impact. 

Ellie Orton OBE, CEO of NHS 

Charities Together, said: 

“NHS staff work under immense 

pressure with unprecedented 

staff shortages and vacancies 

and the extra help we provide 

to support their wellbeing and 

mental health is now more 

important than ever. The NHS 

needs to be able to attract and 

retain the caring workforce to 

look after the ageing population 

and meet the growing needs 

of the public, who face more 

complex and long-term 

conditions than ever before. 

“There’s lot of work going on 

across Trusts to support the 

wellbeing and mental health of 

NHS staff but more needs to be 

done. We’re delighted that NHS 

England has matched our £5m 

investment in support across 

England, and we are also putting 

proportionate investment across 

the devolved nations. We have 

ambitions for this programme 

to grow so that we can make 

sure we continue to deliver this 

important and much-needed 

support for as long as it’s 

needed.” 

Amanda Pritchard, Chief 

Executive of NHS England said: 

“Our hardworking NHS staff are 

busier than ever but go the extra 

mile for patients every day, so it’s 

right that we look to do everything 

we can as employers to support 

their health and wellbeing. 

“As part of our NHS Long 

Term Workforce Plan every 

local employer should have a 

comprehensive offer for their 

staff to help them stay well and 

stay within the health service, but 

this new programme will support 

those small, extra improvements 

which staff tell us will make a big 

difference to their working lives. 

“Charities have played an 

important role alongside the 

NHS throughout our 76-year 

history, and it’s great to take 

that relationship to the next 

level with this first-of-its-kind 

national partnership, with thanks 

to NHS Charities Together and 

all those who have donated or 

raised funds.” 

One example of where previous 

rounds of funding are having a 

lasting impact on staff wellbeing 

is expanding and renovating the 

faith facilities at Royal Bolton 

Hospital in recognition of the role 

spiritual wellbeing plays in staff 

experience and satisfaction. 

Revd. Neville Markham, Head 

Chaplain at Bolton NHS 

Foundation Trust, said: 

“The original prayer rooms were 

no longer adequately serving 

the needs of hospital staff and 

patients, so the new facilities have 

been transformational. Everyone 

is just so pleased to have the 

space they always wanted. 

Colleagues consistently tell us 

the quality of the faith facilities 

conveys a powerful message 

about how the Trust values and 

cares for them, and that positivity 

ripples back into the care and 

services they provide to patients, 

families and communities.” 

Tahira Hussain, Volunteer 

Chaplain at Bolton NHS 

Foundation Trust, added: 

“We live in a fast-paced 

world. The things you see and 

experience through the day 

can take their toll, so having 

this space gives people chance 

to take some time out. Visiting 

for the first time, I actually felt 

special. The fact that someone 

had made the effort to provide 

a facility for me to reflect, to 

prayer, to connect, makes a 

massive difference.” 

Another example is the Oasis 

Health and Wellbeing Centre and 

Garden in Berkshire - a central, 

vital wellbeing hub for NHS staff. 

Jointly funded by the Royal Berks 

Charity and the Royal Berkshire 

NHS Foundation Trust, and 

supported by a grant from NHS 

Charities Together, it offers a 

range of activities and services 

aimed at promoting staff health 

and wellbeing. 

Don Fairley, Chief People 

Officer at Royal Berkshire NHS 

Foundation Trust, said: 

“The Oasis Health and Wellbeing 

Centre and Garden includes a 

free gym, wellbeing classes and 

a vibrant green space where 

staff can relax and unwind. 

The centre is also used for 

events to reward and recognise 

staff and promote inclusivity, 

recently commemorating 

International Day of the Midwife 

and hosting our cultural diversity 

celebration event. 

“The Oasis campus also 

provides staff health checks and 

counselling services, which can 

be a lifeline. One member of staff 

was able to access invaluable 

help and understanding and 

face to face counselling which 

prevented them from self-harming 

and potentially going on to take 

their own life. We’ve seen a 40% 

increase in positive responses 

to staff surveys regarding our 

support for health and wellbeing 

since the campus opened, with 

RBFT now proudly one of the 

top-performing acute NHS Trusts 

in this area. With over 3,400 staff 

accessing the centre and garden 

over 36,000 times in 2023 alone, 

its role in boosting staff wellbeing, 

and consequently enhancing 

patient care, is clear.” 



27

IN PERSON 

delivered an overall ‘good’ rating for the last 

inspection of the CQC, including ‘outstanding’ 

for caring and well led. 

He is also a founder member of the Zero 

Suicide Alliance and was awarded the 

Commander of the Order of the British 

Empire (CBE) in the New Year’s Honours 

List 2020 for his work on suicide prevention. 

He became an honorary professor at the 

University of Liverpool Institute for Population 

Health Sciences the following year, followed 

by the award of the Bicentenary Fellowship at 

Liverpool John Moores University in 2023. 

Mr Rafferty was key to establishing a 

partnership between Mersey Care and the 

University of Liverpool to create the Mental 

Health Research for Innovation Centre 


Professor Joe Rafferty 

CBE Steps Down as Chief 

Executive at Mersey Care 

Professor Joe Rafferty CBE is to retire on 

31 October 2024 as Chief Executive Officer 

at Mersey Care, having transformed the 

organisation into one of the largest and 

successful mental and community health 

trusts in the country during his 12 years 

in charge. 

Since taking over as Chief Executive in 

2012, Mersey Care has almost tripled in size 

through acquisitions while maintaining or 

growing its performance. The Trust has also 

been internationally recognised for its work in 

restorative just and learning practices, suicide 

prevention and a leader in digital and data 

led innovation. Mr Rafferty’s retirement ends 

34 years within the NHS, following an earlier 

career in cancer research. 

Mersey Care will now undertake a robust 

recruitment process to identify Mr Rafferty’s 

successor, which will begin immediately. This 

involves engagement with various stakeholder 

panels representing external partners, 

service users and carers and staff prior to 

an interview with the Trust’s Chair, Non- 

Executive Directors and external assessors. 

The preferred candidate will also be subject 

to a range of pre-employment checks and 

the Leadership Competency Framework for 

Board Members. 

“Helping Mersey Care to evolve into the 

organisation it is today has been an absolute 

joy and one of the highlights of my working 

life, however it has been a lot of hard work 

for the whole team who have been brilliant to 

work alongside,” said Mr Rafferty. 

“Although in a lot of ways I am sad to be 

leaving Mersey Care, I’m pleased to handover 

an organisation that is in good shape, with 

a talented and committed workforce and 

an Executive Group capable of leading it 

through the undoubtedly challenging times 

ahead. I feel the time is right for me to 

explore new opportunities and make way for 

others to lead Mersey Care through a period 

of consolidation.” 

During Mr Rafferty’s time in charge, Mersey 

Care has transformed its estate by building 

Clock View Hospital, Rowan View Hospital, 

Hartley Hospital, Aspen Wood, renovating 

Leigh Moss Hospital and are currently 

working on building a state-of-the-art mental 

health hospital on the site of the former 

Mossley Hill Hospital, investing a total of circa 

£300 million. 

Under his tenure he has also faced significant 

challenges like leadership of Cheshire & 

Merseyside out of hospital response to the 

COVID-19 pandemic, acquiring the former and 

troubled Liverpool Community Health, North 

West Boroughs Health Care NHS Foundation 

Trust, and acquisition and transfer of services 

at Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation 

Trust. The bigger Mersey Care Trust still 

(M-RIC), a ground-breaking research facility 

based in Liverpool and funded by the National 

Institute for Health and Care Research which 

aims to impact directly on NHS mental health 

services. Mr Rafferty’s lasting impact and 

influence has been further reflected by the 

Health Service Journal (HSJ) consistently 

naming him in their list of the Health Service’s 

top 50 CEOs over many years. 

Mersey Care’s Chair, Rosie Cooper, said: “I’ve 

been fortunate enough to know and work with 

Joe a long time, going back to my days as the 

MP for West Lancashire. For as long as I have 

known him and especially throughout his work 

here at Mersey Care, he has shown what a 

remarkable leader, innovator and strategic 

thinker he is, always striving for a better way of 

doing things which benefits patients, service 

users and carers. 

“Mersey Care, like much of the NHS, has 

faced a lot of challenges in recent years; the 

COVID-19 pandemic, the independent review 

into Liverpool Community Health and the 

constant pressures on the health and care 

system. Throughout these difficult times, Joe 

has demonstrated his great knowledge and 

expertise, receiving widespread acclaim for 

his work in forging a path for Mersey Care. 

His presence and personality will be greatly 

missed within Mersey Care and the NHS 

Leadership community, and I wish him well 

in retirement.” 

28 


IN PERSON 

Appointment of new Chief 

Digital Information Officer 

for Yorkshire Ambulance 

Service 

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has 

appointed Sam Robinson to the role of 

Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO) 

following the recent retirement of Simon 

Marsh, the previous post-holder. 

Sam will be joining YAS in June from NHS 

England, where she is currently Associate 

Director for Live Services. 

The CDIO leads the Trust’s information 

technology and business intelligence teams. 

Speaking of her appointment, Sam said: “I 

am absolutely delighted to be taking up the 

role of CDIO with YAS. I’m looking forward 

to ensuring technology and data play an 

important role in delivering the Trust’s recently 

launched five-year strategy, enabling teams at 

YAS to deliver great patient care. 

“Through my most recent role at NHS Digital 

(now NHS England), I am responsible for 

ensuring critical national infrastructure and 

digital services that support the wider NHS 

are highly available and well run, and this 

experience of running national systems will be 

incredibly valuable in my role at YAS.” 

Steve Irving retires after 

40-year career in the NHS 

Ambulance Sector 

The Association of Ambulance Chief 

Executives (AACE) has announced the 

formal retirement of its long-serving 

executive officer Steve Irving, following a 

distinguished 40-year career in the NHS 

ambulance sector. 

Steve - or ‘Mr ALF’ as he has become 

affectionately known in recent years due to 

his direction and management of AACE’s 

prestigious annual Ambulance Leadership 

Forum (ALF) event - will retire fully from his 

role on 24 May 2024 but may still occasionally 

provide consultancy support to AACE. 

Steve joined London Ambulance Service 

as a trainee on 21 May 1984, initially based 

in Wimbledon, London and eventually 

undertaking extensive front line clinical roles 

including secondments as both a Helicopter 

Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and 

motorcycle paramedic working across the 

capital city. 

He rose to prominence as executive officer to 

Peter Bradley CBE, the former chief executive 

of London Ambulance Service and National 

Ambulance Advisor to the (then) Department 

of Health. For Steve, this led to positions 

in national roles for the former Ambulance 

Service Association 

national roles, most recently with AACE. 

“His personal integrity and commitment to 

the development of patient care and the 

ambulance workforce have underpinned 

his many successes to date, perhaps most 

notably progressing our prestigious annual 

ALF event from scratch into the exciting affair 

it is today. Steve has been a phenomenal 

team member who will be missed daily. Thank 

you Steve for your service and we wish you all 

the very best in your retirement.” 

Going forward, Assistant Director of AACE 

Helen Vine will be responsible for the 

production of the annual ALF event. She says: 

“Steve will be a hard act to follow but we are 

confident we now have the foundations of a 

great event that we will continue to invest time 

and resources in to develop and progress to 

the benefit of our delegates and sponsors. 

For enquiries, please contact a member of the 

ALF team via ALF@aace.org.uk.” 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive at YAS, said: 

“We look forward to welcoming Sam when 

she joins us in a few months to lead on digital 

technology and business intelligence services. 

Sam’s knowledge, skills and experience 

will be essential to ensure we have the right 

support and systems in place to deliver our 

new five-year strategy for our communities.” 

Ms Robinson has worked in health information 

technology for almost 20 years across 

Yorkshire and the Humber, in the NHS, public 

and private organisations, including Yorkshire 

and Humber Strategic Health Authority, 

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and with 

Leeds-based technology organisation Answer 

Digital. She is a board member of Women 

in Leeds Digital (WILD), aimed at bringing 

more diversity into technology roles, as well 

as a trustee for the Children’s Heart Surgery 

Fund charity. 

(ASA), the former Ambulance Service Network 

(ASN) and since its inception in 2011, AACE. 

Steve has undertaken a varied remit at AACE, 

with extensive experience of working on 

national strategic issues across ambulance 

services, government departments and 

alongside key stakeholders. Aside from 

progressing ALF into being the key event in 

the annual ambulance service event calendar, 

another of Steve’s key successes has been 

supporting the Joint Royal Colleges Liaison 

Committee (JRCALC) in the development 

of the JRCALC Guidelines, which have 

benefitted millions of patients across the UK. 

Anna Parry, Managing Director of AACE, said: 

“During a distinguished career working in 

the NHS ambulance sector, Steve has made 

a tremendous contribution to patient care 

both locally across London and in his various 



29

COMPANY NEWS 

people have been secured, and 

injury risks for many users have 

been dramatically reduced. 

This success is due to the 

challenges we the Ambulance 

Service set for them, which 

they embrace wholeheartedly. 

So, what’s NEW? 

With amazing developments 

track that eliminates the need 

for lifting. Having successfully 

passed trials, tests, and 

evaluations, this chair is ready for 

your fleet. It excels in front-line 

services, urgent care, complex 

discharges, and patient transport 

services (PTS). Its design allows 

it to navigate tight areas, stairs, 

thresholds, and even challenging 

garden paths effortlessly. 

just over the Horizon FERNO is 

thrilled about future innovations 

Further Innovations 

52 years of 

FERNO Ambulance 

Equipment 

FERNO has been a leader in 

patient transportation for over 

52 years in the UK. Starting 

primarily with ambulance 

stretchers and carry chairs, 

they evolved into major patient 

transfer experts, developing 

transportation and handling 

equipment for individuals of 

all sizes and all ages. Every 

minute of every day, their 

equipment is in use, and they 

take great pride in knowing 

countless lives have been 

saved, vulnerable and injured 

for the interior of ambulances, 

ushering in the next phase of 

patient transport safety and 

user experience. 

BUT Today they introduce the 

NEW COMPACT PowerTraxx 

FERNO is especially excited 

to announce the COMPACT 

PowerTraxx, an affordable power 

stair chair for every ambulance. 

Based on the Compact Range 

of Carry Chairs, this new 

development features a powered 

Alongside the NEW COMPACT 

PowerTraxx, the latest VIPER 

Ambulance Stretcher and VLS 

(Viper Loading System) eliminate 

the need for a tail-lift or ramp 

to load patients onto your 

ambulance. These innovations 

offer significant weight savings 

and a simpler operational 

process, transforming the 

EMS landscape. 

For a DEMONSTRATION 

call +44 (0)1274 851 999 or 

email salesuk@ferno.com 

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. 


All submissions should be forwarded to info@mediapublishingcompany.com 

If you have any queries please contact the publisher Terry Gardner via: 

info@mediapublishingcompany.com 

30 


NEWSLINE 

• 

Join us at the South 

Western Ambulance 

Service where the 

beauty and diversity of 

our region is endless and 

so are the opportunities 

to thrive in your role 

About us 

The outstanding beauty, culture and diversity of our region 

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

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

At the heart of this varied landscape, diverse population 

and wealth of history we employ over 6000 people and are 

supported by over 575 volunteers, serving a population that 

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

What we can offer you 

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

clinically advanced service, whilst equipping you with the 

skills, resources and development you need to help you 

thrive in your role. 

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

our people and you will have opportunities to progress and 

enjoy continuous professional development. 

With annual performance and wellbeing conversations and 

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

matches your ambitions. 

So contact us today and start 

your journey with SWASFT 

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



31

ACCUVAC Pro 

Mobile Suction Device For Clear Airways 

Introducing ACCUVAC Pro: the advanced portable suction device for pre-hospital care. Designed for rapid 

airway clearance and effective ventilation, operating efficiently in and out of emergency vehicles. Choose 

ACCUVAC Pro for reliable and efficient emergency care: 

• High suction capacity of approx. 34 l/min at -0.8 bar for efficient clearing of the airways 

• Four predefined suction levels for adults, children and infants allowing quick and easy deployment 

• Optional accessories bag, protective bag and/or shoulder strap 

• Daily function test eliminates the need for annual service 

• Efficient deflation of vacuum mattresses and splints 

• Long-lasting lithium-ion battery with tool-free replacement 

Learn more: 

Scan the QR code with your phone camera 

and click the link, or visit: uqr.to/1sr2v 

www.theortusgroup.com

Ambulance UK June 2024

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