OfficialWMAS

Shaunna Farley – Thursday 27th January – 9.30am.

One person has sadly died and another has been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Coleshill last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a car and a lorry that had collided on Faraday Avenue, Coleshill at 9.57pm last night and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service and a MERIT Trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, crews discovered two patients.

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

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

The second, a woman who was a passenger in the car, was assessed and had sustained serious injuries. She received advanced life support from ambulance staff on scene and was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment.

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 19^th January – 3.30pm.

One person has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Werrington today.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a car and a stationary tractor that had collided on Leek Road, Werrington in Stoke on Trent at 11.07am today and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer, and two Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Tatenhill to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, crews discovered a man who was the driver of the car, he was assessed and had sustained life threatening injuries.

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

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 12^th January – 3.15pm.

A cyclist has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Solihull today.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a car and a pushbike that had collided on Friday Lane, Barston in Solihull at 9.52am today and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the West Midlands CARE Team and a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, crews discovered a woman who was the cyclist, she had sustained life threatening injuries.

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

The driver of the car did not require assessment.

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 12th January – 9.15am.

Two people have sadly died and another has been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a car that had collided with street furniture at the junction of Hagley Road West and Winchfield Drive in Beech Lanes, Birmingham at 9.52pm last night and sent one ambulance, two paramedic officers, a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service and a BASICS emergency doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, crews discovered three patients from the car, which was ablaze. Two of them, the driver and a passenger in the car, had suffered serious injuries in the collision. Unfortunately, it immediately became clear that nothing could be done to save them and they were confirmed deceased at the scene.

The third patient, a passenger in the vehicle who was a man, received advanced trauma care at the scene for serious injuries before he was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment.”

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Thursday 23^rd December – 9.50am.

A road traffic collision involving one car last night has left a child with potentially life threatening injuries and a woman with potentially serious injuries.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10.28pm last night to reports of a road traffic collision on Church Road, South Yardley and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, we found two patients, a woman and a child. The first patient, the child, a passenger in the car, was assessed and had sustained potentially life threatening injuries, she received treatment from ambulance staff on scene and was conveyed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further treatment.

The second patient, the driver, was assessed and had sustained potentially serious injuries, she received treatment on scene and was conveyed to Heartlands Hospital for further treatment.

ENDS.

Shaunna Farley – 21st December – 9.00am.

A chance meeting five years ago with WMAS Chief Executive Anthony Marsh led to a West Bromwich schoolboy setting his sights on becoming a paramedic.  Today, William Brown has not only left school, but has completed his training and is now saving lives in his chosen career.

William, who is currently working out of Sandwell Hub in West Bromwich, met Mr Marsh while studying at sixth form at the Health Futures UTC (University Technical College) in West Bromwich.   He was in a board meeting at the UTC which William attended where the vital role that paramedics play in the community was discussed.

Following the meeting, William took part in an ambulance cadet programme at the UTC which was tutored by West Midlands Ambulance Service alongside St John’s Ambulance.  The programme allowed students to learn first aid skills and familiarise themselves with what is involved in prehospital care.

William said: “Meeting Mr Marsh inspired me and sparked my interest in the ambulance service.

“Hearing him speak about the service made me realise that patient care begins in the community, not just at the hospital and that paramedics play a vital and active role in delivering this care; I knew immediately this was something I wanted to be a part of.

“This influenced my career plans and I knew I wanted to become a paramedic; it’s a decision which has been life changing to say the least!  It is a journey which has not only fuelled my professional development but shaped my personality.

“This highlights the limitless potential that we hold when we set our minds to a goal. As I start my career I hope to not only serve, but to inspire others and make a positive difference.”

“For anyone considering a career within the ambulance service, if you’re an individual who is caring and passionate about making a difference whilst challenging and developing yourself, this is the time to do so and be part of an innovative change.”

Mr Marsh, met up again with William after the Trust marked Remembrance Day last month.  He said: “The ambulance service has so many fantastic careers available to people from every part of our community.

“Having served as a paramedic on the frontline, I know what a difference our staff can make.  But more than that, the additional skills our paramedics now have, since I worked on the road, make such a difference to the population we serve.

“They are able to treat so many more people at home, reducing the pressure on our hospital colleagues and making sure patients get the care they need in the best place for them.

“The paramedic profession is a relatively young one, but it has so much potential.  I know William embodies that pursuit of providing the best care possible while also increasing the skills that paramedics can bring to patients.

“I am absolutely delighted that our chance meeting five years ago was able to inspire him and I am sure that he will do the same for many other people.”

For anyone who would like more information about becoming a paramedic or one of the many other roles within the ambulance sector, please go to: https://wmas.nhs.uk/careers-staff-room/job-opportunities-2/

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Monday 22nd November – 09.30am.

One person has died and another two have been taken to hospital following a collision in Walsall last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 7.24pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving two card at the junction of Broadway and Magdalene Road in Walsall. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, we discovered four patients.

The first, the driver of the first car, was freed from the vehicle by the fire service. Once freed, crews quickly commenced advanced life support, although, it became clear that, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff on scene, nothing more could be done to save her and she was confirmed deceased at the scene.”

The second, a passenger in the second car, had sustained injuries not considered to be life threatening, he received treatment on scene and was conveyed to Walsall Manor Hospital for further treatment.

The third, a passenger in the second car, was assessed at the scene and had potentially serious injuries, he was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment.

The fourth patient, the driver of the second car, did not wish to be assessed.

Ends.  

Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 2nd November – 9.20am.

One man has died and another has been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Bilston last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8.41pm to reports of a collision involving one car on Bessemer Close, Bilston and two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, we discovered two patients, both men.

“The first, a passenger in the car, was extricated from the car by fire service colleagues. However, upon assessment it sadly became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“The second man, the driver of the car, was assessed and had sustained serious injuries, he received advanced trauma care on scene and was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.”

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Friday 22nd October – 10.00am.

Bosses at West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) are urging defibrillator owners to register their devices on a new national database called The Circuit so that more lives can be saved.

Each year in the West Midlands, there are around 3,700 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, yet just 7% of those patients will survive. However, if the patient gets immediate CPR and early defibrillation the chance of survival can more than double! Every minute that passes without CPR or the use of a defibrillator reduces the chances of survival by up to 10%.

Sadly, the UK’s low survival rate is in part because public access defibrillators are used in less than one in 10 out of hospital cardiac arrests. 

This is often because 999 call assessors aren’t always aware that a defibrillator is available nearby, because the ambulance service hasn’t been told about it. If they don’t know it is there, they can’t direct someone at the scene to retrieve it while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

To help save more lives, WMAS is urging people who own and maintain defibrillators in places such as offices, communities, shopping centres and leisure centres, as well as in public places – to register them on a database called The Circuit: The national defibrillator network which is run by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) with the backing of NHS England.

The Circuit was introduced in the West Midlands last year and allows the Service to see defibrillators that are registered.

It is therefore vital that as many defibrillators as possible are registered on the database for it to work effectively. 

It is estimated that there are thousands of defibrillators across the West Midlands which are still to be registered on The Circuit. To make sure opportunities to save lives aren’t being missed, WMAS and the BHF are calling on everyone who has a defibrillator to make sure it is registered on The Circuit

The Circuit could help to save thousands of lives – but it is vital that as many defibrillators as possible are registered on the database for it to work effectively.  It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of defibrillators which are still to be registered on the new system in the UK. To make sure opportunities to save lives aren’t being missed, the organisations are aiming to see 70,000 additional defibrillators unknown to The Circuit registered by the end of the year. 

Anthony Marsh, Chief Executive of West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), said: “We know from other countries like Denmark that where there are more defibrillators available, more lives can be saved.  We also know that there are potentially thousands of defibrillators in the West Midlands that we simply don’t know about.  

“By registering your defibrillator on The Circuit, we will be able to direct members of the public to them when there is a cardiac arrest nearby.  By registering your defib, you will become part of a lifesaving team.”

It’s free to register your defibrillator onto The Circuit, and you only have to do it once. You can also register multiple defibrillators if you are the guardian to more than one.

Visit TheCircuit.UK for more information or to register your defibrillator.  

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest and, alongside CPR, prompt use of a defibrillator is critical in giving them the best chance of survival. To put it simply, knowing where the nearest defibrillator is could be the difference between life and death.

“The Circuit is pioneering technology which will help emergency services direct bystanders more quickly to a defibrillator when someone collapses with a cardiac arrest. But for The Circuit to save lives, it is vital that the tens of thousands of unregistered defibrillators across the UK are put on the system.

“If you, or somebody you know is a defibrillator guardian, then we urge you to register your device on The Circuit. You could help save a life.”

Ends.

For more information and to arrange interviews, contact pressoffice@wmas.nhs.uk  

Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 12^th October – 09.00am.

One man has sadly died and another has sustained serious injuries after a road traffic collision involving a car and a motorbike last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.12pm to Exhall Green, Coventry to reports of a car and a motorbike that had collided. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and the Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service with a BASICS doctor and a paramedic onboard attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “On arrival, we discovered two patients, both men.

“The first, the motorcyclist, had sustained life-threatening injuries and unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff at the scene, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“The second man, a passenger on the motorbike, had sustained serious injuries, he received advanced trauma care on scene and was conveyed to University Hospital Coventry for further treatment, with a BASICS doctor travelling throughout the journey to continue treatment.

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

Ends.

Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 6th October – 10.15am. 

A butcher has been presented with a Public Commendation from West Midlands
Ambulance Service after he administered CPR to a member of the public who
suffered a cardiac arrest.

Gordon Tranter, Assistant Manager at Alan Warwick Butchers, performed CPR
when a member of the public collapsed outside of the butchers on the 17^th
June.

Gordon recognised that the woman had suffered a cardiac arrest and was able
to call 999 and begin administering CPR, something that he had no previous
training or experience in doing.

When a cardiac arrest happens, every moment counts in the fight to save a
life. Every minute a person in cardiac arrest goes without CPR or
defibrillation, their survival chances reduce by 7-10% and in 2020, the Resus
Council reported that only one third of people in the UK would be confident
performing CPR on a stranger.

On Thursday, Gordon was presented with a Public Commendation Award for his
lifesaving actions. Gordon was presented the award by Andy Jeynes, Community
Response Manager, alongside Councillor Adam Davies from Dudley Council.

Andy said: “It was a great opportunity to meet Gordon, he represents a
number of people who have saved a life by performing Basic Life Support. It’s a
life skill similar to riding a bike, once you can do it you will never forget.

“It would be fantastic if more people were confident like Gordon to give it
and go as absolutely anything you do is better than nothing at all.

“The benefits of improving bystander CPR is evidenced around the world where
the highest bystander CPR rates are linked to the highest survival rates from
sudden cardiac arrest.

“At the moment, over 68,000 people suffer a sudden cardiac arrests in the UK
every year.

“If this happens in front of a bystander who starts CPR immediately
before the arrival of the ambulance, the patient’s chances of survival
doubles.”

Adam said: “Like so many people, I was genuinely inspired by what
Gordon did. The way he acted so instinctively and saved a life, I assumed he’d
had CPR training – so when he told me he’d only ever seen CPR given on TV I was
even more inspired. That’s why I reached out to Andy Jeynes from West Midlands
Ambulance Service to make sure this selfless act of bravery got the recognition
that it deserves.

“My bigger hope is that Gordon’s example will also encourage others to
step up when duty calls. That’s why I’ve also created the Best of Brierley Hill
Award to further raise awareness of these kind of acts of bravery here in the
Brierley Hill ward, and to recognise brilliant local people such as Gordon who
step up and act with no expectation of thanks or reward.”

Ends.

 

Shaunna Farley – Monday 20th September – 11.20am.

One man has died and two men have been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision involving one car in the early hours of Sunday morning.

West Midlands Ambulance service was called at 00.37am on Sunday to Leek Road, Kingsley Moor and sent four ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance crew responded in a rapid response car.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service Spokeswoman said: “On arrival, we discovered three patients, all men.

“The first, was found in a critical condition, he received advanced life support from staff on scene but unfortunately, despite the best efforts of staff, nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“The second patient was assessed and had sustained non-life threatening injuries, he received treatment on scene and was conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further assessment.

“The third man was assessed at the scene and had sustained injuries not considered to be life threatening, he was conveyed to Queens Medical Centre Nottingham for further assessment.”

Ends.