A man has died following an incident on the M6 near Coventry this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 4.58am to the M6 Southbound between junctions 3 and 2 and sent a paramedic officer and the Critical Care Car from The Air Ambulance Service to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found a male patient.
“Sadly, it quickly became clear that, due to his injuries, nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Monday 5th September 2022 – 9:15am.
The only way is up for West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic Claire Jones as she prepares to climb the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, Kilimanjaro.
As well as her paramedic role, Claire, who is based in Lichfield, volunteers for the Trust’s Staff Advice and Liaison Service, a peer support network within WMAS that provides signposting, advice and a listening ear to all members of staff. It is because of that role that Claire has decided to raise funds for The Ambulance Service Charity (TASC) when completing her trek up Kilimanjaro, for which she flies out on Friday.
TASC provides a range of services to support the mental health, physical rehabilitation and financial wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance staff, and is a charity close to Claire’s heart.
“I am hugely passionate about supporting ambulance staff with their health and wellbeing and if I can complete what will be the most challenging event I have ever done in my whole life for my colleagues, I will be very happy!”
Ahead of the 5,895m climb, Claire has been training hard, bracing herself for altitude sickness and temperatures ranging from 30 degrees at the bottom to -27 degrees during the night as she nears the mountain’s ecological zones to the summit.
Claire added: “This will be the hardest trek I have ever attempted, and I am extremely motivated to raise as much money as I can to fund as many counselling support sessions as I can for TASC.”
To help raise as much money as possible, Claire is fully funding the trek herself, so all sponsorship money raised will go directly towards the fund-raising pot and towards supporting her colleagues. If you would like to sponsor Claire or read more about her charity challenge, please click here.
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 1st September 2022 – 10.00am.
A man has been taken to hospital in a critical condition after a road traffic collision in West Bromwich last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called just after 6pm to reports of an RTC involving an HGV and broken-down vehicle on the Black Country New Road. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and two critical care paramedics and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the occupant of the car, a man, in a critical condition with serious injuries.
“Staff worked quickly to administer advanced trauma care to the man at the scene, with treatment continuing onboard a land ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service is encouraging the public to download the free what3words app, to help us find you in an emergency.
From Monday 25th July – Sunday 31st July, it will be #KnowExactlyWhere week, a summer safety campaign to raise awareness of the free app and how you can use it in an emergency.
The Trust now regularly gets calls from members of the public, particularly when they are in rural locations, who provide us with the three words which allows us to pinpoint the exact location of the casualty, fast.
What3words has divided the world into a grid of 3 metre squares and given each square a unique identifier made of three random words – a what3words address, which can save vital time in an emergency.
‘What’s the address of the emergency?’ is one of the first four questions you are asked when calling 999 but describing exactly where emergency services should go can be challenging. Although our call handlers are trained to gather as much location information as possible from callers, using What3Words makes that much easier.
Integrated Emergency Urgent Care & Performance Director, Jeremy Brown, said: “Emergencies can happen anywhere, from a remote hillside in the Staffordshire Moorlands to the side of the M6 motorway, or the middle of Coventry City Centre. If we are able to get accurate location details from the caller quickly, it reduces the amount of time that it takes for our ambulances to get to the patient which could make a real difference to the outcome.
“We will continue to take map grid references, eastings and northings, GPS plots, postcodes and road names as alternatives.
“It is also important to remember that this technology doesn’t replace the traditional ‘must-pack’ outdoor safety gear for hikes, camping trips, and other outdoor adventures; the app just makes finding you much easier if things do go wrong.”
#KnowExactlyWhere
The app is free to download for both iOS and Android and works offline – making it ideal for use in areas with an unreliable data connection, such as beaches, national parks and campsites. What3words can also be used via the online map at what3words.com. The app is available in 51 languages, and can be used anywhere in the world.
Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 20th July 2022 – 2:30pm.
A man has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Herefordshire this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a collision involving a refuse lorry and a motorcyclist on the A44 in Bredenbury, Herefordshire at 10.04am (Wednesday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a BASICS emergency doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with a paramedic and doctor on board attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived, they found the motorcyclist, a man, being given CPR by an off duty doctor and police colleagues. The man was in a critical condition and ambulance staff commenced advanced life support on scene. Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene a short time later.”
Jordan Eggington – Monday 18th July 2022 – 10.45am.
A man has sadly died after a single vehicle RTC in Birmingham last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10:37pm to reports of the collision involving a car and railings on Belgrave Middleway in the city. Four ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, and the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find multiple patients involved in the collision, with one man having suffered life-threatening injuries.
“Staff worked quickly to administer advanced trauma care to the patient, before conveying him on blue lights and sirens to the Major Trauma Centre at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However, despite everyone’s best efforts, the man sadly passed away in hospital this morning.
“Four other patients involved in the incident were treated for injuries not believed to be serious and were conveyed to Sandwell Hospital for further treatment.”
With the Met Office issuing a ‘Red Warning’ for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday, ambulance bosses are urging the public not to ignore it and make sure they don’t end up becoming a patient.
The Trust has already seen a rise in the number of heat related calls to both the 999 and 111 services with calls about sunburn, heat stroke, BBQ burns, dehydration, breathing difficulties and from people enjoying the outdoors who are ill prepared.
It is vital that people do take on board the warning so that preventable situations don’t end up resulting in people needing to access help from the NHS.
Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, Nathan Hudson, said: “Almost everyone enjoys a sunny day, but the difference this time is that temperatures have the potential to reach levels never before seen in the West Midlands.
“Heat can cause some very serious health implications if we don’t treat it with respect, particularly for the very young and elderly, but it can affect people of all ages.
“Dehydration is one of the biggest risks – it happens when you lose more fluid than you take in. We all need to drink enough when it’s hot; water and fruit juices are much better than alcohol, which is a diuretic and will speed up dehydration.
“We already see lots of cases of dehydration in the elderly and the heat will make that worse. Dehydration can lead to breathing problems, confusion, headaches, fatigue, dizziness and may result in patients becoming unsteady on their feet and as a result end up falling which can result in other serious injuries. It can also lead on to heat stroke and a period of being unconscious.
“Dark yellow or strong smelling wee is a good warning sign that you are dehydrated, and you need to act immediately to rehydrate.
“Clearly lots of people want to spend time in our wonderful countryside. If you are going outdoors, please be aware that the sun is at its strongest between 11.00am and 3.00pm. You will need to be prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear, preferably a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. More positively we have seen a rise in the number of people using What3Words which is helping us to identify where patients who have got into difficulty, are.
It is important to remember that the temperatures given out are measured in the shade, so can be higher still in direct sunlight. If people are out in the sun with no protection, they can get into difficulty quite quickly. We do have cases where people have called us because they have got sunburnt and in extreme cases actually have really nasty burns, which are not only uncomfortable at the time but can result in long term skin damage with the resultant risk from skin cancer too.
“Our main message is enjoy the weather, but do it safely.”
Jordan Eggington – Friday 8th July 2022 – 10.00am.
Today marks the first ever ‘International Paramedics Day’, to recognise and celebrate the work carried out by paramedics and first responders around the world.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline responders have put the wellbeing and interests of others first, working tirelessly in the most challenging of circumstances and often at great risk to themselves. Now, for the first time, the 8th July is being dedicated to the world’s paramedics.
This date is the anniversary of the birth of Dominique-Jean Larrey, the man often referred to as the ‘father of modern-day ambulance services’. International Paramedics Day has been created, organised and run by the College of Paramedics in the UK, with support from professional paramedics’ organisations from around the world.
West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, recorded a special video message to mark the occasion, and said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the enormous contribution that paramedics make to our healthcare system in the various roles they undertake, whether it be on the frontline, in our control rooms, our Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), as critical care paramedics, Specialist Operational Response Team (SORT) paramedics, or our next generation of paramedics who are undergoing their training.
“All of you do a great job every day, often in very difficult and challenging circumstances. But it’s not just about the paramedics, it’s also about the whole ambulance workforce including our technicians, ECAs and student paramedics.
“When I think of the enormous progress the paramedic profession has made since I underwent my training 30 odd years ago, it’s fantastic. You should be rightly proud of the skills that you are all able to perform now to such a high standard, saving lives that were previously lost.
“Please enjoy and be proud of this International Paramedic Day – it is rightly deserved. I am enormously proud of all of you and please be assured of my continued support.”
The Trust’s ability to utilise world-class digital tools is what’s helped it to become one of just two ambulance services in the country to receive accreditation from NHS England and NHS Improvement as part of its Global Digital Exemplar (GDE) programme.
A GDE is an internationally recognised NHS provider delivering improvements in the quality of patient care, through the world-class use of digital technologies and information. Exemplars will share their learning and experiences through the creation of blueprints to enable other Trusts to follow in their footsteps as quickly and effectively as possible.
Through the GDE projects, the Trust has significantly changed access to records for WMAS clinicians whilst with patients. By accepting and embracing the range of systems that are available, they have integrated with multiple platforms to provide access to what is available, and access has grown as systems were brought online. Through accessing the patient’s record, clinicians can make better decisions for their patients as they are better informed about diagnoses and treatment plans that are in place. In the 20/21 year, access to records when a crew attends a patient, grew to 58.9% against a national target of 5%.
The Digital Maturity theme covered a collection of projects that aimed to enhance the digital capability of the Trust. One of the later projects within this area related to digitising the WMAS ‘Make Ready’ processes, where Vehicle Preparation Operatives get vehicles ready for their next shift at our 15 operational hubs. This has seen staff move from working off whiteboard and paper sheets to a rolling digital screen. Crews now refer to the screen which contains the information they need to identify their vehicle. This benefit extends beyond the garage, as management teams have easy access to vehicle availability and can update crew information remotely.
The COVID-19 pandemic also brought with it additional challenges to how the digital infrastructure within the Trust works:
111 First was implemented to allow patients to be booked into appointments in emergency departments.
Most support staff working from home. This required a rapid deployment of remote access solutions for staff.
Non-emergency vehicles were allocated to support 999 operations. These vehicles were equipped with a new mobile data solution. Use of the new mobile data solution ensured compatibility with existing platforms while also allowing new technology to be trialled in live operation.
Pictured left to right: Operational Support Services Director, Craig Cooke, Head of IM&T and WMAS GDE Programme Lead, Phil Collins and NHS Digital Engagement Lead for Midlands, Ian Nelson.
Operational Support Services Director, Craig, Cooke, said: “A huge amount of work has been completed over the last few years to get to this point, and I want to thank all the staff who have taken on and completed the GDE. We’re now recognised against an international standard of digital capability and maturity and being one of just two ambulance services in the country to achieve this accolade is very special. The team from NHS England and NHS Improvement were extremely complimentary about the Trust’s determination to complete the GDE accreditation despite the pandemic pressures. Thanks also to the NHS Digital team – the whole process has been useful and a learning experience as well. It has certainly impacted how we will deliver projects moving forward.”
Head of IM&T and WMAS GDE Programme Lead, Phil Collins, added: “Traditionally we have focussed on delivering IT equipment, but Digital draws more attention to how technology is used and the impact on patients, and this change of perspective helps deliver more benefit to our community.”
Dermot Ryan, Director of Frontline Digitisation at NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: “The team at West Midlands Ambulance Service are demonstrating how digital tools and access to data can help mitigate the challenges faced by the ambulance service – from access to patient records when a crew attends an emergency call, to streamlining vehicle preparation. The Trust has driven real transformation of how they deliver services, which is improving the experience for patients and staff.”
A man has sadly died, and two others have been taken to hospital after a road traffic collision in Staffordshire yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by police at 3:17pm on Tuesday to reports of an RTC involving two cars on Miners Way in Burntwood. Several resources were sent to the scene, including three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a community first responder and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Tatenhill.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the driver of one of the cars, a man, in a critical condition, with bystander CPR already in progress.
“Crews worked together to administer advanced trauma care to the patient but sadly, despite the best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.
“The driver from the other car, a man, was treated for potentially serious injuries and was conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital on blue lights and sirens for further treatment.
“The passenger from the second car, a man, was treated for injuries not believed to be serious and was conveyed to Walsall Manor hospital on blue lights and sirens.”
A woman has sadly died after being involved in an RTC on the M5 in Worcestershire this afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 1:26pm on Monday to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and HGV between junctions 5 and 6 of the M5. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the driver of the car in a critical condition after coming into collision with an HGV.
“Crews worked quickly to administer advanced trauma care to the woman. But sadly, despite their best efforts, nothing could be done to save her, and she was confirmed deceased on scene.”
Student paramedic Ella Davies has overcome many challenges in her life, including three major operations and living with a ‘visible difference’. Despite those hurdles, Ella has never stopped being who she wants to be and achieving great things.
It was her work as a campaigner for Changing Faces and her recent accomplishment of becoming a student paramedic that led Ella’s extremely proud father to nominate her to be Batonbearer in the Queen’s Baton Relay ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
30 year-old Ella from Staffordshire said: “My dad only told me about the nomination after he’d done it! But when I found out that not only had I been nominated, but I’d been selected too – I was quite shocked! There were lots of people who had been nominated to be Batonbearers, so to be picked out of that many people was quite exciting and scary. My immediate thought was – what if I drop it?!”
Batonbearers have been selected in all nine regions of England, and reflect the diversity in communities across the country. The Baton will arrive in the West Midlands on Monday 18th July before reaching its final destination of Birmingham on Thursday 28th July. By the time the Baton returns to England for the final leg, 71 nations and territories will have already experienced the magic that comes with it.
Ella, who was born with a rare condition called cranio-frontal-nasal dysplasia, will represent the West Midlands with the baton on Tuesday 19th July, just over a week before the Games begin.
She added: “All I know at the moment is the day I’m doing it and that I’ll be somewhere in the West Midlands area. I’ll find out more details at a later date.”
As if starting the student paramedic programme and being selected as a Batonbearer wasn’t enough, Ella also put herself forward to be part of the team working the Games for WMAS.
She said: “It was just an opportunity to work a major sporting event, which I may not get the chance to do again. I love sport too and would be watching the Games anyway, so why not gain further experience as a trainee paramedic and see how a major event like that works? I’m hoping that in working the Games, I’ll be able to pick up some valuable knowledge. It’s going to be a busy, but exciting year!”
Ella has previously campaigned and raised money for Changing Faces
Ella is an absolute advocate for knowing your self-worth and letting nothing stop you from achieving your dreams. If you are looking to begin your career with the ambulance service, the Trust is regularly on the look out for the next cohort of student paramedics! To find out more, head here.
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.”
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.”
Jordan Eggington – Monday 28th 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.”
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 24th 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.”
Jordan Eggington – Tuesday 15th 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.”
Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 23rd February 2022 – 8am.
“As an organisation that looks to promote digital integration and enhanced capabilities, we look forward to utilising our new devices alongside our multi-agency partners, particularly with significant events coming up such as the Commonwealth Games in the region this summer.”
Real-time aerial footage will be transmitted directly to ambulance crews in the West Midlands as part of a multi-agency response to major incidents. It’s as West Midlands Ambulance Service, along with West Midlands Fire Service, have invested in Enterprise Control Systems’ (ECS) downlink receivers, which will allow staff to see live video footage from National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopters and airplanes.
The Airborne Data Link (ADL) will provide Commanders with enhanced situational awareness, aiding critical decision making in the event of large-scale operations. The Trust’s Emergency Preparedness team reviewed the recommendations that were citied in phase one of the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry, which led to this project being implemented into daily practice.
Emergency Planning Officer Keith Nevitt, Head of Emergency Planning James Williams, Tactical Incident Commander Cameron McVittie and Operational Support Services Director Craig Cooke (left to right)
The Trust has invested in two receivers, which will be kept in Incident Command Vehicles, providing Commanders with a bird’s eye view of incidents, and allowing them to assess situations and direct resources accordingly. If required, the output from the NPAS aerial footage can also be streamed back to Strategic Commanders back in our control rooms by connecting the receiver with a laptop.
Tactical Incident Commander, Cameron McVittie, said: “Learning from incidents is at the forefront of our command development as an organisation, and the addition of the airborne data link into our command toolbox will be a fantastic asset to ensure that as a multi-agency command team, we can make the best decisions to keep our patients and staff safe at incidents such as water rescue, significant fires or marauding terrorist attacks. Not to mention, to create further synergy between ourselves and our JESIP partners on the scene of incidents.”
Cameron added: “As an organisation that looks to promote digital integration and enhanced capabilities, we look forward to utilising our new devices alongside our multi-agency partners. Particularly with significant events coming up such as the Commonwealth Games in the region this summer.”
Group Commander Richard Moore, of West Midlands Fire Service, said: “We’re really excited to be linking up with our ambulance and police colleagues for this downlink project. It’s the latest innovation in our drive to keep our communities safe with a digital and data-driven approach. We’ve been trialling our own drones for a year, so appreciate how an aerial dimension can complement our work on the ground. The NPAS partnership will help our decision making as we bring incidents to a safe resolution.”
NPAS tactical flight training officer and mission systems expert, PC Neil Cuffe, said: “All our aircraft have the capability to transmit high-quality footage to officers on the ground and incident control rooms via the downlink system. This is invaluable in assisting commanders to make critical decisions on how to appropriately direct resources and manage the scene of an incident. It is widely used by police forces and will be hugely beneficial for fire and ambulance colleagues as we work together to protect the public.”
Colin Waite, UK Police Business Development Manager at Enterprise Control Systems: “The ability to receive live high-quality video and data has always been key for the security and emergency organisations we work with. Now with more collaborative and joint operations, not only is it essential to have interoperable voice communications, but the ability to share situational awareness information which will be key in being able to resolve incidents efficiently and safely.”
Airborne Data Link ReceiverWMAS, NPAS & WMFSNPAS HelicopterTactical Incident Commander & OfficerADL Receiver Streaming Footage Through MS TeamsWMAS Tactical Incident Commander & NPAS PC
Jordan Eggington – Monday 7th February 2022 – 10:15am.
A motorcyclist received advanced trauma care from crews after a serious RTC in Worcestershire last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 7:11pm to reports of a collision involving a car and motorbike at the junction of Roman Way and George Baylis Road in Droitwich Spa. Three ambulances, a paramedic officer, community first responder and the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care team attended, which included critical care paramedics and a BASICS trauma doctor.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find a man, the motorcyclist, in a critical condition with bystander CPR already in progress.
“Staff worked quickly to administer advanced trauma care to the patient both at the scene and enroute to hospital. The critical care team travelled onboard the ambulance to continue with treatment on blue lights and sirens to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. However sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was later pronounced dead at hospital.
“The driver of the car, a man, was treated for injuries not believed to be serious and was conveyed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further treatment.”
A man has sadly died after a road traffic collision on the M6 this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8:58am to reports of a two vehicle RTC between junctions 3 and 2 of the M6 southbound in Warwickshire. We sent two ambulances and a paramedic officer to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the driver of one of the vehicles in a critical condition.
“Sadly, it quickly became clear nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.
“The passenger of the same vehicle, a man, was treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene.”
Jordan Eggington – Saturday 25th December 2021 – 6am.
After another year full of incredible challenges and outstanding actions from staff, West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive Anthony Marsh has issued a Christmas message to the thousands of staff and volunteers who have given so much to their communities over the past 12 months.
Mr Marsh begins: “I wanted to take this opportunity to record a personal Christmas message to all of our colleagues right across our organisation, to wish you all the very, very best for Christmas. The extent to which all of you have really stepped forward is a real testament to your ongoing professionalism, commitment and determination, all of which I am enormously grateful for. Always doing the right thing, often in difficult circumstances to support one another, to protect yourselves and each other and to do the right thing for the public and for our patients”
With a surge in the number COVID-19 cases of the Omicron variant over recent weeks, attention for much of the NHS is on increasing the number of staff and members of the public who are receiving the COVID-19 vaccinations and more recently the booster jab, when eligible. Mr Marsh is urging everyone to also continue with good hand hygiene and mask wearing: “It is even more important now that we carry on doing the right thing and continue to achieve the three ambitious objectives that I set out for the organisation for us all at the very start of the pandemic. Firstly, to protect all of our staff; to be able to help all of our patients; and thirdly to save as many lives as possible. Each of those objectives are as real today as they were at the very beginning of the pandemic and I’ll continue to do everything I can to protect you, so that together we can help all of our patients and we can save more lives.”
Staff and volunteers right across the NHS currently face substantial pressure, so it is incredibly important for colleagues to allow time over the festive period for self-care and reflection. Mr Marsh said: “This time of year is always special for us to be with families. As we move into Christmas and the New Year celebrations, given the pressure the NHS is under and the rise in COVID cases, I fear that the next few weeks are going to be even more challenging than we had hoped they would be. But I do really, really hope that you’re able to spend some quality time with your loved ones, time that you truly deserve.”
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 2nd December 2021 – 1:30pm.
“As wonderful as it is to be recognised, we know there is much more we can do to lead our sector in implementing a zero-emissions fleet.”
The importance of greener alternatives and looking after the planet we call home has been brought into sharp focus as of late, particularly with COP26 gracing the UK last month. Now, the Trust has proven itself as a trailblazer for sustainability with a pioneering vehicle fleet at this year’s GREENFLEET Awards. The event at the British Motor Museum in Warwick last night (Wednesday 1st December) saw WMAS shortlisted in two categories: ‘Public Sector Fleet of the Year’ and ‘Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year’, one of which the Trust was incredibly grateful to win.
The evening, which was also made up of categories such as ‘Electrical Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year’ and ‘GREENFLEET Vehicle of the Year’ showcased innovation by both the fleets themselves, as well as those that supply them. Not to mention individual recognition too, with Fleet Manager awards, together with the coveted EV and AFV Champions.
The ‘Public Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year’ is a new category for public sector organisations with a fleet of more than 300 commercial vehicles that demonstrates a reduction in CO2 and other pollutants through fuel efficiency programmes, green fleet management and driver awareness training. The Trust was up against Oxford City Council and Hull City Council in this category and gratefully received the prize. GREENFLEET noted the additional challenges the ambulance service faces when it comes to providing a strong fleet, which also strives to do its best for the environment.
Tony Page, Head of Fleet & Facilities Management, said: “We were proud to represent the service last night and receive a very warm welcome to the stage in a room of industry leaders and fleet operators, in what has been such a challenging year. Although there were just a handful of us at the event to accept the award, this is certainly a joint contribution, and the efforts of the whole fleet team certainly don’t go unnoticed – an immense amount of hard work goes on in the background for which I am extremely grateful. WMAS operates the newest ambulance fleet in the UK, which is designed with the lightest material technology available in the industry, ensuring our vehicles have the lowest emissions possible at this time. As wonderful as it is to be recognised, we know there is much more we can do to lead our sector in implementing a zero-emissions fleet. In the New Year, all electric Patient Transport Service (PTS) ambulances will be brought into service, alongside the already growing electric vehicles in support services we use. We will have electric vehicles in all areas of our operation in 2022 – another first for the sector.”
Craig Cooke, Executive Director of Strategic & Digital Integration at WMAS
Tony was also shortlisted in the ‘Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year’ category, which recognises individuals who have demonstrated innovation, dedication, and commitment to making carbon reduction a priority. Unfortunately, he just missed out on this prize, but was honoured to be commended, nonetheless. Craig Cooke, Executive Director of Strategic and Digital Integration, said: “Tony is the driving force behind our fleet operations and ensures our crews have the very best ambulances available to them each day. The ambulance fleet in the West Midlands is the newest in our country and is under a continual improvement and investment programme which the Trust is committed to, and we will continue to innovate, develop and invest in the latest fleet technology to implement more zero-emissions vehicles each year. I am extremely proud that Tony was nominated for the award on this occasion. A very well done and thank you for what you and all the team in Fleet deliver every day.”
Craig Cooke, Executive Director of Strategic & Digital Integration and Tony Page, Head of Fleet & Facilities Management
Notes to editors:
In October 2020, the Trust took a major step forward in reducing its impact on the environment by launching the world’s first fully electric emergency ambulance which is operating every day in the city of Birmingham, delivering lifesaving patient care; it has the same medical equipment and capability as our diesel-powered fleet.
Claire Brown – Thursday 18th November 2021 – 11.35am.
One man has died, and another has been airlifted to hospital following a serious road traffic collision in Shropshire this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of an RTC involving a van and a tree on the A41 near Hinstock, Market Drayton at 7.38am today (Thursday). An ambulance, paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were dispatched to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance crews arrived to find a van which had left the road and collided with a tree. It quickly became apparent to crews that nothing could be done to save the driver, a man, and he was sadly confirmed deceased on scene.
“The second occupant, a man, was in a critical condition. Ambulance staff worked quickly with the fire service to extricate him from the vehicle before administering advanced trauma care on scene. Once stabilised the patient was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further emergency care.”
The two police officers who arguably saved the lives of Deena Evans and Mick Hipgrave when they were stabbed in 2020 have received prestigious awards from the Trust.
PC Victoria Gaunt and PC Michael Edge were given Blue Light Commendations by Chief Executive Anthony Marsh at a ceremony in Headquarters recently. The pair were with Deena and Mick when Martyn Smith came at them with two knives stabbing the pair on 6th July last year. PC’s Gaunt and Edge were accompanied by their partners and also met up with Mick and Deena at the ceremony.
Deena said: “It was great to see them again. We are both so grateful that they were with us on that day. If they hadn’t been, the outcome could have been a lot different. As well as being there when we needed them most, they were both so good with us after the stabbing providing reassurance and helping us get through it.”
Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, added: “Although I met Victoria and Michael not long after the incident, it was a real privilege to be able to recognise them formally for their swift actions which helped to save Mick and Deena. They undoubtedly put their own lives on the line to save their blue light colleagues, something I will forever be grateful for. I am also grateful that the footage captured on their Body Worn Cameras played a key role in gaining an admission of guilt from Smith which spared everyone having to go through a trial.”
Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 3rd November – 10:50am.
A woman and boy have sadly died, and two others have been taken to hospital after a serious RTC in Shropshire.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by the police at 3:39pm yesterday (Tuesday) to the A458 between Much Wenlock and Cressage. Due to the nature of the collision, multiple resources were sent to the scene including four land ambulances, two Midlands Air Ambulances, four paramedic officers and a senior paramedic officer.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene of the RTC to find four patients who required treatment.
“A woman from one of the vehicles was found in a critical condition. Staff worked quickly to administer advanced trauma care at the scene, but sadly despite the best efforts, nothing could be done to save her, and she was confirmed deceased on scene.
“A boy, who was also found to be in a critical condition from the collision was given advanced trauma care at the scene and was conveyed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital via air ambulance, with treatment continuing enroute. However sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts nothing could be done to save the child and he was also confirmed deceased.
“The third patient, a man, was found in a serious condition and was conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital via air ambulance also.
“The fourth patient, a man, was treated for serious injuries and was conveyed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by land ambulance.”
Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 3rd November – 8:30am.
A woman has suffered serious injuries after being involved in an RTC with a car in Birmingham.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 5:50pm on Tuesday to reports of a collision on Sutton New Road in the Erdington area of the city. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the West Midlands CARE Team attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the pedestrian, a woman, with serious injuries after coming into collision with a car.
“She was treated for her injuries on scene before being conveyed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on blue lights and sirens, with the CARE team traveling onboard and continuing with treatment enroute.”
Jordan Eggington – Monday 18th October 2021 – 8.40am.
Two women have been conveyed to hospital after being involved in a road traffic collision in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 7:27pm last night (Sunday) to reports a car had left the road and hit a wall, before coming into collision with two pedestrians on Bridge Foot in the town. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Midlands Air Ambulance critical care cars attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find two women, both pedestrians, with potentially serious injuries from the incident.
“They were treated for their injuries at the scene before being conveyed to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further treatment.
“A third patient, a man who witnessed the crash, was assessed and discharged on scene.”
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 14th October – 8:40am.
A pedestrian has been conveyed to the Major Trauma Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after being involved in a road traffic collision in Worcester yesterday afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 4:11pm on Wednesday to reports of an RTC involving a car and pedestrian at the junction of Copenhagen Street and Deansway in the city. One ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find the pedestrian, a woman, with serious injuries from the collision.
“She was given advanced trauma care on scene and was conveyed by land ambulance to Birmingham’s QE on blue lights and sirens, with treatment continuing enroute.”
Claire Brown – Wednesday 29th September 2021 – 8:45am.
A man was given life-saving care at the scene of a serious road traffic collision in Great Barr yesterday afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Beeches Road at 3.16pm (Tuesday) to reports of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a critical care paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic on board attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find the pedestrian, a man, in cardiac arrest following a collision with a car.
“Ambulance staff quickly commenced advanced life support on scene and managed to restart the man’s heart. The man was conveyed by land ambulance on blue lights and sirens to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in a critical condition.
“The driver of car was assessed by crews but was uninjured.”
Jordan Eggington – Friday 17th September 2021 – 12.00pm.
A motorcyclist has been airlifted to one of the region’s Major Trauma Centres after a collision with a car this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9:47am (Friday) to the island of the A460 and A5190 in Cannock. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the motorcyclist, a woman, with serious injuries.
“She was given specialist trauma care at the scene before being flown to Royal Stoke University Hospital, with treatment continuing on route.”
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 16th September 2021 – 9.15am.
A man has sadly died after a road traffic collision in Worcestershire last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8:01pm to reports of the single vehicle RTC at the junction of Hartlebury Road and the B4193 in Kidderminster. Several resources were dispatched to the scene, including ambulance crews, paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, and a Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) BASICS doctor.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the driver of the car, a man, in a critical condition with bystander CPR already being administered by an off-duty paramedic.
“Crews took over treatment of the patient but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”
“At least once a shift, every one of us will be verbally abused at some point.”
Whilst stories of physical abuse towards frontline ambulance staff is all too familiar, the voices behind the 999s and 111s are speaking out about the levels of verbal abuse they receive on an all too regular basis.
Call assessors have been sharing some shocking examples of the types of verbal abuse they’ve experienced whilst simply trying to do their job:
I’ve been sworn at a lot and been told that it’s my fault if a patient dies
Some people just call and shout abuse at you and swear at you
I’ve been called a b**** and told that if I don’t help, I’ll be a murderer
I’ve had a sexually motivated caller who has made quite explicit remarks
The caller started giving be abuse on the call and said he’d make my Dad watch him sexually assault me.
The caller started being verbally abusive because we hadn’t arrived within 10 minutes of their original call.
Callers have sworn at me, threatened to physically assault me and my family
The caller said that if his family member died it would be my fault and called me horrific names
Below is a compilation video featuring examples of abusive callers our staff have experienced this year. The calls have been edited down and the voices distorted to protect the identities of those involved.
Jeremy Brown, Integrated Emergency and Urgent Care Director, has worked for the service for 30 years both on the frontline as a paramedic and in control and knows all too well the abuse staff can face at times. He said: “Call assessors are the first voice you hear when you call 999 for an ambulance. They are there to do the very best by each and every patient, being abusive difficult and offensive to them is not going to help a patient and does have an impact on call assessors personally.
“When people call 999 for help, call assessors often talk to people at their most vulnerable and often at a person’s low point in their lives. Having taken 999 calls myself, I know how difficult a job it can be at times. As a call assessor you’re trained to diffuse situations and calm down callers so that we can get the vital information we need to arrange the best help quickly. It’s understandable when callers are fraught and frightened but it’s not an excuse to be abusive.”
Thank you to the below control room staff for sharing their experiences of being abused by callers:
Jeremy continues: “Swearing, screaming, threats of violence and racial abuse are all too common and it’s not acceptable and not okay. Call Assessors routinely accept that this level of abuse is part of the job and hardly report abusive calls, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t affected by the level of abuse they receive. If you ever need to call 999 or 111, all I ask is that you are courteous and treat my staff with respect.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Call assessors complete an intense two-month in-house training programme where they receive comprehensive training to use the Trust’s computer systems, complete an accreditation to use the national telephone triage system as well as a nationally recognised first aid qualification and also learn about health and physiology. Once the classroom training is complete, they are mentored in the Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care (IEUC) control room whilst taking live 999/111 calls with an experienced call assessor before undertaking a final assessment before being signed off as ready to take calls alone.
If there is an abusive caller, control room supervisors will often intervene on the call. They will also provide support to the call assessor following a difficult or abusive call and offer downtime.
Whilst the level of abuse received hasn’t historically been routinely recorded by call assessors, anecdotally, they will receive at least one abusive call per shift.
Jordan Eggington – Friday 27th August 2021 – 9.10am.
A man has sadly died after a collision involving a car and road sweeper in Worcestershire last night.
West Midlands Ambulance was called at 5:50pm to the RTC on Broadway Road in the Hinton Cross area of Evesham. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene of the collision to find the driver of the car, a man, in a critical condition with bystander CPR already being carried out by an off-duty paramedic who came across the incident, with assistance from police.
“Staff took over in the patient’s treatment and administered advanced trauma care at the scene. However sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”
One person has died following a collision between a motorbike and a stationary car in Birmingham last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.15pm to reports that a motorbike and a stationary car had collided on Coventry Road, Sheldon and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and a critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, we found one patient, the motorcyclist, in a critical condition.
“Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care on scene but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing more could be done to save him and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“The driver of the car was treated for minor injuries.”
Jordan Eggington – Monday 16th August 2021 – 9:30am.
Two men and a woman have been conveyed to hospital after an RTC involving a car and HGV in Shropshire this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6:55am to the collision on the A488 at Hanwood Bank, Shrewsbury. We sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene of the collision to find three patients involved; the driver of the HGV and the driver and passenger of the car.
“The driver of the car, a man, was treated for potentially serious injuries and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital by land ambulance for further treatment.
“The passenger in the car, a woman, and the driver of the HGV, a man, were both treated for injuries not believed to be serious and were conveyed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in separate ambulances for further treatment.”
Jordan Eggington – Monday 16th August 2021 – 9:10am.
A pedestrian has sadly died after being involved in a collision with a vehicle overnight.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 5:45pm on Sunday to reports of an RTC on Redditch Road in Alvechurch. Multiple resources were dispatched to the scene, including two ambulances, the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene on Redditch Road to find a man, the pedestrian, in a critical condition. Staff administered advanced trauma care to the man at the scene, but sadly despite the best efforts, nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”
West Mercia Police are appealing for witnesses or those with any CCTV or dash cam footage from the area to call 101, quoting incident number 00555_I_15082021.
Ambulance crews, critical care paramedics and doctors worked as a team to administer advanced trauma care to a man involved in a serious road traffic collision yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Bloxwich Road in Walsall at 3:44pm on Thursday to the incident involving a cyclist and bus. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the West Midlands CARE Team, and the Midlands Air Ambulance critical care car and Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill attended.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the cyclist, a man, in a serious condition with potentially life changing injuries.
“Staff administered advanced trauma care to the man, and he was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital on blue lights and sirens for further treatment. The West Midlands CARE Team and Midlands Air Ambulance crew travelled onboard, continuing with treatment on route.
“The bus driver was assessed and discharged at the scene.”
Jordan Eggington – Friday 16th July 2021 – 8.55am.
A man has died following a collision between a car and quad bike last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8:35pm to the RTC on Warwick Road in Solihull. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find the quad bike rider, a man, in a critical condition.
“Staff worked quickly to administer specialised trauma care to the patient. Sadly though, despite the best efforts, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.
“The driver of the car, a woman, was treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene.”
“Your sentence will not give me back the year I lost, neither will it take away my painful and ugly scar, or the mental stress you caused. However, hopefully your sentence will be enough to act as a deterrent to others who think it is okay to attack other emergency services, when they have made a choice to simply do a job.”
Taken from Deena Evans’ Victim Impact Statement
Two paramedics, who were stabbed whilst on duty last year, hope the attacker’s sentence sends a strong message of the consequences of assaulting emergency service workers.
53-year-old Martyn Smith has today been sentenced to nine years in prison, with a five year extended licence, after pleading guilty to two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to the pair after they were called out to his home in Wolverhampton last summer.
Shocking police bodycam footage shows the moment Mick Hipgrave and Deena Evans were attacked by Smith with two large kitchen knives as they carried out a welfare check in Stephens Close, on 6th July 2020.
Mick and Deena recall events of 6th July 2020
Deena suffered a punctured lung in the attack and subsequently spent three days in hospital following surgery. Mick was stabbed in the back and was discharged from hospital the same day. The pair spent months off work for both their physical and mental recovery. However, the mental scars are still very much there.
The mental impact has been the worst
The whole incident lasted about 12 seconds, from the moment Mick and Deena entered the property, to Smith being tasered. However, the devastating impact of those 12 seconds will stay with our paramedics forever.
Upon sentencing, Deena read out an extremely emotive victim impact statement directed at her attacker, some of which can be heard below.
Last paragraph of Deena’s Victim Impact statement
Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “The events in Wolverhampton last summer were absolutely devastating. For two paramedics to be stabbed so horrifically whilst simply trying to help a patient is sickening. I want to commend the outstanding resilience of both Mick and Deena in their wishes to come back to work and continue to help their patients after everything they’ve been through. I admire their bravery in openly discussing the attack in order to raise awareness of the dangers paramedics and other front line emergency service workers face on a daily basis. Assaults on ambulance staff, whether it be physical or verbal, are not okay. I hope today’s sentence acts as a deterrent and sends a strong message that attacks on emergency service workers will not be tolerated. I want to also place my thanks on record to the crews who attended Mick and Deena and had the heart-breaking job of saving their lives. My gratitude also goes to the police officers at the scene. If it weren’t for their quick interventions on the day, the result could have been even worse.”
Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, Nathan Hudson, added: “Our staff join the ambulance service because they want to make a difference and help people. For two paramedics to attend a job and come away with extremely serious injuries, both physically and mentally, is not okay. This is not part of the job. Over the last year 1,162 physical attacks were record on WMAS staff. Over the last five years physical attacks against our staff have risen by more than 60% while verbal assaults have more than doubled. That’s why we are rolling out body cameras for all frontline emergency crews. They will allow staff to record incidents where they feel at risk, with any recording being able to be given in evidence should an actual assault occur.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service is to rollout body cameras for all frontline emergency staff after more than 1,110 were assaulted last year. Physical attacks have risen by over 60% over the last five years, whilst verbal assaults have more than doubled. Funding of almost a million pounds from NHS England has allowed the Trust to purchase 1,288 cameras which will be sufficient for each frontline ambulance crew member to wear one.
A man has sadly died after a flat fire in Coventry over the weekend.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by fire colleagues at 11:39am on Sunday to a property on Earlsdon Avenue North. Four ambulances, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), two paramedic officers and the West Midlands CARE Team attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the property to find one patient, a man, in a critical condition with bystander CPR already in progress.
“Staff took over in administering advanced trauma care to the man, but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts nothing could be done to save him, and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”
A man has suffered potentially serious injuries after a single vehicle RTC in Shropshire overnight, which saw his car leave the road and end up down an embankment.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9:36pm to reports a car had collided with some street furniture before leaving the road at the junction of the A4548 and Ludlow Road in Bridgnorth. We sent a Community First Responder, two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find the car had travelled about 15 metres down the embankment, with the driver, a man, still trapped in the vehicle.
“Fire colleagues worked to remove the roof and driver door of the car in order for crews to safely assess the patient.
“The man was treated at the scene for potentially serious injuries and was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on blue lights and sirens, with the MERIT team travelling onboard.”
Jordan Eggington – Friday 25th June 2021 – 10.30am.
A motorcyclist has been taken to a Major Trauma Centre by the air ambulance after an RTC in Shropshire last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6:41pm to reports of a collision involving a motorcyclist and car on Steel Road in the Tilstock area of Whitchurch. One ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Tatenhill with two critical care paramedics onboard, attended.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, crews found the motorcyclist, a man, who’d been involved in a collision.
“He was treated for serious injuries at the scene before being conveyed via air ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.”
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 10th June 2021 – 9.30am.
A woman’s been conveyed to hospital on blue lights and sirens after a single car RTC rollover in Birmingham last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8:51pm to reports of the incident on Harborne Park Road in the Harborne area of the city. Two ambulances, three paramedic officers and the MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find a woman, believed to be the driver of the car, trapped in the vehicle.
“Staff worked with colleagues from the fire service to safely extricate the woman so that a full assessment of the patient could be carried out.
“She was treated for potentially serious injuries at the scene before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, with the MERIT trauma team continuing treatment on route.”
Jordan Eggington – Tuesday 1st June 2021 – 9.00am.
“The past 12 months have been extraordinarily challenging, but it has been the strength, dedication and resilience of our volunteers and staff that has ensured we have continued to deliver the best patient care, in the safest possible way.”
Anthony Marsh, Trust Chief Executive
During an exceptionally difficult year, people from all walks of life around the region have taken the time to volunteer and in doing so, have made a huge difference to those within their communities. We want to take the time to pay tribute to them this National Volunteers Week.
Anthony Marsh, Trust Chief Executive, said: “On behalf of everyone at West Midlands Ambulance Service, I want to firstly thank those of you who have given up your spare time to help the Trust. Hundreds have stepped forward and continued to assist WMAS during what has been the toughest year for the NHS. From our Community First Responders (CFRs) to the volunteer 4×4 response drivers and PTS volunteers, all of your efforts have been extremely appreciated and have not gone unnoticed. The past 12 months have been extraordinarily challenging, but it has been the strength, dedication and resilience of our volunteers and staff that has ensured we have continued to deliver the best patient care, in the safest possible way. I would also like to pay tribute to the work of our Trust Governors, volunteer medics and volunteer car drivers who have all continued to support us throughout the pandemic.”
The Trust recently recruited 195 new CFRs who are currently undertaking training and ‘buddy shifts’ to get them ready to head out on the road. After this mass recruitment drive, the Trust is very lucky to have 373 Community First Responders willing to volunteer their free time in order to assist operational frontline staff and patients, in the event of a life-threatening emergency.
Ben East – Sutton Coldfield CFR
Another area within the Trust where volunteers generously give up their time, is within the Patient Transport Service (PTS). Within the West Midlands region, we currently have eight volunteers who are used to transport walking patients to and from hospitals; these tend to be renal and oncology patients. Within the Cheshire PTS area, 14 volunteers assist the Trust in this capacity.
There are external volunteers groups which WMAS also works alongside of, including the British Association for Immediate Care (BASIC) schemes and St John Ambulance. Another group of volunteers who have proved absolutely invaluable during the pandemic year have been the 4×4 response teams, such as Midland Rover Owners Club 4×4 Response Group and West Midlands 4×4 Response Group, who assisted in getting staff to and from work during the heavy snow in January. They also helped transport PPE and essential equipment around the region when demand was high.
Ian Antill, from MROC 4×4 Response Group, said: “Us delivery drivers generally had a few cardboard boxes as well as cages with PPE and cleaning materials which we collected from Stores in Aldridge. We also delivered (and collected) general post to locations visited, and occasionally the life-saving machines the paramedics use called Zolls. These and some of the more important paperwork e.g. ID cards, required a signature from the site boss or deputy. Uniforms were another frequent item for delivery or return. All the WMAS staff I encountered were invariably friendly and helpful. One ambulance man noticed my LR hat and we got into a (distanced) chat – he was on his 13th LR of all varieties – a real enthusiast. He was very appreciative of our 4×4 Response Group and our volunteering efforts.”
This National Volunteers Week, we encourage you to thank and sing the praises of the volunteers in your area by using the hashtag #VolunteersWeek.
Teamwork is essential within every role in the ambulance service, especially for our operational crews who work with various other frontline services on a daily basis. When a walker became injured in Staffordshire over the weekend, ambulance staff were able to locate and treat the patient with the assistance of the Mountain Rescue Team.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 3:13pm on Saturday to reports a walker had fallen at Thors Cave in Leek. Due to the nature of the incident and the patient being in a hard-to-reach place, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) was dispatched, along with two ambulances and two paramedic officers.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, crews found the man who had fallen in a cave and injured himself while out walking. Whilst a plan was made on how to extricate him from the area, he was given pain relief on scene.
“At this point, volunteers from Derby Mountain Rescue Team arrived to help with his safe removal from the area. A pully system was set up to extricate the patient down from the scene so that crews could fully assess and treat the man in the back of their ambulance.
“He was then conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.”
Incidents in hard-to-reach places such as the countryside and mountains can sometimes make it hard for us to pinpoint a patient’s exact location. That’s where ‘what3words’ comes into its own. In ‘what3words’, the world has been divided up into three metre squares, with each square given a unique combination of three words. Having this app downloaded on your smartphone can help us and other emergency services pinpoint your exact location. For more information head here.
Jordan Eggington – Thursday 20th May 2021 – 8.45am.
Crews worked alongside the West Midlands CARE Team at the scene of a collision in Birmingham last night, which left two men requiring hospital treatment.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6:07pm to reports of a two car RTC and rollover on Alcester Road South in the Kings Heath area of the city. Three ambulances, two paramedic officers and a volunteer doctor with the West Midlands CARE Team charity attended.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find two vehicles; one of which had rolled over as a result of the collision.
“Three patients were identified. One man was treated for serious injuries before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with the West Midlands CARE Team doctor travelling on board.
“A second man was treated for minor injuries at the scene and was conveyed to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment.
“The third patient was assessed and discharged at the scene.”
Jordan Eggington – Wednesday 12th May 2021 – 8:45am.
Four people have been assessed by ambulance crews after a two-car collision resulted in a vehicle hitting a tree last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of an RTC on Longmore Road in the Shirley area of Solihull at 7:21pm (Tuesday). Two ambulances and two paramedic officers attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived at the scene to find all occupants out of the vehicles. One of the rear passengers of the car which came into collision with the tree, a man, was treated for minor injuries at the scene and conveyed to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment. Three further patients were treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene with worsening advice given.”
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.
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
