Due a technical fault – this window wouldn’t open yesterday – but today you get to open two windows!
Name:
Nick Crombie
Job Title:
Medical Emergency Response Intervention Team (MERIT) Trauma Doctor and Clinical Lead for Midlands Air Ambulance
Base:
Cosford Air Ambulance Base / HART Base, Oldbury
Length of service:
7 years
Role within WMAS:
I provide pre hospital care to patients at the scene of serious incidents and offer support to ambulance crews across the Region. On a day shift, MERIT responds to 999 calls with a paramedic on the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and at night we revert to four wheels and respond from a base Oldbury. MERIT is predominantly geared towards major trauma cases and complex injuries where the focus shifts to getting the right medical care to the patient rather than getting the patient to the right care. As a MERIT doctor I’m able to give patients more advanced treatment at the roadside including anaesthesia, surgery and advanced painkillers, further enhancing the treatment given by ambulance crews. I’m responded to patients with severe or complex injuries, prolonged incidents or those with multiple casualties such as high speed road traffic collisions, industrial accidents, stabbings and shootings.
Christmas day plans:
This Christmas I’ll be spending it at home with my family…..however I may end up at a 999 call if there’s an incident nearby as I’m a MARS (Mercia Accident Rescue Service) BASICS doctor and respond in my spare time for the ambulance service.
Top tip for winter:
You might be quicker visiting your pharmacy.
When it comes to deciding where to access the NHS, lots of people underestimate the range of knowledge that your local pharmacist can offer. They are able to provide a whole range of help and advice on things like the best over the counter medication for common winter complaints such as coughs and colds. If you let them know about any medication you are already taking they will advise on remedies that will suit your condition. They can also advise you about the common remedies that it would be worth keeping in your medicine cabinet: everything from pain relief, to antiseptic cream and plasters for minor cuts. They are a great place to go in advance of becoming ill so that you don’t have to drag yourself out whilst suffering from a cold. You can find out which pharmacies are close to you by visiting http://www.nhs.uk