Month: March 2022

Jamie Arrowsmith– Wednesday 30^th March 2022 – 10.30am.

A car driver who had to be cut free has received specialist trauma care at the scene of a collision with a lorry before being taken to one of the region’s major trauma centres.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the collision on the A41, near to the junction with the B5065 in Sandford, Whitchurch at 10.07pm last night and send one ambulance, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We arrived at the scene to find the car driver, a man, seriously injured and trapped inside his car.

“Crews worked closely with colleagues from the fire service to free the man, before he received specialist trauma care at the scene before being taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“The lorry driver was assessed and discharged at the scene.”

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Claire Brown – Monday 28^th March 2022 – 9.00am.

Technology and teamwork have combined in Coventry to help train first responders and local authorities to manage major incidents.

Working alongside Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire councils and the local emergency services, the Simulation Centre at Coventry University has created realistic virtual reality emergency response scenarios to train emergency responders to help keep people safe at major events, including those for Coventry UK City of Culture.  

The Simulation Centre employs lots of systems and methods to create highly immersive, real time changeable training scenarios. The main interactive area features a 10-metre, 160° curved screen, surround sound, temperature regulation to simulate outdoor conditions, as well as smoke, lighting and smell effects to immerse delegates. 

David Levesley, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Emergency Preparedness Manager, said: “The simulation centre offers complex scenarios that can be quickly reset and quickly altered. This means that all our commanders can experience multi-agency working, identifying learning quickly and consistently.

“Training is essential to all emergency services to test our response to major incident scenarios and ensure we’re prepared. To regularly undertake live exercises takes a large amount of preparation and planning, not to mention a large number of ambulance staff, police officers and firefighters at the scene.

“While live exercises will always be necessary, using new equipment like this we can still create all the visual impact and complexity of a real situation which reduces the impact of exercise planning and delivery on operational availability and can be linked directly to training and development objectives and outcomes.

“We’re really grateful to James and rest of the university for recognising our important work and for giving us this amazing opportunity.”

James Doyle, Simulation Centre Manager from Coventry University, said: “What we’ve found from facilitating these sessions is that people don’t behave as though it’s training. The situations are so immersive, delegates forget they’re being assessed and act more naturally as they are being observed remotely from our control room. Just like the services, our unique facility is second to none and helps us remove ‘exercise-itis’ and by working together in this way, we’re helping keep the city safe.”

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Notes to Editor:

Pictured (left to right): WMAS David Levesley with police and fire colleagues at simulation centre.

In one recently tested scenario, a car race on Coventry ring road is stopped when an electric car carrying protestors opposed to the race gains access to and blocks a ring road, causing one of the racing cars to crash through the barriers, injuring spectators. As emergency staff rush to help the casualties, they are overcome by fumes and they themselves become patients. The lighting and temperature in the room change as the incident progresses and actors in the room play the roles of distressed relatives, angry protestors and anyone else who paramedics, police or firefighters might come across at an actual emergency scene. Just as in real incidents, frontline staff share updates of what’s happening with their control rooms and decisions are then fed into the simulation, changing the virtual scene in real time to show how they impact the incident.

Just like the emergency services need to prepare for emergencies, so do you. Whether it’s learning first aid, having a home fire escape plan or being ready for extreme weather, there’s lots of ways you can reduce the negative impact these events have on you and your family. Find out more on your council’s website or visit this government website. 

Jordan Eggington – Monday 28^th March 2022 – 8:45am.

A man has been conveyed to hospital on blue lights and sirens after a collision involving a car and motorcyclist in West Bromwich.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 4:24pm yesterday (Sunday) to reports of an RTC at the junction of New Street and Tunnel Road in the Hill Top area of the town. We sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and a Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Staff arrived at the scene to find the motorcyclist, a man, in a serious condition from the collision.

“Crews administered advanced trauma care to the patient at the scene before taking him to the Major Trauma Centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham via land ambulance.

“A woman, who was the passenger in the car, was treated for minor injuries and was conveyed to Sandwell Hospital for further assessment.”

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Jordan Eggington – Thursday 24^th March 2022 – 9:25am.

Two men have been conveyed to hospital, after the car they were travelling in collided with railings in Birmingham overnight.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls at around 00:07am (Thursday) to reports of the single vehicle RTC at the junction of Dartmouth Circus and the A38. One ambulance, a High Dependency Patient Transport Service ambulance, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the vehicle through a barrier and two patients still trapped inside. With the assistance of fire colleagues, the occupants of the car were safely extricated and assessed by ambulance staff.

“We treated two men for injuries not believed to be serious and they were both conveyed to hospital for further treatment.

“A third person from the vehicle was assessed and discharged on scene.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 18^th March 2022 – 9.10am.

A pedestrian received trauma care by ambulance staff after being involved in a road traffic collision in the Staffordshire Moorlands last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the junction of Leek Road and Cheddleton Heath Road, Cheddleton Heath, shortly before 7.00pm yesterday (Thursday). An ambulance, paramedic officer and a North Staffordshire BASICS emergency doctor attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived on scene they found a pedestrian, a man, who had reportedly been involved in a collision with a vehicle. He was being cared for by bystanders and police. Upon assessment by ambulance staff, the man was found to be in a critical condition. The team immediately commenced trauma care on scene before conveying the man on blue lights to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care.”

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Shaunna Farley – Thursday 17th March – 10.40am.

Three people have been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Dudley last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8.40pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car that had collided with street furniture on Waterfront Way Bridge, Dudley. Three ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival crews found three patients.

“The first, a woman. She had sustained potentially life threatening injuries. She received advanced life support from ambulance staff at the scene.

“She was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.

“The second, a man. He had sustained serious injuries. He received treatment at the scene.

“The third, a woman. She was assessed and had sustained injuries not believed to be life threatening. She received treatment on scene.”

“They were conveyed to Russells Hall Hospital for further assessment.”

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Shaunna Farley – Thursday 17th March – 08.50am.

Two people have been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision on the M6 in Birmingham this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 05.45am to reports of a road traffic collision involving six vehicles on the M6 between junctions 6 and 7 in Birmingham. Two ambulances and a paramedic officer attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival crews found three patients.

“The first, a man who was the driver of a van. He was assessed and had sustained potentially serious injuries that were not believed to be life threatening. He received treatment from ambulance staff at the scene.

“The second, a man who was the driver of one of the cars. He had sustained potentially serious injuries that were not believed to be life threatening. He received treatment on scene.”

“Both men were conveyed to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment.”

“A third patient was assessed by ambulance staff, they received self care advice and were discharged at the scene.”

“No further patients required treatment.”

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Jordan Eggington – Tuesday 15^th March 2022 – 4.45pm.

One man has died after a collision involving a car and tree in Worcestershire this afternoon.

It happened at 12:12pm at the junction of Comberton Road and Stone Hill in Kidderminster. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and a Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) trauma doctor attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We arrived at the scene to find the driver of the car, a man, in a critical condition. Staff worked quickly to administer advanced trauma care to the patient at the scene. However sadly, despite their best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”

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Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 15th March – 9.30am.

Newly qualified paramedic, David Miller, based at Sandwell Hub, is campaigning to end knife crime and violence amongst young people with his work at The James Brindley Foundation.

David’s passions for serving and supporting the community led him to his career as a paramedic, but his ambition to support the community didn’t end there.

After learning the tragic news of a local young man, James Brindley, losing his life after fatal stabbing during a walk home in Aldridge in June 2017, David launched the Full Circle Program in 2018.

The Full Circle Program is an accredited educational and assessment tool for young people and for professionals. The program addresses the root causes of anti-social behaviour that can lead to violent crime and focusses on educating young people while also exploring the reasons why a young person might be led into the pathway of knife crime.

David said: “Alongside being a fully qualified paramedic, I am also a qualified social worker with over twenty years experience, so helping people and supporting the community lies within my core values.

After learning of the terrible news of a local young man, James Brindley, who was stabbed, tragically taking his life, whilst talking to his girlfriend on the phone during a short walk home in Aldridge June 2017, I knew I wanted to use my own skills and experience to act in a proactive way to teach young people the consequences of violence and knife crime.

After contacting and speaking to James’s parents, we made the decision to support them by offering the Full Circle Program as a means to starting the James Brindley Foundation.

During the past three years, we have continually remained focused on all our charity work and have done a number of fundraising events, for example participating in the wolf run, football tournaments, climbing Ben-Nevis and much more.

I am extremely proud of becoming a paramedic and working for West Midlands Ambulance Service and I am hoping to put my social work and paramedic skills to good use. I am now designing a first aid program for wound management and bystander CPR to be part of the Full Circle Program.

Proper wound management and CPR at incidents such as stabbings or where a catastrophic bleed is involved can make a potentially life saving difference, which is why it is so important to get that information out there.

My hopes for the future is that we can continue to have and strengthen our response to this scourge on our young people involved in violence and offer them alternative positive pathways.”

To find out more about David’s work at the James Brindley Foundation, you can do so via https://jamesbrindleyfoundation.com/we-launch-the-james-brindley-foundation/

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Murray MacGregor – Monday 14^th March 2022 – 8.00am.

One man has died and two others have been injured after a collision between two cars.

It happened on the A4041 Queslett Road in Great Barr, beside the Asda Supermarket at around 3.40am on Sunday morning.

Two 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 cares with significant damage. 

“The driver of one of the cars, was initially trapped.  As he was being freed, he was complaining of a medical condition but had also suffered multiple injuries. 

“Sadly, his condition deteriorated rapidly and despite advanced life support being carried out, he was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“The two men in the other care were assessed by ambulance staff before being taken to Sandwell Hospital as a precaution; their injuries are not believed to be serious.”

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Claire Brown – Thursday 10^th March 2022 – 4.45pm.

Two teenage boys have received trauma care by ambulance staff after sustaining potentially life-threatening injuries in Birmingham City Centre this afternoon.

The service received 999 calls reporting a stabbing on Corporation Street in Birmingham at 2.36pm today (Thursday). A large ambulance presence was responded to the scene and included two ambulances, three paramedic officers, HART paramedics, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a doctor and paramedic on board, a critical care paramedic and a West Midlands CARE team doctor.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived on scene to find a teenage boy who had sustained serious injuries. A second teenage boy was located nearby with serious injuries.

“The team of ambulance staff worked to administer trauma care to the teenagers on scene to stabilise their conditions. Both teenage boys were conveyed by land ambulance on blue lights to hospital for further emergency care.”

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Claire Brown – Thursday 10^th March 2022 – 10.25am.

A pedestrian has been taken to a major trauma centre following a road traffic collision with a car this morning in Walsall.

The incident happened on Union Street in Walsall at 2.52am today (Thursday). An ambulance and paramedic officer attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The pedestrian, a man, had been involved in a collision with a car. Upon assessment by ambulance staff the man was found to have sustained potentially serious injuries. He received treatment on scene before being conveyed on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further care.”

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Claire Brown – Thursday 10^th March 2022 – 10.00am.

A man received advanced trauma care from the ambulance service at the scene of a serious RTC in Oswestry last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls at around 11.15pm last night (Wednesday) to reports of a single car RTC on the A5, Daywell Junction, in Oswestry. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were responded to the incident.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find the driver of the car, a man, in a serious condition.

“The team of ambulance staff worked together to administer advanced trauma care to the man to help stabilise his condition. The man was then conveyed by land ambulance on blue lights to the major trauma centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, for further emergency care. The doctor and critical care paramedic travelled in the ambulance to continue treatment en-route to hospital.”

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Shaunna Farley – Friday 3rd March – 3.45pm.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) will be hosting the first careers open day of 2022 for anyone interested in Student Paramedic and Patient Transport Service (PTS) roles.

The event will take place on Sunday 13^th March between 10am-4pm at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill.

As well as hearing about different options and career routes at West Midlands Ambulance Service, the session will allow participants to learn more about the Student Paramedic role and about roles within the Patient Transport Service.

There will be opportunities for attendees at the event to get advice on the entry criteria and assessment processes, speak to the recruitment team, meet current staff and managers and ask questions regarding these roles.

WMAS Recruitment Manager, Louise Jones, said: “I’m delighted that the Trust is able to host its first open day of 2022 to promote the Student Paramedic and Patient Transport vacancies.

At the event, attendees will be able to meet our staff involved in every element of the process from recruitment, to training to our operational colleagues.

The team will be on hand to answer any questions that potential applicants may have and there will also be the opportunity to get advice on the assessment process as well as testing out our fitness equipment and seeing our operational vehicles.

There is no need to book an appointment, please drop in at any time between 10am-4pm. I’m really excited to meet everyone who attends.”

The event will be a drop-in session, so no appointments will be required but if you’d like to register your interest you can do so by emailing recruitment@wmas.nhs.uk. Anyone who registers will receive additional information after the event from the Recruitment Team.

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Shaunna Farley – Friday 4th March – 10.45am.

One woman has sadly died and two men have been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 1.33am to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and a bus on Milston Close in Birmingham. Three ambulances, two paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival crews found four patients.

“The first, a woman who was the driver of the car. She was assessed and had sustained life threatening injuries.

“Despite the best efforts of ambulance staff on scene, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save her and she was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“The second and third patients, both males who were passengers in the car were assessed by ambulance staff on scene. They had sustained injuries not believed to be life threatening.

“They each received treatment on scene before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further assessment.

“The fourth, a man who was the driver of the bus was assessed by crews on scene. He had sustained injuries not believed to be serious. He received self care advice and was discharged at the scene.”

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Shaunna Farley – Thursday 3rd March – 9am.

Two men have sadly died following a road traffic collision in Ombersley.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.36pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving two cars on the A449 Ombersley in Worcester. One ambulance, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found the drivers of the two cars both in a critical condition.

Unfortunately, it immediately became apparent that nothing more could be done to save them and they were confirmed deceased at the scene.

Ends.