Month: August 2020

Claire Brown – Friday 28^th August 2020 – 12.30pm.

A woman received advanced trauma care by ambulance staff after a collision involving a car in Wolverhampton this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Birches Barn Road in Wolverhampton at 8.32am (Friday). An ambulance, a paramedic officer, a critical care paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a MERIT trauma doctor on board attended the scene. The air ambulance landed in nearby Bantock Park; the aircrew were collected and dropped off at the scene by the police.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The pedestrian, a woman, was being given care by police and bystanders when ambulance crews arrived. She had sustained very serious and potentially life changing injuries. The team of ambulance staff worked together to administer trauma care to her at the scene. Once stable, the woman was taken by land ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.”

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Murray MacGregor – Thursday 27^th August 2020 – 2.10pm.

They go to some of the most serious and time critical cases in the West Midlands and now you can see how they work with ambulance crews to save lives.

On Monday evening at 9.00pm on Channel 5, the critical care paramedics and doctors who work with West Midlands Ambulance Service and Midlands Air Ambulance will be featured in a brand new series called ‘Ambulance: Code Red’.

Filmed before the corona virus pandemic, the series follows the staff as they support the ambulance crews at the scene.  It looks at the critical care paramedics who operate on a car during the day and then the MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic team who fly on the Midlands Air Ambulance based at RAF Cosford during the day and operate on a rapid response vehicle at night.

In the first episode, the teams work to treat a man who suffered a fit and went into cardiac arrest; a child who has been knocked over by a car; a woman who has been thrown from her horse onto a concrete path; an elderly woman who has fallen over in her home badly breaking her ankle; and a car that somersaulted and collided with a lamppost.

West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “This programme gives a real insight into the support that our CCPs and doctors can give to our ambulance crews who are dealing with some of the most complex patients.

“It demonstrates how they work with the crews on scene to use their enhanced skills to benefit patients.  Without the work of the staff on scene, the teams wouldn’t be able to use those skills, so it really is all about working together.

“The teams provide critical care at the scene that save lives, brains and limbs, including pre-hospital surgery and pre-hospital anaesthesia.”

Critical Care Paramedic Tom Waters, who is featured throughout the series added: “It’s a really challenging role but really rewarding.  We work with the staff in our control rooms to make sure patients get to the specialist care they need for example major trauma centres and cardiac care units, often bypassing the local hospital.

“Our role is very much to work alongside ambulance crews, not take over from them.  By working with them, we are able to ensure patients get the best are possible.”

Ian Roberts, Air Operations Manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Ambulance Code Red shows a unique insight into the work of a critical care team within the Midlands.

“The pre-hospital doctors and critical care paramedics on-board the helicopters and critical care cars bring specialist skills, advanced medicines and procedures to an incident scene and work together with colleagues in the ambulance service to give the patients the very best chance of recovery and survival.”

Notes to Editors:

About Midlands Air Ambulance Charity:
COVID-19: During the continuing coronavirus pandemic, we have been working with the regional NHS community, including West Midlands Ambulance Service, providing clinical resource and specialist medical equipment to support frontline services.

Who are we? Midlands Air Ambulance serves the largest air ambulance region in the UK. This includes the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire; representing a population in excess of six million.

What do we do? The charity responds to an average of 3,000 missions each year. We re a helicopter-led service with over 2,000 of deployments being air missions. Were also have a fleet of Rapid Response Vehicles and two critical care cars. On average Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is one of the longest established and busiest air ambulance operators in the UK.

Our lifesaving service: The three air ambulance helicopters are based at Cosford airbase, near Shifnal Shropshire (covering Shropshire and the West Midlands), Tatenhill airbase, near Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire (covering Staffordshire and the West Midlands), and Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire (covering Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire).The charity’s three aircraft each carry a crew comprising a pilot, two paramedics or flight doctors plus full life-support medical equipment. The two critical care cars are based in Oldbury, West Midlands (serving the Birmingham and Black Country areas) and the charity’s Worcestershire airbase at Strensham. The charity’s cars each have one critical care paramedic on-board with full life-support medical equipment.

The Golden Hour: If a patient receives definitive care within 60 minutes of injury, their chances of survival are dramatically increased. All areas of the region are accessible in 19 minutes and 90% of the region is accessible within eight minutes.

The cost: Each year it costs in excess of £10 million just to keep the three charity helicopters operational. Each air ambulance mission costs £2,500 on average and each critical care car mission costs £224, which is entirely funded by the generosity of the general public and local businesses
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Claire Brown – Wednesday 19^th August 2020 – 9.20am.

A collision involving two cars near the Shropshire border last night has left three people needing hospital treatment.

The incident happened on the B4176 near Claverley shortly before 10.30pm last night (Tuesday). Three ambulances, a MERIT trauma doctor and two paramedic officers were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find three patients, two drivers and a passenger, requiring help from the ambulance service.

“One driver, a man, was out of the vehicle but had sustained serious injuries that needed trauma care by the MERIT team and ambulance crews. Once stabilised he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further emergency care.  

“The second driver, a man, was also out of his vehicle and was found with a number of injuries not believed to be serious. He was given treatment on scene before being conveyed to Russells Hall Hospital for checks. The passenger in the same car, a woman, was helped out of the vehicle by ambulance staff and fire colleagues. She had suffered serious injuries and was given trauma care on scene before also being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for onward care.”

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Murray MacGregor – Thursday 13^th August 2020 – 10.00am.

With football well and truly back, the West Midlands Ambulance Service team from Stoke Hub are set to take part in a new emergency services football league at a new stadium and in new kit.

The team will be playing their fixtures at the Emerys Stadium in Smallthorne, which is also the home of Stoke City Ladies FC.

Although the coronavirus pandemic put training on hold for a few weeks, the squad, which has been playing together for over 10 years, is stronger than it has ever been.

This year, they are delighted to be playing at a new ground.  Jonathan Goodwin, general manager of Emerys, said: “We like to support local people – especially those who are making a difference and supporting others in the community.”

As well as the support of a new ground, the team will be starting their season in a new strip, sponsored by Stafford based inflatable and aerial marketing company Bloon.

WMAS Stoke FC Manager, Paramedic Matt Harrison, said: “We’re very grateful to Mick Clewes, who is Chair of the ground, for his support. I met Mick when a colleague supported him through a medical emergency and he offered the club’s services for our home ground.

“Emerys sponsorship, along with that from our kit sponsor Bloon will give us an identity this year, making us feel part of a team as well as taking us to a higher level with our fundraising support for the community.”

Over the last ten years, the team has raised over £50,000 for charity including raising money in memory of midwife Samantha Eastwood and Phil Nadine who was a staff nurse in A & E at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Matt added: “The team gives staff at Stoke Hub the chance to socialise and focus on something outside of work, with the importance of fitness as well.

“Training has been going well ahead of our first match on 1st September.”

Pictured from left to right Andy Thyes, Mick Clewes, Jonathan Goodwin, Matt Harrison and Martin Wilshaw.

You can follow WMAS FC Stoke on their facebook page (@WMAS_fc_stoke), on twitter (@wmasfcstoke) and Instagram (@wmas_fc_stoke)

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Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 12^th August 2020 – 8.55am.

Three people have been taken to hospital, two to a major trauma centre, after a serious crash involving two cars and a lorry.

The incident happened at about 5.50pm on the A4440, Parsonage Way in the Warndon area of Worcester.

Three ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham, both with doctors on board were sent to the scene.  A non-emergency patient transport service ambulance crew that came across the incident also assisted at the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance crews found two cars with significant damage and a lorry further down the road.

“There were two people trapped in the first car.  The woman driver was rapidly extricated and given advanced trauma care at the scene before being taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham with serious injuries.  The doctor and critical care paramedic from the Strensham aircraft travelled with the patient.

“The man in the front passenger seat also had to be extricated.  He was taken by ambulance to the same hospital as a precaution due to the serious nature of the crash.  His injuries were less serious.

“The man driving the second car had managed to get out himself.  He was assessed at the scene for potentially serious injuries.  He was taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

“The lorry driver was not injured.”

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(Air Ambulances is a library picture)

Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 12^th August 2020 – 6.00am.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service Patient Transport Service (PTS) Manager has picked up a national award which recognises his ‘exceptional’ dedication to the job.

Azad Ali, who is Operations Manager on the Black Country non-emergency contract was awarded in the ‘Exceptional Manager’ category.

He was due to have been presented with the award at an event which takes place during the national Ambulance Leadership Forum, but sadly, the event had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The non-emergency Patient Transport Service (PTS) plays a key role in getting patients to and from their out-patient appointments and takes many more people home from hospital after a stay. Across the contracts we run, staff in PTS carry out about one million journeys each year.

The Trust has contracts in Birmingham, Black Country Partnership, Coventry and Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and West Birmingham and. throughout Cheshire and the Wirral.

The Trust employs nearly 900 PTS staff using more than 350 vehicles to get patients to and from their hospital appointments throughout the region and beyond, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Azad was nominated by Non-Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, Michelle Brotherton.  His citation read: “Azad has spent 11 years working in patient transport services (PTS) initially as a call taker before training as a controller.  Not content with that, in his spare time he trained as a patient carer    working PTS ambulance shifts.

“His patient facing skills, calm and assured   personality on the phone and an ability to juggle multiple competing priorities, led to promotion as discharge supervisor before becoming Worcestershire Operations Manager helping the contract to consistently exceed performance targets.

“Understanding both sides of the job means he is well suited to working with staff to solve challenges.

“As PTS ‘flu lead’, the Worcestershire Contract achieved the highest vaccination rate in the Trust in 2018-19.

“An integral part of the management team, he played a key role in improving the CQC rating for PTS services to Good.

“He thinks ‘patients first’ in everything he does; is liked by staff; while his passion for the job constantly shines through.

“I couldn’t be happier that his qualities have been recognised nationally.”

Azad added: “I am really pleased to have received this award and am grateful to have had my hard work recognised.

“Over the years I have received excellent support from senior managers and equally have a fantastic management team working for and with me.

“It is a pleasure to be part of WMAS and I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given.”

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Jordan Eggington – Tuesday 11^th August 2020 – 2.00pm.

A woman has sadly died, after a single vehicle RTC in Shropshire this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10:07am (Tuesday) to reports a car had crashed at the junction of River Lane and the A442 in Telford. We sent two ambulances and a paramedic officer to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When crews arrived, they found a car which was badly damaged from the RTC, with the driver, a woman, inside.

“Sadly, nothing could be done to save her, and she was confirmed deceased on scene.”

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Jordan Eggington – Tuesday 11^th August 2020 – 9.10am.

There have been no known patients involved in the fire at Tyseley Industrial Estate in Birmingham; a fire which colleagues at West Midlands Fire Service continue work on today.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 4:50pm yesterday (Monday) to reports of the fire at Seeleys Road in the city. The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) attended, along with two ambulances and four paramedic officers.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, crews liaised with fire colleagues to establish whether there were any patients to treat who were involved in the fire. No patients were found, with everyone from the building accounted for. As a result, the two ambulances were cleared from the scene to carry on treating other patients in the region.

“The remaining resources stayed on scene to provide medical cover for firefighters working within the midst of the fire with HART operatives, and to also conduct any welfare due to heat exhaustion.

“One of our HART paramedics used the team’s drone to assess the plume and magnitude of the blaze, to help fire and other services on scene gain perspective.

“Regular multi-agency meetings were held throughout the evening, to establish the plan for the following hours. After a meeting at 10pm, it was decided WMAS were no longer required on scene and crews were stood down.

“Although starting to slowly reduce, this fire at the plastics site is still ongoing. If you are in or around the Birmingham area, please continue to keep windows and doors closed as the fumes from this fire may be harmful. Thank you for your cooperation.”

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Jordan Eggington – Monday 10^th August 2020 – 9.25am.

West Midlands Ambulance Service has responded to a collision in Birmingham this morning which saw a van end up inside a house.

We were called at 7:14am (Monday) to reports a van had crashed into a property down a residential road in Northfield. The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) attended, along with two ambulances, one paramedic officer and the Critical Care Car.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When crews arrived at the scene, they found a single van which was inside the property. The driver, a woman, had managed to self-extricate through the back door of the van.

“She was treated for minor injuries before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.

“Crews also treated a child, who was inside the property at the time of the collision, for minor injuries and they were discharged at the scene.”

Picture: @KingsNortonFire

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Jordan Eggington – Monday 10^th August 2020 – 8.30am.

Seven people, including children, have been taken to hospital after the 4×4 they were in overturned on the M5 in Droitwich.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 3:23pm yesterday (Sunday) between junctions 6 and 5 of the M5 to reports a seven-seater 4×4 towing a caravan had overturned. The Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham attended, along with the Critical Care Car, four land ambulances and two paramedic officers.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When crews arrived, they found the 4×4 which was believed to have rolled up to three times before landing on its roof. The occupants of the vehicle claimed the caravan started to sway on the carriageway, causing the car to spin and rollover.

“In total, crews treated seven patients including three children. Thankfully, the three men, woman and three boys were all treated for injuries not believed to be serious and were taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital by land for further treatment.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 7^th August 2020 – 4.00pm.

A motorcyclist has been airlifted to hospital after coming off his bike in Shrewsbury this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls at around 12.46pm reporting a road traffic collision on the A5 in Shrewsbury. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a MERIT trauma doctor on board, which landed on the carriageway, were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “An off-duty technician from another service was on scene rendering aid to a motorcyclist, a man, who crews were told had come off his bike.

“Crews commenced assessment and found the man had sustained potentially serious injuries and was given trauma care on scene. Due to the man’s condition he was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 7th August 2020 – 2.30pm.

A road traffic collision in Staffordshire this morning sadly resulted in a fatality.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 10.18am (Friday) to reports of a collision involving a car and a motorcyclist on Parkhouse Road at the junction of Rosevale Road, Newcastle. Two ambulances and a paramedic officer were responded to the incident.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance crews arrived to find a motorcyclist, a man, in a critical condition. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead a short time later on scene.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 7^th August 2020 – 9.40am.

Ambulance crews responded to a road traffic collision in Walsall last night where a boy suffered serious injuries.

The incident happened on Darlaston Road in Walsall at around 6.30pm last night. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a critical care car, a MERIT trauma doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford responded to the scene after reports of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Bystanders were providing care to the pedestrian, a boy, when ambulance staff arrived. The boy was assessed and found to have suffered serious injuries. He was given trauma care at the scene before being taken by land ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further treatment.”

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Jordan Eggington – Thursday 6^th August 2020 – 12:25pm.

A motorcyclist has died and a woman is seriously injured after a crash in Coventry this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6:38am (Thursday) to reports of a road traffic collision involving a motorcycle on Barkers Butts Lane near the level crossing. Four ambulances, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance Critical Care Car with a doctor on board and a paramedic officer attended the scene.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “When crews arrived, they found a man, who was the motorcyclist, in a critical condition with bystander CPR already in progress.

“Staff continued in administering basic life support on scene, but sadly, despite the best efforts nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“The woman, who is believed to have been the pillion passenger on the bike, was treated on scene for serious injuries before being taken to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire on blue lights and sirens for further treatment.  The critical care paramedic and doctor from the Critical Care Car continued treatment on route.”

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Jordan Eggington – Thursday 6^th August 2020 – 9:55am.

Four children have been taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital after a serious RTC in Birmingham this morning that saw a car hit a tree.

At 4:45am (Thursday) an ambulance crew, with a patient already on board, came across the collision on Belchers Lane in the Bordesley Green area of the city. It was clear from the crew’s rapid assessment of the situation that there were multiple casualties involved, and more resources would be needed at the scene. Whilst the crew waited for back up, they began treatment.

We sent an additional five ambulances, along with four paramedic officers and the MERIT car with a critical care paramedic and doctor onboard. The first additional resource was on scene within three minutes.

A West Midlands Ambulance spokeswoman said: “When the additional crews arrived, they found a total of five patients, four of which were children.

“Two of the children, a boy and girl, were in a critical condition. Crews acted quickly to treat the patients for serious injuries and get them on blue lights and sirens to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. The girl travelled with the critical care paramedic onboard, whilst the boy was conveyed in a separate ambulance with the doctor continuing treatment on route.

“Two other children, both girls, were treated for serious injuries and conveyed to BCH in separate ambulances on blue lights and sirens.

“The fifth patient, a woman, who was the driver of the car, was treated for potentially serious injuries and conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.

“The patient from the original ambulance that came across the collision continued with their journey.”

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Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 5^th August 2020 – 5.40pm.

Ambulance staff say that the good quality child seats undoubtedly saved two young children from potentially serious injuries when the cart hey were in was involved in a serious RTC.

The car, which was in a collision with an HGV, rolled over completely landing back on its wheels against the central reservation.

The incident happened on the northbound carriageway of the M42 between Junction six and seven, at just after 4.00pm. An ambulance and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “When crews arrived they saw a car that had suffered significant damage.

“Thankfully, the safety systems had done their job and the woman and two young girls were largely uninjured.

“After being assessed at the scene, they were taken to Heartlands Hospital as a precaution.

“The ambulance staff at the scene, said that the good quality car seats that the children had been in gave the youngsters excellent protection during the crash.”

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Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 5th August 2020 – 1.10pm.

A child has suffered serious injuries after a collision with a vehicle on the M5 motorway.

The incident happened at around 11.20am this morning (Wednesday) between junction 2 and 3; shortly before junction 2

Paramedics from the Hazardous Area Response Team were quickly on scene and were backed up by an ambulance, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford, which had a doctor on board.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said: “The boy was on foot at the time of the incident.

“He has suffered serious injuries. He was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken on blue lights to Birmingham Children’s Hospital; the doctor from the air ambulance travelled with the boy to hospital.

“There were no other patients.”

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Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 5^th August 2020 – 9.15am.

One man has suffered potentially serious injuries after a two car crash which saw one of the cars collide with the wall of a building.

The incident happened near the junction of Edwards Road and High Street in Erdington at 9.50pm on Tuesday evening.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received multiple calls about the crash. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the MERIT Trauma Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “When crews arrived they found one man inside one of the cars in a potentially serious condition.

“He was assessed and treated at the scene before being taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham; the MERIT doctor travelled with the crew.

“Members of the HART team worked with firefighters to check the building to ensure no-one was trapped inside.  They confirmed there wasn’t anyone inside.

“Thankfully, there were no other casualties.”

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Murray MacGregor – Tuesday 4^th August 2020 – 12.10pm.

Two people have been taken to for specialist care at the Regional Burns Centre after an explosion on board a boat in Worcestershire.

The incident happened at around 6.40pm on Monday evening on a river cruising boat near the Sandy Lane Industrial Estate in Stourport on Severn

Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Stensham were sent to the scene.

A West Midland Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found the man and woman who had been on board doing exactly the right thing – they were using lukewarm water to cool the burns.

“The woman was suspected of being the slightly more serious of the two.  After assessment and treatment at the scene she was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by ambulance.  One of the critical care paramedics from the air ambulance travelled with the crew.

“The man was also assessed and treated at the scene. He too was taken by ambulance to the same hospital, again with a critical care paramedic travelling with the ambulance crew.”

If you suffer a burn, follow this simple advice:

• Immediately get the person away from the heat source to stop the burning
• Cool the burn with cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes – do not use ice, iced water, or any creams or greasy substances like butter
• Remove any clothing or jewellery that’s near the burnt area of skin, but don’t remove anything that’s stuck to the skin
• Make sure the person keeps warm by using a blanket, but don’t rub against the burnt area
• Cover the burn by placing a layer of cling film over it
• Use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
• If the face or eyes are burnt, sit up as much as possible, rather than lying down – this helps to reduce swelling

You can get more information about how to treat burns here.

Jordan Eggington – Monday 3^rd August – 11:15am.

A man has been treated for serious injuries over the weekend, after becoming trapped under an HGV in the Black Country.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 2:31pm yesterday (Sunday) to Keats Road in Willenhall. The Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford, a land ambulance and two paramedic officers attended, with the first resource on scene in nine minutes.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When crews arrived, they found a man, who had become trapped under a vehicle. The Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Paramedic and Doctor administered pain relief to the patient whilst the fire service helped in extricating him from underneath the vehicle.

“Once out, crews worked together to treat the man for serious injuries before taking him by land ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on blue lights and sirens. The Critical Care paramedic and Doctor travelled in the ambulance with the patient to continue treatment on route to the QE.”

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(Left to Right): Lizzie Bramwell, Nick Chafe and Luke McCarron

Murray MacGregor – Monday 3^rd August 2020 – 10.55am.

Non-emergency patients in East Cheshire have received a significant boost with the opening of a brand new non-emergency Patient Transport Service (PTS) ambulance hub.

The site in Macclesfield will house 34 West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) staff who will use 15 specialist vehicles to transfer hundreds of patients each week to appointments such as renal dialysis and oncology appointments.

This is the fifth operational hub opened by WMAS in Cheshire since the Trust took over running the contract in 2016.  Across the county, 170 staff operate 105 vehicles transporting 20,000 patients each year from bases in Macclesfield, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Warrington and Wirral.

Senior Operations Manager for the Cheshire contract, Steve Hockenhull, said: “We are now in the second year of our latest five-year contract in Cheshire and each year we are making improvements that are benefiting patients.

The operational hub in Macclesfield is great news for patients in eastern Cheshire as it allows us to maximise our efficiency which will improve the care we can provide to patients living in this part of the county.

“We undertook a significant recruitment campaign to bring the 30 staff on board and have brought in brand new vehicles.  The opening of this hub is the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort but will really benefit patients.”

Non-emergency Services Operations Delivery Director for West Midlands Ambulance Service, Michelle Brotherton, added: “We are looking forward to continuing to provide a ‘Gold Standard’ PTS service for the next four years and hopefully beyond.

“We are exceeding all of the targets that we have been set by Commissioners such as prompt arrival, the speed of picking patients up after their appointment and the time spent on the vehicle.

“We would not have been able to achieve that without the amazing efforts of staff to ensure they do everything possible to look after their patients.

“With the current pandemic, we have had to change the way we operate to ensure we can provide the care needed while maintaining appropriate social distancing and the additional cleaning that is required to protect staff and patients.”

The site covers approximately 1.5 acres and has modular buildings situated on it to provide facilities for staff.  It is situated in Beach Lane around a mile from Macclesfield Hospital and has excellent links to Manchester where many of the patients go.

Steve added: “It proved very challenging to identify a suitable site within Eastern Cheshire to locate the new PTS operational hub.  However, after a lengthy process which started in 2019, it is extremely satisfying to finally see vehicles and staff operating from their new base.

“This hub will improve responsiveness to discharges in the eastern and northern parts of the county and will ensure a continued excellent service for renal dialysis patients in Eastern Cheshire.”

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