Month: December 2022

Murray MacGregor – Friday 30^th December 2022 – 12.30pm.

It’s traditionally the biggest party night of the year, but are you ready to celebrate the start of 2023…safely?

Like most parts of the NHS, West Midlands Ambulance Service is under significant pressure, so it is more important than ever that people make it a very happy, but safe New Year.

Last year, the Trust received over 3,000 emergency 999 calls between 6.00pm and 6.00am, the busiest we have ever been.

This year, we are expecting a large proportion of calls to be alcohol-related.  But it’s not just people who are too drunk to stand up or are being sick; sadly, overindulgence leads to assaults, falls whilst people have false bravado and road traffic collisions too.

Unfortunately, it also leads to our staff having to put up with drunks which sadly sometimes results in them being abused verbally or even physically, which is completely unacceptable.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The last thing we want to do is to spoil people’s fun; we would just ask people to take responsibility for themselves and their own actions when they are out celebrating to make sure they have a safe and fun night to remember.

“We’d like to thank the many staff who have given their night up with family and friends to come and work an additional shift with us.  Our staff will inevitably work flat out while the majority of the public celebrate the arrival of 2023.”

To help you have a safe and fun New Year, please follow our top tips below:

• Eat before you go out: food helps slow the absorption of alcohol, stopping it going to your head too quickly.
• Pace your drinks: don’t drink too much before you go out as the likelihood is you won’t last the night.
• Never leave drinks unattended: sadly, there are people who will take advantage of the situation and potentially spike your drink.
• Stick together: please look after your friends whilst out.  Make sure you have plans on how you’ll all get home as well as how you’ll go out.
• Know your limits: sadly, alcohol gives us bravado and results in people injuring themselves from trying to do things you wouldn’t normally, or gets you into a fight. 

Remember that 999 is for people who are critically unwell or there is a risk to life.  If you need medical help or want reassurance, use NHS 111 online at www.111.nhs.uk, contact your GP or visit a pharmacist.

You can also do your part to help the NHS by ensuring you have had your COVID-19 booster and flu jab.

Ends

Shaunna Farley – Friday 30th December 2022 – 12.10pm.

A man has died and another man has sustained life threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Walsall this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident involving a car that had collided with a wall on Leamore Lane, Walsall at 06.43am and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and Hazardous Area Response Team paramedics to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival crews discovered two men from the car who were extricated from the vehicle by the fire service.

“The driver was in a critical condition. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.

“The passenger had sustained life threatening injuries. He received advanced trauma care at the scene.

“He was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.”

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – Friday 30th December 2022 – 8.25am.

A man has sustained life-threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Solihull last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident involving a car and a pedestrian on Warwick Road, Knowle in Solihull at 11.41pm and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and a BASICS emergency doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival crews discovered the pedestrian in a critical condition.

“Crews immediately began administering advanced life support to him at the scene.

“Treatment continued en route to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham where he was conveyed for further treatment.”

“The driver of the car did not require treatment.”

ENDS.

Jamie Arrowsmith – Thursday 29^th December 2022 – 9.25am.

A man has died and a woman has been taken to hospital following an incident in Brierley Hill yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a collision between a bus and a pedestrian on Tennyson Street at 4.34pm and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a HART paramedic and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found a man in a critical condition and already receiving basic life support from a bystander.

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

“The bystander, a woman, was treated for injuries not believed to be serious, before being taken to Russell’s Hall Hospital.”

Ends

Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 28th December 2022 – 2.00pm

It was a busy weekend for the hard-working staff at West Midlands Ambulance Service with a sharp rise in the number of 999 and 111 calls compared to previous years.

Over the four days of the Christmas Bank Holiday from the 24^th to the 27^th of December, the Trust took no fewer than 19,078 emergency calls.  This compares to 17,572 for the same dates in 2021 and is equivalent to a 8.6% increase.

There was an even bigger rise in 111 calls taken by the Trust.  Over the four days, our call assessors took 20,942 calls.  This was a 37.7% increase on 2021 where the Trust took 15,213 calls.

999	2021	2022	Difference
24th December	3974	4521	+14%
25th December	3921	4260	+9%
26th December	4517	4825	+7%
27th December	5160	5472	+6%

111	2021	2022	Difference
24th December	2961	5982	+102%
25th December	3228	4683	+45%
26th December	4868	5376	+10%
27th December	4156	4901	+18%

Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “I would like to thank the many thousands of staff who worked over the Christmas period while most people were enjoying time with their family and friends.

“It is not just the staff on the road who worked so hard; I want to particularly note the work of the staff in our control rooms.  These staff are at the forefront of everything that we do, finding out where we are required but also what is wrong with the patient so that our ambulance crews know what they are going into.

“The task at hand for our call handlers and dispatchers is often just as difficult as that experienced by our road staff; they all work exceptionally hard.

“I also want to thank the staff who support these staff, be it the vehicle preparation operatives who clean, fuel and restock the ambulances; the fleet mechanics who make sure we always have ambulances available but also the managers who look after the staff – it is a real team effort.”

If you fancy the challenge of joining such a fantastic team, we are currently recruiting to a range of job roles.  You can find full details at www.jobs.nhs.uk – positions include:

Student Paramedics                        Ref no: 217-C9217-483-22-23

The public can play their part to support the NHS this winter by coming forward for their flu and Covid vaccines and using services like NHS 111 online for non-urgent advice.  Also, please do not call back to see where the ambulance is or if there is an ETA – only call back if the patient’s condition has worsened or you no longer need an ambulance.

ENDS

Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 28^th December 2022 – 8.33am.

Four people have been hurt, one seriously after an explosion at a property in the Fairfield area of Evesham.

The incident happened at just after 5.00pm on Tuesday afternoon in Hemmingway.

Three ambulances, five paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team, the aircrew from the Midlands Air Ambulance at Strensham, who responded on a car, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car, The MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, a BASICS emergency Doctor and an emergency planning officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found a property that had suffered very significant damage.  Three people from the property were treated at the scene.

“One man had suffered serious injuries.  He was assessed by the air ambulance doctor and critical care paramedic before being taken on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham – the medics travelled with the crew.

“A man and a woman had suffered less serious injuries and after treatment at the scene were taken to Hereford County Hospital.

“A further man from a neighbouring property was also taken to Hereford County Hospital as a precaution after being injured when the explosion caused damage to that property as well.”

Ends

Murray MacGregor – Thursday 22^nd December 2022 – 5.00pm.

West Midlands Ambulance Service is thanking the public and staff for the way they handled the day of strike action on Wednesday.

Staff from Unite and GMB took action yesterday in a dispute with the Government about pay and the current state of the NHS. 

Emergency 999 call numbers were down by 32% as the public heeded warnings only to call if the patient was in a critical condition or there was a threat to life.

As well as those withdrawing their labour completely, many more worked under agreed derogations that saw crews respond to the most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests and other very serious cases such as heart attacks, strokes, difficulty in breathing and maternity cases.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Thanks to a lot of hard work by union reps, managers and good will from staff, patients were kept safe.  Our staff acted incredibly professionally in the way they dealt with this very difficult situation. 

“We are grateful to the public that they noted our request to use other services such as 111 online, pharmacists and GPs. 

“We would also like to thank the hospitals in the region who were able to turn the vast majority of our ambulances around very quickly, which helped massively.

“The Trust respects the right of trade union members to take such action but thanks them for putting patients first while also taking the opportunity to register your concerns through industrial action.” 

The public are reminded that strike action by GMB members is also set to take place next Wednesday, 28th December, but UNITE will not be taking part.

Ends

Amy Stubbs – Thursday 22^nd December – 12.45pm

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a stabbing on Soho Road in Handsworth, Birmingham at 3.17am.

Three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, crews found on person in a critical condition. They gave advanced life support before conveying them to hospital but sadly, the patient later died in hospital.

“Two further patients were treated by ambulance staff for serious injuries before being conveyed to hospital for further care.”

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – Thursday 22nd December – 10.15am.

“Right place, right time” has never been more appropriate for Colin Cady and the off-duty paramedics who helped save his life in October following a road traffic collision.

Colin suffered a medical cardiac arrest at the wheel whilst driving in Sutton Coldfield, causing his car to crash into a tree.

Luckily, off-duty Erdington paramedics Roy Taylor and Maria Johnson, were passing at the time and immediately rushed to Colin’s aid.

They quickly started CPR and utilised a nearby Public Access Defibrillator while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

Thanks to their actions, the ambulance crews who arrived on scene and the assistance of an off-duty police officer and an off-duty nurse, Colin is now looking forward to celebrating the Christmas season with his family.

On Monday, Colin was reunited with some of the ambulance staff who worked together to save his life. He said: “There really are no words to say thank you to those who saved my life that day. I count myself incredibly lucky that multiple off-duty emergency service staff were there at that moment, and that they came over to help me.

“Thanks to their actions, I’ve been able to celebrate my 53^rd birthday recently and I’m ready to celebrate Christmas this year, one that I wouldn’t have seen if it weren’t for the fantastic work of the emergency services staff and staff caring for me in hospital.”

Maria said: “It’s lovely to see Colin under such positive circumstances. It’s also such an important moment to appreciate just how fantastic bystander CPR and AEDs are.

“In this case we were able to assist with saving a patient’s life, not as ambulance staff but as bystanders, which is something that anyone with good CPR knowledge could do.”

Roy said: “While passing by and witnessing the incident, it was natural to go over and see if I could help at all, then seeing Maria there too was an incredible stroke of luck.

“Maria and I know each other well and have years of experience behind us so we both went into autopilot and tried to help Colin to the best of our ability while an ambulance was being called.”

Abi Conlin and Grace Harris, alongside Liam Wetton and Kirsty Wood, responded to the emergency call while on duty.

Abi said: “To arrive at a job like this one, where a patient is in cardiac arrest and to see bystander CPR being performed is a great sign, even more relief to see it being done by not one, but two off duty ambulance staff!

“We were able to convey Colin to hospital in a stable condition, which might not have been possible without the combined efforts of everyone there that day.”

ENDS.

(Pictured L to R: Abi Conlin, Roy Taylor, Colin Cady, Bea, Grace Harris and Maria Taylor.)

The public of the West Midlands are being given an assurance that, on Wednesday (21st December), the ambulance service will continue to respond to incidents where this is a threat to life, despite strike action by two of our unions.

Read More “Strike action by UNITE and GMB”

Jamie Arrowsmith – Tuesday 20^th December 2022 – 8.25am.

A man has sadly died following a collision between a lorry and a motorbike on the M6 yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the southbound carriageway between junctions 10 and 9 at 2.08pm (Monday) and sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor and two critical care paramedics to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “When crews arrived, they found a man, the motorcyclist, in a critical condition.

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

“The lorry driver was uninjured in the incident.”

ENDS

Claire Brown – Thursday 15^th December 2022 – 4.15pm.

A pedestrian has died following a road traffic collision in Hall Green this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received multiple 999 calls to Aldi car park on Stratford Road, Hall Green shortly after midday (Thursday). Two paramedic officers, two ambulances, a community first responder 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 a pedestrian, a woman, in a critical condition following a collision with a car. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed deceased by ambulance staff at the scene a short time later.

“The driver of the car, a man, was assessed by ambulance staff but didn’t require hospital treatment and was discharged on scene.”

ENDS

Amy Stubbs – Wednesday 14^th December – 10.55am

Two people have sadly died after a house fire in Oswestry this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received a call from the fire service reporting a house fire on Glentworth Close in Oswestry at 4.25am. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived, they found fire and police colleagues administering CPR to one occupant, a woman, who had been rescued from the property and was in a critical condition. Ambulance crews worked quickly to provide advanced life support before conveying her on blue lights to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Sadly, despite the best efforts of ambulance and hospital staff, nothing could be done to save her, and she was confirmed dead a short time later at hospital.

“Sadly, a second occupant, a man, was confirmed deceased on scene by ambulance staff.”

ENDS.

Claire Brown – Tuesday 13^th December 2022 – 3.30pm.

A man has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Coventry this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received a call from the police reporting a serious road traffic collision on the A45 Stonebridge Highway in Coventry at 10.27am today (Tuesday). Three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a BASICS emergency doctor, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance together with a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene. One of the Trust’s non-emergency Patient Transport Service ambulances came across the incident and stopped to render aid on scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived they found fire and police colleagues administering CPR to the driver of one car, a man, who was in a critical condition. The team of ambulance staff worked quickly to provide advanced life support to the man but sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead a short time later on scene.

“The driver of a second vehicle involved in the collision, a man, was assessed and found to have sustained injuries not thought to be serious. He was treated on scene before being conveyed by land ambulance to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further checks.”

ENDS

Murray MacGregor – Sunday 11^th December 2022 – 8.15pm.

Four children have been taken to hospital in a critical condition after being rescued from an ice covered lake.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Babbs Mill Park, Fordbridge Road, Kingshurst, Solihull at 2.36pm on Sunday afternoon.

Five ambulances, four paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team, were sent to the scene along with five enhanced care teams: the MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, West Midlands Care Team, The Air Ambulance Service Critical Care Car and three critical care paramedics from Midlands Air Ambulance. The first ambulance arrived within seven minutes of the call.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “After being rescued, the four children were immediately assessed and actively treated at the scene by ambulance staff.  All four were taken on blue lights to hospital, each with an enhance care team travelling with the ambulance crew, with treatment ongoing.

“Two were taken to Birmingham Childrens Hospital and two to Heartlands Hospital. All four children were said to be in a critical condition on arrival.

“The Hazardous Area Response Team continued to work with colleagues from police and fire at the scene until around 6.30pm to ascertain if there was anyone else in the water.  Ambulance resources have now stood down.”

Ends

Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 6^th December 2022 – 1pm.

A teenage boy has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Bordesley Green this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident involving a bus and an electric scooter in Bordesley Green, Birmingham at 07.57am and sent two ambulances and two paramedic officers to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival crews discovered the rider of the scooter, a teenage boy.

“He had sustained life threatening injuries and was in a critical condition.    

“Unfortunately, it became clear that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“Nobody from the bus required treatment.”

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 6^th December 2022 – 9.40am.

A woman has sustained serious injuries following a road traffic collision in Pendeford yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident involving a bus and a pedestrian on Blaydon Road in Wolverhampton at 4.48pm and sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Midland Air Ambulance Critical Care Car to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival crews discovered an elderly woman who was the pedestrian.

“She was assessed at the scene and had sustained serious injuries.   

“She received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene and treatment continued en route to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“Nobody from the bus required treatment.

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 6^th December 2022 – 8.50am.

Several ambulance resources have been at the scene of a significant fire in Wolverhampton overnight.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.33pm by the fire service to the large-scale fire in Horsley Fields and sent several resources including two senior paramedic officers, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and four paramedic officers.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “There were no patients requiring treatment, but ambulance staff remained on scene to support colleagues from the fire service, before being stood down at 6.30am today.

“If you are within a close distance of the area please ensure you keep all windows and doors closed and stay indoors where you can.”

ENDS.