Month: October 2018

Over the weekend, the life of Glenn Hoddle was saved by the quick actions of a sound engineer who started CPR and used a defibrillator  when the former England international footballer suffered a cardiac arrest.

Each year, West Midlands Ambulance Service attends about 4,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests.  Sadly, only about 7% of those people will survive!  It’s a shocking figure, especially when in some countries like Denmark, the figure is around 25%.  Why? Simple, the number of people who know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and are prepared to act is too small.  It’s even more tragic when you consider how easy it is to do.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts.  The patient will be unconscious and their heart won’t be beating – they are clinically dead and will stay that way unless someone is prepared to do something.

Giving CPR buys the patient time, so the ambulance service can get there.  You can’t hurt the person; doing something can only help.  For every minute after the patient’s heart has stopped, their chance of survival drops by 10%, so you can see why time is of the essence.

Community Response Manager Cliff Medlicott says: “While yes, it might be scary,  easy it is easy to be a #lifesaver:

While CPR can buy you time, it is the use of a defibrillator that will get save the patient.  There are now thousands of AEDS – automatic external defibrillators  – in the community.  You’ve probably seen them at airports, railway stations, but increasingly on the walls of village shops, supermarkets and even old telephone boxes.

The question is; do you know where your nearest #defib is?  If not, make sure you find out as your life, or the life of a loved one could depend on it.

Senior paramedic Nick Henry says: “I can only speak personally, but saving a life is the most incredible experience; knowing that your actions mean someone will get to spend time with their loved ones when they wouldn’t otherwise have had that chance.

“You don’t need any training to use an AED; they actually tell you what to do, so please take the time to find the closest device to your home and work at least and you could save a life:

A cardiac can strike anyone at any time: it could be a loved one, a friend, a complete stranger.  If you know what to do, you could help save their life.  Why would you not want to learn how to do CPR?  It doesn’t take long to learn and there are courses all over the place.

Tuesday 30^th October 2018 – 10.30am – Claire Brown.

We’re appealing for help to identify an individual who broke into an ambulance and stole personal belongings on Sunday night whilst the crew were inside a property treating a patient.

The incident happened on Frankley Beeches Road at the junction of Egghill Lane in Northfield, Birmingham at around 9.00pm on Sunday 28^th October. The ambulance crew were treating a patient inside a nearby property and returned to their locked ambulance to find the driver’s side window had been smashed and a variety of personal items stolen including an iPhone.

Nathan Hudson, the Trust’s Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, said: “I cannot begin to understand why someone would do this to an emergency blue lighted vehicle which has the sole responsibility of helping people. It really does make you question the morals of some people. This despicable crime has meant an ambulance is off the road and unable to respond to 999 calls whilst it’s being repaired; money which would’ve been better spent elsewhere in the service to help respond to patients.

“It is unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are there to help people in their hour of need, are made to suffer by members of the public. Any type of attack against our staff and our vehicles will not be tolerated. I am just thankful that, on this occasion, my staff weren’t hurt. If you are able to help to solve this crime, please come forward.”

The Trust has released CCTV footage, captured by the ambulance’s external cameras, in the hope that it helps to identify the individual. If you have any information about this incident, witnessed anything suspicious at the time or recognise this individual, please contact West Midlands Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime number 20BW-249810Q/18.

ENDS

Monday 22^nd October 2018 – 2.50pm – Murray MacGregor.

One cyclist has died and another has been injured after an incident involving an HGV.

It happened close to the junction of the A449 and Manor Lane, Waresley to the south of Kidderminster at about 11.00am this morning (Monday).

Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a doctor and critical care paramedic on board, were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “A police vehicle was only seconds away after the collision had happened.  In addition, an off-duty paramedic and the crew of a WMAS non-emergency patient transport vehicle all stopped to provide assistance.

“Sadly, despite all of the efforts, it was not possible to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“The second cyclist was treated at the scene before being taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further assessment and continued treatment.

“The lorry driver was uninjured.”

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Monday 22^nd October 2018 – 11.15am – Murray MacGregor.

A pedestrian has suffered potentially life-threatening injuries after a collision with a car.

It happened on Chester Road in the Castle Vale area of Birmingham at just before 9.10am this morning.

An ambulance came across the incident four minutes after the call and was backed up by a second ambulance, the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance with a doctor on board.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found a woman who had suffered very serious injuries.

“She was treated on scene by ambulance staff and the doctor before being taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by land ambulance; the doctor travelled with the ambulance.

“The woman driving the car was shaken but wasn’t injured.”

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Friday 19^th October 2018 – 7.30pm – Murray MacGregor.

One woman has died and another has been seriously hurt after a two car collision.

It happened on the A3400 London Road, just to the south of Shipston on Stour near the cemetery at about 3.30pm on Friday afternoon.

An ambulance, two paramedic officers from West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and a rapid response vehicle from South Western Ambulance Service attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, members of the public were performing resuscitation on one of the drivers.

“Ambulance staff immediately took over and provided advanced clinical care, but sadly it was not possible to save the woman and she was confirmed dead at the scene

“The other driver, also a woman, suffered serious injuries. After being assessed and treated at the scene, she was airlifted to the major trauma centre at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.”

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Wednesday 17^th October 2018 – 10.38am – Murray MacGregor.

A bus driver is being praised for ensuring all of his passengers were off the vehicle after the double decker caught fire.

The incident happened at just after 9.00am this morning near the junction of Gibbet Hill Road and Kenilworth Road in Coventry, beside the University of Warwick Campus.

An ambulance and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “When the driver noticed the smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment of his bus, he stopped immediately and then made sure that all the passengers were off before leaving the vehicle himself.

“Due to his swift action, he was the only casualty, suffering from smoke inhalation.

“After treatment at the scene, he was taken to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire for further monitoring.

“There seems little doubt that his actions ensured the situation was not considerably more serious.”

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(Information given with driver’s consent)

 

Wednesday 17^th October 2018 – 9.55am – Murray MacGregor.

An elderly man on a mobility scooter has suffered serious injuries after a collision involving two vehicles.

The incident happened on West Way in Stafford at just after 7.10pm on Tuesday evening.

An ambulance, a paramedic officer, the MERIT Trauma Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic and a BASICS Emergency Doctor were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found an elderly man who had suffered serious injuries.

“He received advanced clinical care at the scene before being taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital; both doctors and the critical care paramedic travelled with the ambulance to provide advanced clinical care en-route.

“There were no other patients.”

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Friday 12^th October 2018 – 4.00pm – Claire Brown.

Two men have been taken to hospital after a collision involving two HGVs in Coventry this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the A45 Birmingham Road, Coventry at 1.20pm (Friday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The emergency services arrived on scene to find a collision involving two HGVs. The driver of one vehicle, a man, was seriously injured and received trauma care by the team of ambulance staff on scene before being taken by land ambulance on blue lights to a major trauma centre.

“The second driver, a man, sustained minor injuries and was taken to the same hospital for further checks.”

ENDS

 

 

 

Thursday 11^th October 2018 – 11.28am – Murray MacGregor.

A motorcyclist received advanced clinical care at the scene of a crash.

The incident happened on Hanley Road in the Sneyd Green area of Stoke on Trent at just before 8.00pm on Wednesday evening.

Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a BASICS Emergency Doctor from the North Staffordshire Scheme were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found the rider of a motorbike in the road.

“There was damage to the offside of the car and the bike had come to rest against a bus shelter which had shattered.

“The man was assessed and treated at the scene by the ambulance staff and doctor before being taken to the major trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The car driver was unhurt.”

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Thursday 11^th October 2018 – 9.00am – Murray MacGregor.

A motorcyclist has been airlifted to hospital after a collision with a car.

The incident happened at just after 6.00pm last night (Wednesday), close to the junction of the A4169 and B4379 at Kemberton, south east of Telford.

A rapid response vehicle, a paramedic officer, an ambulance and two air ambulances were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found a car and a motorbike that had both suffered significant damage.

“The rider of the motorbike had suffered potentially serious injuries.  He was being tended to by an off-duty nurse.

“The rider was assessed and treated on scene before being airlifted by the Midlands Air Ambulance from Staffordshire to the major trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“The car driver was uninjured.”

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Tuesday 9^th October 2018 – 9.45am – Murray MacGregor.

For over a decade, all paramedics in the West Midlands have been educated and trained at university; the Trust also undertakes world leading research with a number of universities; so it is perhaps fitting that West Midlands Ambulance Service is set to become the first ambulance University NHS Foundation Trust in the country.

In a ground breaking move, the Trust is working with the University of Wolverhampton to become the first university ambulance service.  As a result, the Trust is engaging with stakeholders, patients and the public on changing the organisation’s name to West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust.

Currently the Trust works closely with four universities in the education of paramedics: University of Wolverhampton, University of Worcester; Staffordshire University and Coventry University.

The Trust also undertakes a great deal of research with a range of institutions including the University of Warwick, University of Birmingham; University of Sheffield; University of Nottingham; and Swansea University as well as other health organisations.

Trust Chairman, Sir Graham Meldrum, said: “Our work with the universities is producing tangible benefits for the Trust, our staff and ultimately benefits our patients.  We are therefore planning to introduce the title of “University” into the organisation’s name.

“The Trust works in partnership with universities to further develop education, training and research opportunities that take the ambulance sector into the future.  This is an exciting development and one that allows us to articulate our position in the ambulance sector going forward.

“We have a significant role to play in the education and training of our current and future workforce, contribute to the research and evidence base to develop the paramedic profession, and extend our understanding of the urgent and emergency care needs in the pre-hospital environment.”

The cost of implementation is minimal.  The Trust will not be rebranding its fleet or buildings except when they would have been replaced in any case.  For example, to maintain our commitment to having no vehicle over five years old, about 20% of our ambulances are replaced each year.  Only as new vehicles are brought in would the name be changed.  In addition, we don’t use pre-printed headed paper, so there’s no cost for stationery.

If the outcome of the consultation is positive, the Trust will initially sign an agreement with the University of Wolverhampton which would include the permission to use the title university in the Trust name.

Geoff Layer, Vice Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are delighted to be working with West Midlands Ambulance Service to strengthen their links with our University and the wider university network.

“Our own work will see us significantly increase the number of graduate paramedics we are training and together we plan to establish a Research & Development Hub, clinical research, major incident planning and response research and other associated training, accreditation and development.

“In the view of our Board of Governors, this memorandum is an excellent development that recognises our close working relationship with WMAS but also the very significant work that the Trust undertakes within the university field for the benefit of staff and patients alike.”

WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “We now have an opportunity to formally recognise the role we play both in the education of paramedics and research activities to advance paramedic science.

“In addition, we think that the term University in our name will convey the fact that paramedics have become a graduate profession and make it more attractive as a career to a wider range of the community.

“Most importantly, it will help our patients, our local population and stakeholders to see the vital links between health, education and research which lead to better outcomes for us all.”

Trust Interim Medical Director, Dr Alison Walker added: “We already have an extensive research portfolio, participating in work that is of international significance, and we see that work developing further over time.  This has included studies into the use of adrenaline in cardiac arrests; the use of pre-hospital blood products for traumatic haemorrhage; the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in a prehospital setting for patients with acute respiratory failure; and the use of GTN in patients with hyperacute stroke.

“The move to become a University Foundation Trust articulates, emphasises and recognises the work that we undertake with universities in this region and across the country and shows the ever greater focus on training and research.”

WMAS Director of Workforce and Organisational Development, Kim Nurse, said: “We have been the leading ambulance service in the development of paramedics through a university process.  Our close partnerships and collaborations mean that over the last decade, literally thousands of students have undertaken placements with the Trust as they learn their profession.  Currently over 700 student paramedics are being trained with more than 400 more entering full time study.”

The Trust will also look to increase its ties with each of the other West Midlands based universities that it already works with.

Under NHS England guidance, the Trust is required to check with stakeholders that the proposed new name will not conflict or be confused with the names of neighbouring NHS organisations or services, and that the proposed new name is clear and understandable.  Please consider the above information and let us know your thoughts by Friday 26 October 2018.

If you are content with the proposed name change, you may wish to respond using this form of words:

I have considered the plans for renaming the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and confirm that the proposed new name is clear and understandable.

However you wish to respond, please send your comments to:

Email: haveyoursay@wmas.nhs.uk

Post: Have Your Say, West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Millennium Point, Waterfront Way, Brierley Hill, Dudley, DY5 1LX

 

FAQs

Are we trying to become a university?

No, we will continue to be an NHS Foundation Trust.  This move just enforces the close working relationship we have with a range of universities across the region.

Will you be taken over by the University of Wolverhampton?

No, we will continue to operate in exactly the same way as we do.  This is a simple name change which is aimed to show the importance we give to the education of our staff.

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Tuesday 9^th October 2018 – 8.50am – Claire Brown.

Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care to a man at the scene of a serious RTC last night in Coventry.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of an RTC involving a car and a pedestrian in St James Lane, Willenhall, Coventry shortly after 7.20pm yesterday (Monday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived at the scene they found a pedestrian, a man, in a serious condition being given excellent first aid by bystanders. Crews took over emergency care on scene before transferring the man by ambulance on blue lights to hospital. The man was said to be in a critical condition upon arrival at hospital.

“Police are appealing for witnesses to contact 101, quoting 2251 from 8^th October.”

 

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Monday 8^th October 2018 – 9.15am – Murray MacGregor.

Four people have been hurt after a car left the road and ended up in a field.

The incident happened on the A49 near the Shrewsbury Golf Club at Condover at around 2.30am this morning, Monday.

A total of four ambulances, a paramedic officer and a critical care paramedic were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “One man and one woman suffered potentially serious injuries.  They were assessed and treated at the scene before both being taken to the major trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“Two other women were treated at the scene for their injuries before being taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment.”

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Monday 8^th October 2018 – 8.40am – Murray MacGregor.

A man has died after an incident on the M6 in the early hours of this morning.

It happened on the northbound carriageway between junction 2 and 3.

Two ambulances and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene after a call at just before 4.40am, this morning, Monday.

An ambulance service spokesman said: “On arrival, sadly it was clear that nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“A man from a light goods vehicle was assessed but was discharged.  A number of other motorists at the scene were uninjured.”

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Monday 8^th October 2018 – 8.28am – Murray MacGregor.

Despite advanced life support at the scene, sadly it was not possible to save the life of a man who was involved in what West Midlands Police have described as a hit-and-run incident.

It happened in Allesley Old Road in the Earlsdon area of Coventry at about 7.50pm on Sunday evening.

An ambulance, a paramedic officer, the MERIT Trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and a BASICS Emergency Doctor were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance crews found a pedestrian who had received very serious injuries.

“Crews carried out advanced life support but sadly, despite all efforts, it wasn’t possible to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 999 quoting log 2482 of 7th October or contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Thursday 4^th October 2018 – 8.50am – Murray MacGregor.

A woman pedestrian has died after a crash involving two cars.

It happened at about 9.50pm on Wednesday evening outside the Sikh Temple in Waterloo Road, Smethwick.

Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, and the MERIT Trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were sent to the scene after a number of 999 phone calls about the incident.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found bystanders trying to assist the woman.

“Crews and the doctor performed advanced life support, but sadly it was not possible to save her, and she was confirmed dead at the scene.

“There were no other injuries.”

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If you were faced with someone who had gone into cardiac arrest, would you know what to do to help?  The reality is that every second counts in such situations.

Read More “Would you know how to restart a heart? Soon, 30,000 kids will”

Wednesday 3^rd October 2018 – 9.00am – Claire Brown.

A pedestrian needed advanced trauma care from West Midlands Ambulance Service staff following a road traffic collision last night in Birmingham.

The service received a 999 call from West Midlands Police control room reporting an RTC involving a car and a pedestrian at the junction of Genners Lane and Long Nuke Road, Northfield shortly before 11.50pm last night (Tuesday).

Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor responded to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance staff arrived to find a pedestrian, a man believed to be in his 50s, with serious injuries. The man received advanced trauma care from the doctor and team of ambulance staff on scene who worked to stabilise his condition before conveying him on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further emergency care.”

ENDS

Tuesday 2^nd October 2018 – 8.00pm – Murray MacGregor.

Three men have been treated by ambulance service staff for stab wounds after an incident in Birmingham City Centre.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received multiple call to three different locations all in close proximity to the High Street at 5.45pm.

Three ambulances, two paramedic officers, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car, the MERIT Trauma doctor and four other BASICS Emergency Doctors were immediately mobilised.

However, on arrival, a number of those resources were stood down as the injuries were not as serious as first thought.

The men were treated at each of the three locations.  One had suffered serious injuries, the other two less serious.  All three were taken to hospital.

Witnesses are asked to contact West Midlands Police via live chat at www.west-midlands.polic.uk between 8am and midnight, call 101 anytime or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 giving log number 1842 of 2^nd October.

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