A teenage boy, a cyclist, has been treated for serious injuries and taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Longbridge last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a collision between a car and a cyclist on Coombes Lane at 21.56pm and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and a critical care paramedic.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find bystanders, including an off-duty medic, caring for a teenage boy who had suffered serious injuries following a collision with a car.
“Following emergency treatment at the scene by ambulance staff, he was then transported to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further assessment.”
Jordan Eggington – Sunday 25th April 2021 – 5:45pm.
West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, Nathan Hudson, said: “On Saturday (24th) we tragically lost our dear friend and colleague Jeremy Daw, known among staff as Jack, in an incident in Herefordshire.
“Jeremy (Jack) was a long serving member of staff with nearly 30 years’ service who always put patient care at the heart of everything he did. He was one of life’s good guys.
“During his time with the ambulance service, he became a paramedic and worked in Hereford and Leominster, as well as flying on some of the region’s air ambulances. As well as being a paramedic, he worked as a mentor helping countless other staff to develop their skills and patient care.
“He loved his family, his colleagues and his patients. He was a loving husband, father and a fantastic member of our team and will be missed dearly.
“His death is particularly cruel as had only retired last year before returning in January this year as an Emergency Medical Technician.
“Our key focus at the minute is ensuring we do everything to support his family and also our staff.
“I would also like to pay tribute to the efforts of our staff who attended the incident yesterday and our call room staff, but also the many staff from other parts of the region who volunteered to come and work in Hereford last night and today to allow their colleagues time to come to terms with what has happened.
“We will be working closely with Jeremy (Jack)’s family and the family liaison officers from West Mercia Police, in how they wish to remember Jeremy (Jack).”
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “Jeremy – known by his colleagues as Jack – represented the best of the NHS. After almost three decades’ service, he returned to the frontline from a well-earned retirement to help patients during the coronavirus pandemic and served as a mentor to younger colleagues.
“On behalf of everyone across the NHS, our heartfelt condolences go to Jeremy’s family, friends and colleagues, as we also wish his crewmate a swift recovery.”
ENDS
Jeremy Daw, known as Jack to WMAS colleagues, with members of his family.
Jordan Eggington – Saturday 24th April 2021 – 4:50pm.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service technician has tragically died whilst on duty in Herefordshire this morning.
The ambulance crew were on route to a 999 call when an object struck the ambulance’s windscreen at 8am. It happened at the junction of Moreton Road and the A49.
Multiple resources attended the scene, which included two emergency ambulance crews, paramedic officers, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and two Mercia Accident Rescue Service doctors.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save our colleague, who was the front passenger, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.
“His crewmate, the driver, was also injured in the incident. He has received treatment at hospital and has subsequently been discharged.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “This is truly awful news, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of those involved at this very difficult time. I am enormously proud of all the staff and the university students as part of their clinical placement that worked so hard and professionally to try to save our colleague. I am sorry that despite their best efforts, he could not be saved.”
West Mercia Police are asking anyone who may have seen the incident or have dashcam footage to contact them on 101 quoting incident 00101i of 24 April.
Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 23rd April 2021 – 2.25pm.
A pedestrian has been treated for serious injuries and taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Walsall this afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a collision between a car and a pedestrian on Darlaston Road at 12.22pm and sent one ambulance, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car, with the crew from the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford also on board, to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival we discovered one patient, a man, who had suffered serious injuries following a collision with a car.
“Following emergency treatment at the scene, he was then transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, for further assessment.”
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 22nd April 2021 – 5:30pm.
“Because of equipment like this, our crews will arrive at a patient in a totally different scenario than they would if somebody had just stood back and done nothing.”
The UK’s first combined cabinet, housing a bleed control kit and automated external defibrillator (AED), has been installed in the Black Country today. The equipment, which can be used by anyone with no need for training, is aimed to assist in the event of a catastrophic bleed or cardiac arrest.
The AED for the new cabinet on Park Road in Dudley has been donated by West Midlands Ambulance Service, with both the cabinet and bleed kit generously coming from The Daniel Baird Foundation. The Foundation was set up in honour of Daniel after he was stabbed in Birmingham in 2017 and sadly died shortly after arriving at hospital due to catastrophic bleeding. His family have since been campaigning for emergency bleed control equipment to be made publicly available in cities across the UK, just as defibrillators are.
In adults, defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of collapse may produce survival rates as high as 50-70% in the event of a cardiac arrest. That’s why the most important actions you can take to attempt to save a life are calling an ambulance, starting CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED). If you want to familiarise yourself with how to use an AED, head here.
In cases of catastrophic bleeding through incidents such as a stabbing, shooting or RTC, a patient can die in just five minutes. That’s why the bleed control kits, which were initially developed by WMAS and the West Midlands Trauma Networks, have several items that really could make all the difference: including a Tourniquet, haemostatic gauze, and a chest seal. More information on how to use these kits can be found here.
Cliff Medlicott, WMAS Community Response Manager
WMAS Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Marsh, said: “Making equipment like this available to the public in those first minutes of a life-threatening situation before paramedics arrive, can prove absolutely vital. Today’s instalment in Dudley is a huge step forward in ensuring the public have access to potentially life-saving equipment in their local area. When we worked with The Daniel Baird Foundation on the bleed control kits more than two years ago, I had hoped they’d become as common as defibrillators. Now, here we are with both sets of equipment being housed in the same cabinet. Bleed control kits and AED’s provide the best chance of survival to the patient in those vital minutes before our ambulance crews arrive on scene. I really do hope we see many more cabinets like this installed over the coming years to help save as many lives as possible.”
Lynne Baird, Founder of The Daniel Baird Foundation
Turtle Engineering designed and built the cabinet in the UK and have worked closely with The Daniel Baird Foundation and emergency services on the location of the first installation. Accessible 24/7, the cabinet at The Bramford Arms can be accessed by a code provided by the emergency services.
Pictured left to right: Stacey Coombes, Lynne Baird, WMAS Community Response Manager Cliff Medlicott and Bramford Arms Landlord Eliot Bennett
A man has been seriously injured following a road traffic collision in Birmingham this afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 2.03pm to reports of a collision involving a quad bike on Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham. An ambulance, two paramedic officers, a critical care paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with two doctors and a paramedic on board attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance crews arrived to find a quad bike rider, a man, in a serious condition.
“The team of medics worked together to quickly administer trauma care to the man to stabilise his condition at the scene before he was taken by land ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further emergency care.”
Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 21st April 2021 – 5pm.
It’s not just frontline vehicles that are starting to get a modern and greener makeover – so is the Trust’s support fleet. After launching the first fully electric emergency ambulance at the end of last year and announcing the introduction of two fully electric Operational Manager response cars last month, the Trust continues to build momentum in its commitment to become greener.
Although the latest additions to our electric fleet look suspiciously like London taxi cabs, they’re certainly not for picking you up after a night out on the town! They are in fact four brand new London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) VN5 vans, supplied by Guest Truck and Van, representing another step forward in the Trust’s commitment to reducing emissions across the support fleet by 80% by 2028.
These vans will bolster the Trust’s IT team’s ability to operate across the West Midlands in an environmentally friendly way. The VN5 can achieve a range of over 60 miles (98km) using electric and a total flexible range of over 300 miles (489km).
Tony Page, Head of Fleet and Facilities with WMAS, said: “As a Trust we are looking carefully now at sustainability. We launched the UK’s first electric ambulance in October 2020, recently added two electric response cars to the frontline, and are continually assessing our support fleet to make changes where possible. The VN5 is a perfect choice for our IT support team, whose journeys can vary according to demand, thanks to its extended electric range and low emissions.”
Jordan Eggington – Tuesday 20th April 2021 – 8:50am.
Sadly, nothing could be done to save a man involved in a house fire in the Black Country overnight.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by the fire service at 8:48pm to a property in Park Road, Smethwick. Due to the nature of the call, the Hazardous Area Response Team was dispatched, along with one ambulance and a paramedic officer.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find a serious fire at the property, with one patient involved.
“Unfortunately, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”
Murray MacGregor – Tuesday 20th April 2021 – 9.10am.
Six West Midlands Ambulance Service staff from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin have been honoured for their work over the last year (2020-21) with certificates from the outgoing High Sheriff of Shropshire, Mrs Dean Harris.
The High Sheriff is a role that dates back to 943AD and was originally created to collect the King’s debts, maintain law and order and oversee public hangings!
Today the role is ceremonial, including supporting good works in the county and organisations including the emergency services.
Mrs Harris, who served from April 2020 to March 2021, has now instigated three awards each for staff at Donnington and Shrewsbury Ambulance Hubs: Mentor of the Year, Student of the Year; and Outstanding Contribution Award.
Unfortunately, the first presentations had to take place virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Mrs Harris, said: “We all know it’s been an incredibly challenging year, but even aside from the complications of a pandemic, West Midlands Ambulance Service does a fantastic job. I’d like to congratulate the winners on their awards success, and I am delighted that there will now be an annual event supported by future High Sheriffs in Shropshire.”
Donnington Hub
Outstanding Contribution – Chris Phillips
Chris has worked tirelessly during the year as a Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officer. The past year has seen immense pressure placed on the NHS as it responded to the global pandemic. Chris has gone above and beyond in supporting both crews and hospital staff to keep patients safe. He is passionate for patient safety and always tries to do the right thing to support staff.
Mentor of the Year – Steve O’Boyle
Steve has used his past experiences working on the Mental Health car to produce and deliver a training package for staff to help them feel more confident in dealing with a range of complex mental health issues. He has also worked hard behind the scenes to help integrate a more digital way of working into the Clinical Team Mentor team as well as the wider staff group.
Student of the Year – Katie Putwain
Katie has been consistently recognised as a very strong student paramedic from the outset. Like many others she has risen to the challenge of the global pandemic and taken on the role of Ambulance Care Assistant while the Trust responded to the pressures the NHS is under. Numerous staff have remarked that she is always a pleasure to work with.
Shrewsbury Hub
Outstanding Contribution – Heather Coghlan
Heather is a VPO (Vehicle Preparation Operative) and is responsible for ensuring the ambulances are stocked, cleaned and made ready for each crew. This is a vital role that ensures crew are able to spend more time providing clinical care, safe in the knowledge that their ambulance is fully kitted. Since the pandemic started, Heather has been extremely flexible in changing her shifts at short notice, coming in for additional hours to help support the team and has taken on extra responsibilities. Without Heathers commitment, flexibility and hard work the Hub would not have achieved so much whilst dealing with a pandemic.
Mentor of the Year – Tom Hillidge
Tom is an extremely competent clinical team mentor, who excels at nurturing new staff and ensuring they are competent and confident in their role. He will take time to use the training facilities to educate and guide younger staff, often giving up his break time to do so. He is always happy to go the extra mile in assisting staff and has organised trauma days for clinical staff to attend to improve their clinical professional development. These days have had a high take up and colleagues have benefited from the work Tom has put in running scenario’s. Not only that, Tom organised all of these events in his own time and we are proud he is part of the team.
Student of the Year – Joe Edwards
Joe was in his 3rd year at university when the pandemic struck. As part of the Trust’s organisational plans to deal with the pandemic, all students were asked if they would be willing to work for WMAS as ambulance care assistants to ensure there were as many resources as possible to treat patients. Joe joined Shrewsbury in March 2020 and has become an integral part of the team. From being a student with no clinical responsibility to becoming part of an ambulance crew must have been nerve racking yet Joe faced his fears and has done extremely well. He has been able to consolidate his knowledge and improve his clinical and communication skills, and at such a young age (21), he should be very proud of his achievements and can look forward to a great career ahead of him.
Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “I am delighted that the High Sheriff has instigated these annual awards, recognising the work of our staff. As Mrs Harris says, the last year has been one like no other.
“As you can see from the citations, each of these six staff have worked tirelessly to make a difference, all contributing in their own way to saving lives and providing excellent patient care to the people of Shropshire in their hour of need.
“I cannot thank Mrs Harris enough for setting these awards up as an annual event, something which will be warmly welcomed by all of our staff in the County.”
Murray MacGregor – Monday 19th April 2021 – 6.00am.
Stoford Developments is set to begin work on a multi-million pound ambulance service hub for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) after Sandwell planners approved the scheme.
The 76,000 sq ft hub, will be the largest hub of its kind in the country and will see a significant increase in ambulance operational capability for Birmingham and the Black Country. The project, which will open in time for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, will be used as a staging point for the Trust’s preparations for one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
Once fully open it will house around 350 operational ambulance staff working shifts and replaces a much smaller facility in West Bromwich. In addition, it will include a facility for the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), as well as fleet maintenance and vehicle preparation areas, the Trust’s Education and Training Academy and central stores.
Built on derelict land off Shidas Road, Oldbury, it will achieve the BREEAM Excellence rating, which rates a building’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance.
Birmingham-based Stoford Developments was appointed by WMAS to deliver the scheme following a competitive tender, with the developer putting forward proposals to build on former quarry and which had been earmarked originally for industrial units.
Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “This is a hugely important development for not only West Midlands Ambulance Service, but also for the people of Birmingham and the Black Country. It is a significant investment that has taken over two years of work to bring together. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Stoford Developments to bring this new facility online in time for the Commonwealth Games, an event that will let the world see all that is good about our country’s second city.”
Tony Nash, Director at Stoford Developments, said now the planning committee had formally given it the go ahead, he hoped work could start on site this month (April), with an estimated completion date of spring 2022.
“WMAS was looking for a strategic location in the Sandwell or Oldbury area, close to the M5, for its new facility and the land we proposed was ideally situated for its needs,” he said.
“The site has many technical challenges having remained undeveloped for 15yrs and grant funding from West Midlands Combined Authority has made the project viable.
“We’re looking forward to getting started in this national infrastructure project and delivering a facility that achieves BREEAM Excellent in design and construction.”
WMAS Director of Strategic Operations, Craig Cooke added: “At seven acres, this is a significant investment that will bring real benefit to the area. The new Hub will enable us to improve the level of care we provide to the local population. It is also good news for our staff as it will allow us to not only increase numbers, but also provide them with an excellent facility which is purpose built for their needs.
“This project also has national merit as it allows us to provide a much better base for our Hazardous Area Response Team who provide care in a wide range of specialist areas such as water rescue, hazardous substances and collapsed buildings amongst many others.
“I’m also delighted that we are investing in our Education & Training team. We currently have over 700 students working with us and providing them with even better facilities will only help to ensure that we maintain our position as being the only ambulance service with a paramedic on every vehicle.
“Over the last year our central stores team has performed magnificently ensuring frontline staff have the necessary protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This new facility will continue our record of making it one of the most efficient systems in the country which will ensure our staff always have the right equipment when they need it so that they can provide excellent care to patients.”
This challenging site has been made possible with the financial support of the West Midlands Combined Authority, bringing jobs and major investment on what was a waste site in the heart of Oldbury.
WMAS serves a population of 5.6 million people and covers an area of more than 5,000 square miles, comprising Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands.
Stoford Developments has appointed McLean Construction to build the hub, which will also accommodate 365 parking spaces, including ten disabled spaces and 70 Ambulance spaces.
Jordan Eggington – Friday 16th April 2021 – 8:20am.
Multiple resources, including two Midlands Air Ambulances, attended the scene of an RTC in Staffordshire last night in which a woman sadly died.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6:24pm to reports a car had come into collision with an HGV on the eastbound carriageway of the A50 by Blythe Bridge.
The Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Tatenhill were dispatched, along with two land ambulances, a paramedic officer and a North Staffordshire BASICS doctor. The first resource was on scene within six minutes of the 999 being made.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, crews found two patients from the car, with bystander CPR already in progress on one of them.
“The woman involved, who was already receiving treatment from a member of the public, was in a critical condition. Crews took over her treatment and administered advanced trauma care at the scene. But unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save her, and she was confirmed deceased on scene.
“The second patient from the car, a man, was found to be in a serious condition from the collision. He was treated on scene before being conveyed on blue lights and sirens to the Major Trauma Centre at Royal Stoke Hospital. The critical care doctor and critical care paramedic from Helimed03 travelled onboard the ambulance with the crew and patient, continuing treatment on route.”
Murray MacGregor – Thursday 15th April 2021 – 10.05am.
Two children have been taken on blue lights to the region’s paediatric major trauma centre after a two car collision that left six people hurt.
The incident happened at just before 10.00pm last night, Wednesday, on Lichfield Road, just after the canal bridge and close to the junction with Lewis Grove in Wolverhampton.
Three ambulances, two paramedic officers and the MERIT Trauma Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic were sent to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found two cars that had suffered significant damage.
“There were four people in the first car, two adults and two children. A teenage boy had suffered the most significant injuries. He was treated at the scene before being taken on blue lights to Birmingham Children’s Hospital with the doctor travelling with the crew.
“A younger boy also suffered potentially serious injuries and was taken to the same hospital with the critical care paramedic travelling with the second ambulance. The two adults in the car, a man and a woman, were assessed at the scene but had only minor injuries.
“There were two women in the other car. Both were treated for less serious injuries but were taken to New Cross Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”
A man received trauma care by a team of ambulance medics at the scene of a serious RTC yesterday afternoon in Tamworth.
West Midlands Ambulance Service received multiple 999 calls to reports of a collision involving an electric scooter and a car at 4.55pm yesterday (Monday) at the junction of Kettlebrook Road and Glascote Road, Tamworth. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill with two critical care paramedics on board were sent to the scene. Following an update on the patient’s condition from the first crew on scene, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance with two BASICS doctors and critical care paramedic were also responded to provide further advanced trauma care.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The first crew arrived to find a man, who had reportedly been riding an electric scooter, in a serious condition following a collision with a car.
“The team of ambulance staff worked together to administer advanced trauma care on scene to stabilise the man’s condition before he was airlifted by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further emergency treatment.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Thursday 1st April 2021 – 10am.
Two men , one of whom was found lying on the roadside, received treatment at the scene of a two-car road traffic collision on the motorway last night, before being taken to hospital.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 11.45pm to the Eastbound carriageway of the M54, between junctions three and two near Shifnal. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to discover two patients, both men, one of whom was found lying on the carriageway.
“He was the driver of one of the cars and was treated for serious injuries before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further care.
“The second patient, who was the driver of the second car, was treated at the scene for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to New Cross Hospital as a precaution.”
