Month: March 2024

Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 22^nd March 2024 – 1.45pm

West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Medical Director, Dr Alison Walker, was thrilled to be presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Science by Coventry University yesterday.

The Doctorate was presented in honour of Alison’s dedicated contribution to the enhancement of pre-hospital care across the West Midlands and the country.

Alison has worked for the NHS for more than 30 years and has been with West Midlands Ambulance Service as interim, then substantive, Medical Director and Honorary Medical Advisor since 2010. 

She is also the Chair of JRCALC, the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee, which sets the guidelines for how all ambulance staff operate from a clinical perspective across the UK.

Last year she also received a prestigious Gold Medal from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine for her work developing links between hospitals and ambulance services during the pandemic. 

Alison is also heavily involved in research, not only undertaking investigations herself, but supporting others to make steps forward in medical care.

She said: “I am really delighted to have received the Honorary Doctorate as it’s lovely to have that level of recognition from an academic body. 

“I was supposed to be coming down to Coventry a year ago but couldn’t make it as I had a brain haemorrhage and got to see the NHS from a different perspective, as a patient.  

“Having spent three months in hospital and been further supported during my recovery, I really appreciate everything that staff within the NHS do to support patients every single day.  

“The care I received means that I am not only able to return to work but also to have attended yesterday’s ceremony which was a fantastic event.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

If used, please credit the image to Coventry University.

Amy Stubbs – 22^nd March 2024 – 9.30am

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS) has made it to the final of the Disability Smart Awards nominated for the Disability Confident Mental Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Award.

The award recognises how an organisation has supported employees’ mental health and wellbeing in new and innovative ways, demonstrating a positive impact on the lives of their disabled employees and shows how the organisation has thoughtfully considered accessibility and inclusion for everyone when designing how a mental health and wellbeing strategy is delivered.

The criteria also required the organisation to show barriers experienced by disabled employees have been removed to enable everyone to access mental health and wellbeing support as needed.

This recognition speaks volumes for all the work that has been done to improve our support networks. We’re also the only NHS Trust to be shortlisted and are going head-to-head with international companies Bristol Myers Squibb and Asda.

Recruitment Manager, Louise Jones, helped submit our entry titled ‘Supporting Our People – #TeamWMAS’. She said: “I was thrilled to be able to pull together all the great work that is currently being done in the Trust by colleagues and I think this accolade recognises how hard everyone works to make WMAS an inclusive place to work.

“We have so many great things to shout about but we don’t stop there, we continue to identify how we can further support both applicants and employees with disabilities to succeed at work.”

WMAS has a wide range of support services available to all staff, as we recognise that a one size fits all approach does not meet everybody’s needs. In addition to the work completed by the Disability, Carers & Advocates Network, more recently we have launched a Neurodiversity workplace support group. This is peer led to provide colleagues with an informal support avenue to share experiences and support. We are also pleased to be working closely with the British Dyslexia Association as part of their workplace accreditation scheme.

The awards take place in London on 30^th April but you can watch the livestream on the day if you’d like to join.

ENDS

Shaunna Farley – Thursday 21st March 2024 – 09.00am.

Would you know what to do if someone was bleeding profusely?

The single most preventable cause of death is bleeding. This is why West Midlands Ambulance Service in partnership with citizenAID, are holding a Stop The Bleed Training event at Sandwell Hub on Saturday 27^th April.

The training aims to teach attendees about how they can take action to control a significant bleed and give the victim the best possible chance of survival.

The day will take place from 10am-4pm at Sandwell Ambulance Hub, with trainers on the day teaching attendees how to control an injury where blood loss is present throughout 40-minute sessions.

Those who complete the training will receive a certificate of attendance on the day and attendees need no prior medical training. All can attend from the age 11+. 

Director of Performance & Improvement, Nathan Hudson said: “Teaching these life saving skills in the community is vital. Bystander intervention being taken before medics arrive can make a crucial difference to the chance of survival where major blood loss is present.

“The training is incredibly important, and we hope to see as many people as possible there on the day learning to potentially make a life-saving impact if they are ever in a situation where they need to put those skills to use.”

Professor Sir Keith Porter, Co-founder of citizenAID said: “The time between an injury occurring and the arrival of skilled help is when many injured patients die, with the most common preventable cause of death being blood loss.

“Simple first aid measures save lives and I would encourage everyone to attend the “Stop the Bleed” course. Simply giving up 40 minutes of your time to attend this training could be life-saving.

If you would like to register your place, please do so by emailing DG-TrainingAdministration@wmas.nhs.uk, more information regarding the day and the sessions can be found here.

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 20th March 2024 – 1.15pm.

A motorcyclist has sustained life-threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Sandon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 3.51pm on Tuesday to a collision involving a motorcyclist on Lichfield Road, Sandon in Stafford. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a man. He was assessed and had sustained life-threatening injuries.

 “He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene and was conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital by land ambulance for further treatment.”

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 12^th March 2024 – 9.45am.

A man has died following a road traffic collision in Burslem.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 11.41pm last night to a collision involving a stationary van and a motorcyclist on Federation Road, Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a BASICS emergency doctor attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a man who was the motorcyclist. Ambulance staff immediately administered advanced life support to him at the scene.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.

ENDS.

Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 8^th March 2024 – 9.30am.

A pedestrian has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a collision with a car this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Trefonen Road, Oswestry at 6.58am and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff discovered a car that had overturned and the pedestrian, a woman, who had suffered serious injuries in the incident.

“They immediately began administering emergency care at the scene before airlifting the patient to Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“The driver of the car, a man, was assessed and discharged at the scene.”

Ends

Murray MacGregor – Thursday 7^th March 2024 – 9.55am.

An elderly man has died after a two car crash early this morning in Warwickshire.

The collision happened at about 6.00am on the B4086 Wellesborne Road just to the east of Alveston.

Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and The Air Ambulance Service Critical Care Car were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance crews found one car that had suffered very significant damage.  Members of the public were providing the driver with basic life support.

“Ambulance crews took over providing advanced clinical care, but sadly, it was not possible to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“The driver of the other car was unhurt.”

Ends

Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 6^th March 2024 – 9am

Two Keele Community First Responders (CFRs) are preparing to take on very different fund-raising challenges, to raise money for their scheme.

Jake McCandless and Chris Wyatt are taking on challenges that couldn’t be much further apart in terms of extremes, but both which require very different skillsets.

Bravery will very much be the order of the day for Jake as he prepares to take to the skies on Friday (8^th March) to complete a skydive from 13,000ft, on what is his 20^th birthday.

Chris meanwhile, will need lots of physical and mental resilience, ahead of him taking on all 26.2-miles of the London Marathon on Sunday, 21^st April.

Looking ahead to his skydive, which will take place in Peterborough, Jake said: “Obviously Friday is a special day for me being my 20^th birthday, but this seems like a great way to remember it.

“It is a big challenge as I am terribly scared of heights, but I feel like it is a case of go big or go home.

“However, the decision to do it and try to raise money for the scheme is based on the fact that we solely rely on donations to maintain our response vehicle and provide our volunteers with the resources needed to attend life-threatening emergencies.”

Ahead of taking to the streets of London next month, Chris said: “This is the biggest challenge I have ever set myself, to run a full marathon. I’ve always wanted to do one so was pleased to be successful in the ballot to get a place.

“It is going to be a very personal challenge for me as over the past few years I have wanted to get myself in shape, but so far failed. However, I am determined this time will be different and that I will be a healthier and stronger person.”

CFRs are volunteers who respond to emergency 999 calls within their local community on behalf of the ambulance service.

Keele CFRs are made up of students and members of the community who respond to incidents throughout Keele University, Keele, Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Madeley and the surrounding areas.

If you would like to donate to Jake’s skydive fundraising, please click here. Alternatively, for Chris’ Marathon fund-raising page, please click here.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Picture caption – (L-R) Chris Wyatt and Jake McCandless are taking on two very different fund-raising challenges, to raise money for their CFR scheme.

Shaunna Farley – Monday 4^th March 2024 – 9.30am.

A man has died following a road traffic collision involving a motorcyclist and a car in Tamworth.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called just after 10pm last night to a collision involving a car and a morotcyclist on Comberford Road, Tamworth. Three ambulances, two paramedic officers and a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a man who was the motorcyclist in a critical condition. Ambulance staff immediately administered advanced life support to him.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff at the scene, nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.

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

ENDS.

Amy Stubbs – Friday 1^st March 2024 – 8.15am

A man has died after a collision involving two lorries on the M50 near Worcester yesterday (Thursday).

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10.54am to the Eastbound stretch between junctions 2 and 1 near Tewkesbury and sent an ambulance, two paramedic officers, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found one of the lorry drivers, a man, in a critical condition.

“Medics immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, it quickly became clear that he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.

“There were no other patients”.

ENDS