Three seriously injured in two-car collision

Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 29th April 2022 – 3.10pm.

A two-car collision in Birmingham this afternoon has resulted in three men being taken to hospital, one in a critical condition.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the junction of Yardley Wood Road and Belle Walk in Moseley at 12.17pm and sent three ambulances, a senior paramedic officer, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find two cars that had been involved in a collision and three patients in total.

“The driver of the first car, a man, had suffered multiple serious injuries in the incident and received specialist trauma care at the scene before being taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, by land ambulance. The doctor travelled on the back of the ambulance to help continue treatment enroute to hospital.

“Two further men, from the second car, were treated serious injuries before both being taken to the same hospital, also by land ambulances.”

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Pedestrian fatally injured in RTC

Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 29th April 2022 – 9am.

A man has died following a collision with a lorry in the early hours of this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident at the junction of Alcester Road South and Hollywood Bypass in Wythall at 3.08am and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival at the scene, crews discovered a man, who was the pedestrian, in a critical condition following the collision.

“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

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Motorcyclist seriously injured

Claire Brown – Wednesday 27th April 2022 – 9.30am.

A motorcyclist has suffered serious injuries after a collision in Warwickshire yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by police at 4:15pm yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) to reports of an RTC involving a motorbike and car off the A5 near to Newton, Rugby. We sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance to the scene. An off-duty technician from East Midlands Ambulance Service was also on scene rendering aid after coming across the collision.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene of the collision to find the motorcyclist, a man, with potentially life changing injuries.

“Crews administered trauma care to the man before being conveyed to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire via air ambulance for further emergency care.”

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Fire in 16 storey block of flats

Murray MacGregor – Sunday 17th April 2022 – 12.22am.

Four people have been assessed by ambulance crews after a fire on the 15th storey of a 16 storey block of flats.

The fire broke out in Nauls Mill House on Middleeborough Road in Coventry at around 8.50pm on the evening of Saturday 16th April.

Four ambulances, four paramedic managers, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), The Air Ambulance Critical Care Car and an emergency planning manager we’re sent to the scene.

A West Midlands AMbulance Service spokesman said: “Paramedics from the HART team have been working with firefighters inside the block of flats as residents have been evacuated.

“In total four patients were assessed and treated at the scene before being discharged with minor injuries.

“Although the fire is now out, ambulance staff continue to work with firefighters to ensure all residents are accounted for and there are no other casualties.”

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Boy injured in Aldridge RTC

Claire Brown – Thursday 14th April 2022 – 1.10pm.

A boy has been taken to hospital after being involved in a collision with a lorry this morning in Walsall.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Leighswood Road, Aldridge at 10.31am today (Thursday). An ambulance, paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with medics on board attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance staff arrived to find a boy who had sustained a serious injury following the collision. The team worked to administer trauma care to the boy before he was conveyed by land ambulance on blue lights to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further trauma care. The air ambulance medics accompanied the ambulance crew and boy to hospital to continue care en-route to hospital.”

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Two Injured in Uttoxeter RTC

Shaunna Farley – Friday 8th April – 9.15am.

Two men have been injured following a collision involving two cars in Uttoxeter yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Denstone Road, Rocester in Uttoxeter at 4.47pm yesterday (Thursday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill and a Community First Responder attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived on scene they found the driver of the first car, a man, who is believed to have suffered a medical incident at the wheel in a serious condition. Ambulance staff administered life support on scene before he was conveyed, by land ambulance, to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.

“The driver of the second car, a man, did not require assessment from ambulance staff and was discharged at the scene.”

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Two injured in Gailey RTC

Claire Brown – Thursday 7th April 2022 – 3.00pm.

Two men have been injured, one seriously, following a collision involving two vans in Staffordshire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the A5 in Gailey, Staffordshire at 11.33am this morning (Thursday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived on scene they found the driver of one van, a man, in a serious condition. The team worked together to administer treatment to the man to stabilise his condition before he was conveyed, by land ambulance on blue lights, to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further specialist care.

“The driver of the second van, a man, received treatment by ambulance staff for non-life-threatening injuries before being taken to New Cross Hospital by land ambulance for further checks.”

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Pedestrian seriously injured in Tamworth

Claire Brown – Thursday 7th April 2022 – 8.50am.

A woman received trauma care by the ambulance service after being involved in a road traffic collision in Tamworth last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received a call reporting a collision on Saxon Mill Lane, Tamworth at 8.20pm (Wednesday). An ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic responded to the incident.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find a pedestrian, a woman, being cared for by an off-duty nurse and bystanders after reportedly being involved in a collision with a lorry.

“Ambulance staff worked as a team to assess the woman and found she had sustained serious injuries. She received trauma care at the roadside to stabilise her condition before being taken by ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further specialist trauma care.

“A second pedestrian, a woman, was also assessed but was discharged on scene.”

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Woman dies in flat fire

Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 6th April 2022 – 4:30pm.

A woman has sadly died after a flat fire at in Stoke-on-Trent.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received a call from the fire service at 11:16am to the fire in Trentham Road in the Longton area. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the fire at a low-rise flat in Tollgate Court with fire colleagues working to safely evacuate residents.

“Sadly, nothing could be done to save one woman inside the property, and she was confirmed deceased on scene.

“Crews assessed several patients who’d been evacuated from the building, and they were all discharged on scene.”

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Appeal for volunteer lifesavers

Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 6th April 2022 – 10am.

West Midlands Ambulance Service is on the lookout for keen and willing recruits to join our band of volunteer lifesavers as a Community First Responder (CFR).

CFRs are everyday members of the public who are trained in a number of assessments and basic lifesaving techniques including the use of a defibrillator, a device used to restart the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest. Their availability, close proximity and local knowledge of their area are among their many assets.

CFRs will be called by the ambulance service’s control room to medical emergencies in their area while an ambulance is en-route. They are vital in life-threatening situations, particularly in the case of a cardiac arrest and trauma when every second counts.

WMAS is recruiting CFRs in Hereford and Worcester, Arden, Shropshire, the Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham.

Community Response Manager, Cliff Medlicott, said: “Volunteers come from all walks of life. When they make themselves available to respond they can continue to go about their daily lives, but if an emergency call is received by the ambulance service within a five or six mile radius, they are sent and always backed-up by an emergency ambulance service vehicle.

“To volunteer, you must be aged 18 or over, have a full driving licence and lots of enthusiasm.

“Help will be provided in obtaining the necessary equipment and no previous experience is necessary as West Midlands Ambulance Service will provide the training.

“Successful applicants will attend a nationally recognised training course covering Basic Life Support and Defibrillation, Medical Emergencies, Traumatic Emergencies and Preparing for Active Duty. They will then train alongside ambulance crews before going ‘live’”.

To apply, please visit www.jobs.nhs.uk and search for job reference 217-CFR05-22-23 (Hereford and Worcester); 217-CFR03-22-23 (Arden); 217-CFR06-22-23 (Shropshire); 217-CFR01-22-23 (Black Country); 217-CFR04-22-23 (Staffordshire); 217-CFR02-22-23 (Birmingham). Applications close at midnight on Wednesday, 4th May.

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Pedestrian dies in Birmingham

Claire Brown – 6th April 2022 – 8:45am.

A woman has sadly died following an RTC in Ward End last yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls reporting an RTC involving a car and a pedestrian on Washwood Heath Road, Ward End, Birmingham at around 4.40pm. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the West Midlands CARE team medics and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance crews arrived, they found the pedestrian, a woman, in a critical condition and immediately commenced advanced trauma care working as a team to provide the best care possible.

“Sadly, despite their best efforts, nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed dead on scene a short time later.”

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Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands Visits WMAS

Claire Brown – Tuesday 5th March 2022 – 5.00pm.

Last week saw the Governor of a U.K. Overseas Territory visit WMAS to learn more about paramedic training and responding to trauma patients.

The Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, His Excellency Nigel Dakin CMG, visited WMAS during a trip to the UK on Friday 1st April and was welcomed to Trust Headquarters in Brierley Hill by Chief Executive Officer Anthony Marsh and Chairman Professor Ian Cumming.

With an ambulance provision in TCI covering a population of around 44,000 spread over nine islands and major trauma cases becoming more prevalent, it was an opportunity to find out what operations and ways of working could be taken back to the Caribbean to further enhance patient care.

After introductions His Excellency went outside for a tour of our electric front-line vehicles showing the advances in technology and medical kit that ambulance staff use to respond to patients. HART paramedics were on hand to explain the vast equipment and technology they utilise, their capabilities and the types of incidents that HART attend. There was also time for a brief chat with the on-duty MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic before their next 999 call.

The tour continued inside at the National Training Academy where His Excellency was given a demonstration of bleed control kits, created by the Daniel Baird Foundation after founder Lynn Baird’s son was stabbed to death in Birmingham in 2017, which the Trust has been working in partnership with for a number of years. It was then time for a whistle-stop walk through of the Trust’s extensive training provision from classroom-based learning and hands on scenario training to blue light driver training.

The final leg of the visit was spent within our integrated emergency and urgent care control rooms to demonstrate the huge amount of work, technology and staffing that goes into answering 999 and 111 calls for the region.

Speaking about his time at WMAS, His Excellency Nigel Dakin said: “I’m originally from Birmingham and therefore seeing the inner workings of the service providing pre-hospital emergency care to my hometown was particularly poignant. I was immensely grateful to WMAS for the time that was invested in me during my visit. I have learnt a huge amount about the ambulance service and what’s so interesting is that so much of what I’ve seen is relevant to some of the challenges we face in the Turks and Caicos Islands. What I was particularly taken with was the excellence of the training here, the innovative use of bleed control kits in terms of democratising the ability to treat trauma patients. There are some immediate wins that I’ve walked away with from the visit but much more excitingly in a way, perhaps the start of a much longer term relationship with WMAS.”

WMAS Chairman Prof Ian Cumming is also the UK Ambassador for Healthcare to the Overseas Territories and in that role recently visited the Turks and Caicos islands to demonstrate the use of bleed control kits to senior representatives from the Ministry of Health, Emergency Medical Service, hospital, Police, Fire, GPs, and the Turks and Caicos Islands regiment. Prof Cumming said: “I’m confident that the Governor’s visit to WMAS reaffirmed plans to expand pre-hospital care in the islands and provision of bleed kits will be a major step forward in helping to save lives.”

Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Marsh, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome His Excellency the Governor to WMAS to showcase the excellent work of our staff and volunteers. It was hugely interesting to hear the different challenges faced in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We’re very happy to provide support in any way to our friends in this UK Overseas Territory with any improvements in the ambulance provision they wish to make.”

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Featured photo (left to right): Nathan Hudson Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, His Excellency Nigel Dakin, Chief Executive Officer Anthony Marsh.

Nathan Hudson Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director gives tour of electric ambulance
HART paramedics showcasing equipment and kit used by the team
MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic explaining their role
Tour of The National Training Academy where student paramedics are practicing RTC scenarios
Emergency driver training vehicles used to train student paramedics
Integrated Emergency and Urgent Care control room at Navigation Point where 999 and 111 calls are answered