Shaunna Farley – Friday 8th December 2023 – 9.20am.
A man has sadly died following a road traffic collision in Coventry last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.40pm to a collision involving a car and a van at the junction of Leaf Lane and the A444 in Coventry. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance service attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a man who was the driver of the car.
“He was assessed and had sustained life-threatening injuries. He received advanced life support from ambulance staff at the scene.
“Unfortunately, despite their best efforts it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.
“A second man, who was the driver of the van was assessed and had sustained injuries not believed to be serious.
“He received treatment at the scene followed by self care advice from ambulance staff before being discharged at the scene.”
Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 5th December 2023 – 4.55pm.
A man has sustained life-threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Penkridge today.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 12.13pm to a collision involving a car and a pedestrian on Church Road in Penkridge. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midland Air Ambulance from Cosford and the Midland Air Ambulance from Tatenhill attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found an elderly man who was the pedestrian.
“He was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained life-threatening injuries. He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene.
“He was conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital further treatment.”
“No further patients required treatment from ambulance staff.”
Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 5th December 2023 – 9.45am.
One person has sustained potentially life threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Oldbury last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.54pm to a collision involving three cars and a pedestrian on Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a man who was a pedestrian.
“He was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained potentially life threatening injuries. He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene.
“He was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital under emergency blue light conditions for further treatment.”
“No further patients required treatment from ambulance staff.”
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) is launching five brand-new Mental Health Response Vehicles (MHRVs) today, to provide enhanced assessment and care to patients of all ages.
MHRVs are a new, first-line response service to attend patients presenting via 999 or 111 using a new national specification of Mental Health Vehicle, to patients who are requiring an ambulance response, where the primary complaint is a mental health concern.
The vehicles will be staffed by Specialist Mental Health Paramedics, who have received additional training in Mental Health Practice, and either a Student Paramedic or Technician who will have the opportunity to enhance their understanding and knowledge of managing mental health presentations.
The five new MHRVs are hosted at:
Coventry
Hollymoor
Shrewsbury
Stoke-on-Trent
Worcester
There is currently no planned MHRV provision for the Black Country hosted by the Trust, and Black Country Integrated Care Board will be launching their own service in the area in due course.
Head of Clinical Practice for Mental Health, Richard Corrall, said: “This is an exciting new service for responding to calls relating to mental health. We recognise there is more we can do to support these patients and direct them to the most appropriate pathways.
“This represents a huge opportunity for the Trust to meet their needs and establish parity of esteem between physical and mental health needs.”
As this is a new addition to the service, ambulances will still attend Mental Health cases where necessary. Mental Health Nurses working within the Clinical Validation Team in the Emergency Operations Centre, will also be available to support crews for further advice at the scene.
Murray MacGregor – Friday 1st December 2023 – 8.00am.
A total of 14 people were treated by West Midlands Ambulance Service crews after disorder outside Villa Park in Birmingham last night.
The incidents happened before, during and after the match between Aston Villa and Legia Warsaw.
Three ambulances, three paramedic officers and two rapid response vehicles were deployed along with a specialist equipment vehicle.
Ten patients were treated and discharged by ambulance staff for minor injuries such as cuts and bruising outside the ground. In addition, four police officers were also assessed and treated with one conveyed to hospital as a precaution.
Amy Stubbs – Wednesday 29th November 2023 – 10.15am
A teenager has died and another has been taken to hospital after a road traffic collision near Much Wenlock last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.11pm to the B4376 and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car from Cosford to the scene. A Community First Responder was also in attendance.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found one car had come off the road and crashed into a tree.
“The female passenger was in a critical condition and ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, she could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.
“The male driver was treated by medics for injuries not believed to be serious before being conveyed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further treatment.”
Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 28th November 2023 – 08.47am
One person has sadly died following a road traffic collision on the M5 last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 8.15pm to a collision involving a van and a HGV on the M5 between junctions 4 and 4a in Catshill, Bromsgrove. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, two BASICS emergency doctors, and the Midland Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a man who was the driver of the van.
“He was assessed and was in a critical condition. He received advanced life support from ambulance staff at the scene.
“Unfortunately, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.”
No further patients required treatment from ambulance staff.
Murray MacGregor – Monday 27th November 2023 – 4.45pm.
Two staff from the West Midlands Ambulance Service Finance Department received prestigious nominations for national awards recently.
Remone Williams and Rob Lampitt were recognised for their work at the annual One NHS Finance Value Maker Conference.
The event sees staff from NHS Finance meet to share learning and best practice and recognises achievements within NHS finance nationally.
WMAS Head of Financial Management, Kim da Silva, said: “There are 100’s of nominations from across the country so to have two WMAS staff reach the finals is a huge achievement. I couldn’t be happier as they both richly deserve the recognition.
“Both consistently demonstrate a willingness to assist and support their colleagues, creating a positive impact on team dynamics. Their commitment to wellbeing is evident in their consistent efforts to prioritise the mental and emotional health of their team members, fostering a positive work environment that promotes overall wellbeing.
“The nominations were assessed by an independent panel made up of finance professional from across the country. Remone was not only nominated but was also the overall winner in his category and was presented with his award by Susanne Robinson (Chief Finance Officer at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust).”
Champion of Change Award Winner – Remone Williams, Senior Income, Contracts & Planning Accountant:
The award recognises an individual who demonstrates a deep understanding of embracing and enabling change in their daily job. Remone is always keen to improve things for the better designing new systems, recording webinars or hosting training to ensure all staff are comfortable with the process and, if needed, book 1-2-1 sessions. He is a credit to the team and the NHS.
Team Player Award Nomination – Rob Lampitt, Stores Manager:
Whether it’s supporting the ambulance service Commonwealth Games operation, managing the roll-out of the Trust flu programme or moving the entire team into a new location, Rob gets straight in there and comes up with practical solutions. Based on strong leadership, excellent planning, and communication skills, Rob leads with pride and compassion and as a result his team receive endless thank you messages.
A man has sadly died and two other people were taken to hospital after a collision in Shrewsbury last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 7.19pm to the junction of the A5 and the A458 near Bicton. A passing ambulance came across the incident at 7.23pm and a second ambulance and a paramedic officer arrived at the scene shortly after.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found two cars had been involved in a collision.
“The driver of the first car, a man, had suffered critical injuries and sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.
“The female passenger of the second car was treated by ambulance staff for serious injuries whilst the driver, a man, was treated for injuries not believed to be serious.
“They were both conveyed on blue lights to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further treatment.”
Shaunna Farley – Friday 24th November 2023 – 10.20am.
One person has sadly died and five people have been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Binley last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10.57pm to a collision involving a car and a tree on Brinklow Road, Binley in Coventry. Five ambulances, three paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and the Air Ambulance Service Critical Care Car attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found six patients from the car.
“The first, a man who was a passenger in the car was assessed and had sustained life-threatening injuries.
“Ambulance staff administered advanced life support to him but unfortunately, nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.
“A man who was the driver and a man and two women who were passengers in the car were assessed and had sustained life-threatening injuries.
“Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care to them at the scene before they were conveyed to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire under emergency blue light conditions for further treatment.”
“A sixth patient, a man who was a passenger in the car had sustained injuries not believed to be serious. He was conveyed to University Hospital Coventry.”
Shaunna Farley – Thursday 16th November 2023 – 09.20am.
A man and a woman have been conveyed to hospital following a single car collision in Tamworth last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 10.26pm to a collision on Coppice Lane, Middleton in Tamworth. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found a woman and a man who were the driver of and a passenger in the car.
“The man who was the passenger in the car was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained life-threatening injuries.
“He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene and was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.
“The woman who was the driver of the car was assessed by ambulance staff at the scene and had sustained injuries not believed to be serious.
“She was conveyed to Good Hope Hospital for further assessment.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Tuesday 14th November 2023 – 10am
A man has died following a stabbing in Wolverhampton last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Laburnum Road at 8.41pm and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and two Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Cars to the scene. The first resource arrived on scene within three minutes of the call being made.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to discover a man who had suffered serious injuries in the incident and was in a critical condition.
“They immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”
Shaunna Farley – Monday 13th November 2023 – 10.15am.
Four people have been conveyed to hospital following a serious collision in Rushwick on Sunday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 3.44pm to a collision involving two cars at the junction of the A4440 and Grove Way in Rushwick, Worcester. Four ambulances, two paramedic officers, a Critical Care Car from Midlands Air Ambulance Service and the Midland Air Ambulance from Strensham attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found four patients from the first car.
“A man and a woman who were the driver of and a passenger in the car were assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained serious injuries.
Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care to them at the scene. They were conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital by land ambulance under emergency blue light conditions for further treatment.”
“A teenage girl and a boy who were passengers in the first car were assessed and had sustained non-life threatening injuries.
“They received treatment from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Worcester Royal Hospital via land ambulance for further assessment.”
“The driver of the second car did not require treatment.”
The extraordinary efforts of West Midlands Ambulance Service’s (WMAS) Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) are evident. So far this year, Call Assessors in the Trust’s EOC have answered emergency 999 calls in just two seconds on average.
Both EOC bases in Brierley Hill and in Stafford have answered a combined total of over 1,365,117 ‘999 calls’ so far this year. Answering 173,834 ‘999 calls’ in October alone. With this huge volume of calls being answered, call answering time has not faltered.
Call Assessors, Dispatch staff and Clinical Validation Team (CVT) work tirelessly to provide around the clock, outstanding care to people of the West Midlands. Additionally, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s EOC answer emergency 999 calls for ambulance services across the country where there is a requirement for support with ongoing demand.
West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Integrated Emergency and Urgent Care & Performance Director, Jeremy Brown said: “A call answering time of two seconds, on average, is a remarkable effort and is one that doesn’t go unnoticed.
“This has displayed, once again, the dedication and commitment our team puts into every single shift to delivery outstanding patient care, in what has been a significantly testing time for the service.
“We are at the starting point of a patient’s journey and need to do everything we possibly can to give the best care to our patients in their hour of need.”
This week, West Midlands Ambulance Service will be sharing an insight into their two Emergency Operations Centres and some of the incredible staff within them with the upcoming launch of the campaign ‘Is the Patient Breathing?’.
The campaign aims to raise awareness about what is happening behind the scenes when a 999 call is made and shows the contrasts between an emergency Category 1 response, and cases where an ambulance is not required but the most appropriate care referral is made.
Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 8th November 2023 – 10am
A male teenager has been treated for serious injuries and taken to one of the region’s major trauma centres following an RTC in Birmingham last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a car that had crashed into a tree on Green Road, Hall Green at 6.38pm and sent an ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival we discovered a car that had crashed into a tree and caught fire. There was one male patient, who had been rapidly extricated from the vehicle by bystanders.
“He received treatment at the scene for serious injuries before being transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 7th November 2023 – 11.30am.
Two men have been taken to hospital following a collision on the A5 Shenstone in Lichfield this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.38am to a collision involving two HGV’s and a car at the junction of Streetway Road and Roman Road. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic, a BASICS emergency doctor and a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found two men who were the drivers of the first HGV and the car.
“The driver of the HGV was extricated from the vehicle by the fire service. Once extricated, he was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained life-threatening injuries.
“He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital with a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic travelling on board for continued treatment en route.
“The driver of the car was assessed and had sustained potentially life-threatening injuries. He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene.
“He was conveyed to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire with staff from the Air Ambulance Service travelling on board for continued treatment en route.”
“The driver of the second lorry did not require treatment from ambulance staff.”
Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 7th November 2023 – 9.20am.
A man has sadly died following a collision on the M54 last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.31pm to the M54 between junctions 2 and 3 in Brewood to a collision involving a car and a lorry and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers and two Critical Care Car’s from Midland Air Ambulance to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found man who was the driver of the car.
“Unfortunately, it was immediately clear that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased by ambulance staff at the scene.”
A male teenager is in hospital after a shooting in Birmingham yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 12.26pm to an address on Lighthorne Avenue in Ladywood and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found the patient in a critical condition.
“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support.
“He was conveyed to hospital on blue lights in a life-threatening condition with the MERIT trauma doctor travelling on board to provide continued treatment en route.”
Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 1st November 2023 – 3.45pm.
A pillion passenger on a motorbike has sustained life-threatening injuries following a collision in Wolverhampton today.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 1.12pm to collision involving a motorbike on Dixon Street and sent one ambulance, the Midland Air Ambulance from Cosford and the Midland Air Ambulance Critical Care Car to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival we found man. He was assessed by ambulance staff at the scene and had sustained life-threatening injuries.
“He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene and was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment under emergency blue light conditions via land ambulance with staff from Midland Air Ambulance travelling for continued treatment en route.”
Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 1st November 2023 – 9.25am.
A woman and a teenage girl have been taken to hospital following a serious collision on the M6 in Penkridge overnight.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 2.43am to the M6 Junction 12 South to a collision involving a car and a HGV and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and a BASICS emergency doctor to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “Upon arrival we found a woman and a teenage girl who were the driver of and a passenger in the car.
“The woman was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained potentially life-threatening injuries.
“She received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene and was conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment under emergency blue light conditions.”
“The teenage girl was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained serious injuries.
“Ambulance staff administered advanced trauma care at the scene before she was conveyed to Birmingham Childrens Hospital for further treatment under emergency blue light conditions.
Two men are in hospital following a serious collision near Shrewsbury this afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 1.51pm to the A458 near Cressage and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Air Ambulance Critical Care Car from Cosford and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews discovered two cars had been involved in a collision.
“One male patient was found in a critical condition and ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support before he was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment.
“A second man was cut free from his vehicle with the assistance of fire colleagues and treated by medics for serious injuries before being airlifted to the same hospital for further treatment.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Monday 30th October 2023 – 10.25am
A man has died after a collision involving a motorbike and a car in Cannock, yesterday afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Eastern Way, near to the Churchbridge roundabouts, Cannock, at 12.38pm. Three ambulances, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found the motorcyclist, a man, in a critical condition.
“Ambulance crews immediately began administering specialist trauma care, but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.
A man has sadly died after a collision involving a motorbike and a car in Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme this afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 12.10pm to the junction of London Road and Albert Street and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a BASICS doctor to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found the motorcyclist, a man, in a critical condition.
“Ambulance crews immediately began administering advanced life support and advanced trauma care but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, due to the extent of his injuries, he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.”
A man has been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Longton last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.51pm to King Street and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers and two BASICS doctors to the scene with the first resource arriving within five minutes.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found a pedestrian and a van had been involved in a collision.
“The pedestrian, a man, was in a critical condition and ambulance crews immediately began administering advanced life support and advanced trauma care.
“He was conveyed on blue lights to Royal Stoke University Hospital with a BASICS doctor travelling on board to provide continued treatment en route.”
A woman has died and two people have been taken to hospital following a three-car RTC yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Evesham Road, Broadway at 4.26pm and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham to the scene. An ambulance from South Western Ambulance Service also attended.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews discovered a woman, who was a passenger in one of the cars, in a critical condition.
“They immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.
“A man, who was the driver of one of the cars, was treated for potentially serious injuries before being taken by land ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
“A second man was treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch by land ambulance. A third man was assessed and discharged at the scene.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 21st October 2023 – 4.55pm.
A man has died after getting caught in fast-flowing flood water this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident near to Furnace Mill Fishery in Cleobury Mortimer at 10.42am and sent one ambulance, two paramedic officers, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “When ambulance crews arrived on scene they quickly began working with fire and police colleagues to try and find the man, who was reported to have gone under the water by a member of the public.
“Following a thorough search and rescue operation, the man was rescued from the water. However, sadly it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”
ENDS.
Notes to Editors:
The picture is a library picture, not from today’s incident.
Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 21st October 2023 – 12.30pm.
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) is appealing for information about a missing defibrillator in Staffordshire.
Following a 999 call made to WMAS on 26th August, to an address on Milton Road, Chadsmoor, an activation was made for the defibrillator based at St Aidan’s Church, Albert Street, Cannock, and the defibrillator was collected.
However, the whereabouts of the defibrillator is now unknown despite thorough attempts from the ambulance service and Burntwood and Cannock Chase Community First Responders to track it down.
Defibrillators are portable lifesaving devices that checks a person’s heart rhythm and, it it’s not beating properly, will deliver a shock, to try and get it back to a normal rhythm.
“As we come to the end of Restart A Heart Week, the timing is perhaps never more poignant to emphasise how important it is to try and track down this defib so it can be put back at the church and available for the community again.”
Eddie Malpass, from Burntwood and Cannock Chase CFRs added: “A lot of hard work and fund-raising goes in to installing defibrillators throughout the community, so it is really important we try and locate this one so it is available to use again.
“The CFR scheme has temporarily put a replacement in the cabinet at the church, but unfortunately that is not a long-term solution.
“If anyone has any information about what happened to the defibrillator or where it is, I would urge you to please get in touch. If a replacement needs to be purchased, that will ultimately be a costly and timely solution.”
Shaunna Farley – Friday 20th October 2023 – 9.35am.
A cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency, knowing the signs that one might be about to occur can make a vital difference in the chances of survival.
Russ Taylor’s wife, Mandy, called 999 as he was experiencing nausea and pain in his arms and chest. When Paramedics, Emily and Alex arrived, he suffered a cardiac arrest in front of them.
They quickly put their skills to work and were able to administer advanced life support to Russ, using CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and shocks with a defibrillator, amongst further advanced life support skills to save his life.
Russ and Mandy, made it their mission to thank the ambulance staff who had saved his life and after time spent recovering, Russ was reunited with Alex and Emily on Thursday (October 11) at Tollgate Ambulance Hub in Stafford.
Ambulance staff rarely hear an update on a patient’s condition once they have been handed over at hospital, making Mandy and Russ’ efforts to contact the Trust and find them even more special.
Alex said: “A cardiac arrest is one of the most life-threatening conditions we will attend to. When we arrived and assessed Russ, we recognised the symptoms of a heart attack, and we know that this can quickly turn into a cardiac arrest.
“We instantly went to work to provide life support and ultimately, restart the heart. In doing this, we’ve been able to keep a husband and wife together and ensure that Russ’s life did not end that night.
“Being reunited with Russ and Mandy is one of the proudest moments of my career. I’m so grateful of them getting in touch with the service to thank us, knowing he is recovering well is an incredible feeling.”
Russ said: “I was incredibly lucky to have such skilled and caring professionals surrounding me when the worst happened.
“I had once read somewhere about the symptoms of a heart attack, and how they can lead to a cardiac arrest. In the past, I might have discounted symptoms like vomiting, pain in my chest, shooting pain in my left arm and sudden sweating, as something else. This was different to anything I had experienced before and I knew it was time to call 999.
“Thankfully Mandy made the call for me when she did and the crew were there to help me when I needed them the most. I am now recovering well with Mandy and I’m very grateful to the paramedics who helped me when I needed them.”
Emily added: “In a cardiac arrest situation, every second counts. The fact that we were able to be at Russ’ aid right before, and when he went into arrest meant that we were able to start CPR and advanced life support immediately gave Russ the best possible chance of survival.
“Every patient we save makes us so proud to work as paramedics. Being able to meet Russ and Mandy again under these happy circumstances is something I will never forget.”
Mandy added: “When I first saw Emily and Alex again, I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I will be eternally grateful to them for giving me my husband back. Without them, this would have been an entirely different story.
“I am very grateful to the second ambulance crew as well, Paramedic, Joseph Hunt and Student Paramedic, Hollie Nulty, for keeping me so calm, reassured and informed in the midst of a crisis. They made a horrible experience slightly calmer for me.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 21st October 2023 – 9am.
A woman has died following an incident in Staffordshire last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a road traffic collision involving a pedestrian and a car at the junction of Yoxall Road and the A515, Kings Bromley, at 7.37pm. One ambulance, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to discover one patient, a woman, in a critical condition.
“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.”
Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 19th October 2023 – 4.45pm.
A man has sadly died following a collision in Brierley Hill today.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to a road traffic collision involving one car nearby to the Merry Hill Centre in Brierley Hill at just after 1pm and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the West Midlands CARE team to the scene with the first resource arriving within 6 minutes of the initial call.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, we found a man who was the driver of the car, who is believed to have suffered a medical incident at the wheel, being cared for by an off-duty Community First Responder (CFR).
“Ambulance staff immediately administered advanced life support to him. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.
Shaunna Farley – Thursday 19th October 2023 – 09.20am.
A man has sustained potentially life threatening injuries following a collision in Coventry last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to a road traffic collision involving a pedestrian and a car at the junction of the A4600 and A4053, St Michaels in Coventry at 8.52pm and sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer and a Critical Care Car from the Air Ambulance Service attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, we found a man who was the pedestrian. He was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained potentially life threatening injuries.
“He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to University Hospital Coventry for further treatment.
“The driver of the car did not require treatment from ambulance staff.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 18th October 2023 – 5.30pm
A woman has died following a collision between a car and a lorry this afternoon.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the A4137 in Glewstone, Ross on Wye, at 12.44pm and sent two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews discovered the driver of the car, a woman, in a critical condition.
“She was already receiving basic life support from bystanders before ambulance staff began administering advanced life support.
“However, despite everyone’s best efforts it sadly became apparent nothing could be done to save the woman and she was confirmed dead at the scene.
“Two men from the lorry were assessed and discharged at the scene.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 18th October 2023 – 1.30pm
A man has died and two people have been taken to hospital following a two-car RTC in the early hours of this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Heath Road at 3.42am and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers and a BASICS doctor to the scene. The first resource arrived on scene two minutes after the call.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews discovered four patients, one of whom, a man who was the driver of one of the cars, was in a critical condition.
“Ambulance staff administered advanced life support but sadly, despite their best efforts, it became apparent nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene.
“A teenage male was treated for serious injuries before being taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital whilst a teenage girl was treated for injuries not believed to be serious. She was then taken to Walsall Manor Hospital.
“The driver of the second car, a man, was assessed and discharged at the scene.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 18th October 2023 – 9am
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) is unveiling five new state-of-the-art VICTORIA childbirth simulator mannequins at the Trust’s first ever Maternity Roadshow today, as it continues to lead the country in the training of ambulance staff in maternity care.
Unlike other maternity mannequins, these simulators are the only ones on the market that can birth a simulated baby by itself and integrates with the Trust’s Zoll Series monitor/defibrillator, which allows real-time monitoring of blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, respiratory rate and heart rate of the mother. Additionally, VICTORIA provides ambulance staff with true-to-life clinical experiences and the most realistic scenarios possible when it comes to maternity patients.
The roadshow, which is taking place at Sandwell Hub, is part of a Maternity Month being hosted by the Trust in October and includes a range of continuous practice development (CPD) activities aimed at improving the knowledge and confidence of ambulance clinicians when providing pre-hospital maternity care.
As well as a simulation station where there will be live demonstrations and a chance to try out the new equipment, there will be open workshops and talks from guest speakers from a wide range of professions including neonatologists, obstetricians, midwives, and pre-hospital doctors.
WMAS Maternity Lead, Steph Henry, said: “The mannequins are incredible pieces of equipment that will undoubtedly help improve the confidence and competency of our staff when attending obstetric emergencies.
“We have been very privileged to have secured talks from a number of specialists for our Roadshow and I hope all of the staff who attend will take a lot from it and give them more confidence when providing pre-hospital maternity care.”
The Roadshow is the latest step made by the Trust on its journey to improving the level of maternity care provided following the death of newborn baby Kate Stanton-Davies in March 2009.
Following this tragic incident, WMAS undertook a full review of the maternity care it provides, which included significant consultation with Kate’s parents, Rhiannon Davies and Richard Stanton.
That engagement allowed the Trust to understand more about Kate, Rhiannon and Richard’s situation so practical steps could be taken to improve the service provided to patients.
Following the engagement and review, significant improvements have continued to be made including the introduction of Maternity Champions on each of our 14 hubs which has increased the quality and number of maternity training sessions available, ambulance clinicians being given the opportunity to shadow shifts in maternity unites to gain first-hand experience and two quality improvement projects were put in a place a few years ago. One seeing cuddle pockets introduced for the safe transportation of miscarried babies whilst the second involves transwarmer mattresses being introduced on ambulances, with the aim of reducing the number of babies born before arrival at hospital developing hypothermia.
Ms. Davies and Mr Stanton said: “Following our catastrophic experience in 2009 and the death of our daughter Kate, we struggled to have the many questions we had relating to her care answered. It wasn’t until after Kate’s inquest in 2012, when the failings were laid bare, that WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, got in touch.
“Although WMAS’ actions were in no way contributory to Kate’s avoidable death, he was genuinely appalled at what had befallen us as a family and wanted to learn all lessons he possibly could to ensure no other family went what we went through.
“Mr Marsh has continued to listen to us, to engage with us, to take our ideas forward and advance the care his paramedics are able to offer. We are proud of each of the changes we have influenced on behalf of Kate. And we are equally proud of the entire WMAS family for being committed to advancing their learning and for the continuous improvements they just keep on making.
“It is our privilege to be invited to continue to support the Mr Marsh and all WMAS colleagues as they lead the country in the training of ambulance staff in maternity care.”
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Notes to Editors:
The mannequins cost £69,000 each and have been purchased using funding from Health Education England.
Tuesday 17th October 2023 – 4pm – Jamie Arrowsmith.
Birmingham Central Mosque has taken delivery of two lifesaving pieces of equipment from West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
As part of WMAS’ Restart A Heart Week activities, the Trust presented the Mosque with an automated external defibrillator and bleed control kit this morning. Training on how to use both items and perform CPR was also provided to members of the mosque, who are all now in a position to potentially save a life.
A defibrillator is a device that can restart the heart of someone who suffers a cardiac arrest whilst a bleed kit contains a tourniquet and other trauma dressings and are vital to help save the lives of patients who suffer major trauma with catastrophic bleeding, whether caused by an accident or assault.
WMAS Chaplain, Imam Mohammad Asad, was on hand to take part in the training and said: “We are delighted to receive the defibrillator and bleed control kit at the Mosque and are thankful to WMAS for the donation and the training provided.
“It is a real boost to the community for us to have these items and of course, whilst we hope they never need to be used, they may just help to save a life one day.”
WMAS Community Response Manager, Andy Jeynes, said: “It was fantastic to people so engaged with the training this morning, all of whom now have essential skills in giving someone the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.
“CPR is very easy to learn and anyone can do it! There is no better time than now, during Restart A Heart Week, to give it a go because ultimately, you never know when it might be your turn to try and save a life.
“We are really keen to reach out to as many religious groups as possible and help support their communities by helping to teach CPR. If you are interested, please email andy.jeynes@wmas.nhs.uk or cliff.medlicott@wmas.nhs.uk and we will be able to help.”
There are an estimated 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year. The chance of a person surviving a cardiac arrest falls by 10 per cent for every minute that passes without an AED being used.
Survival rates can be as high as 75 per cent when patients are treated with the right care and a defibrillator in time.
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Notes to Editors:
Picture caption – WMAS Community Response Manager, Andy Jeynes, with Imam Mohammad Asam and members of Birmingham Central Mosque. Please credit WMAS if used.
Shaunna Farley – Tuesday 17th October 2023 – 09.18am.
A man has sustained serious injuries following a collision in Whitemore, Congleton last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to a road traffic collision involving a cyclist and a car at 5.57pm on Whitegates, Whitemore in Congleton and sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer and a BASICS emergency doctor to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, we found a man who was the cyclist being cared for by bystanders. He was assessed by ambulance staff and had serious injuries.
“He received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.
“The driver of the car did not require treatment from ambulance staff.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Monday 16th October 2023 – 11.45am.
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) is urging everyone to learn the lifesaving skill of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to mark Restart A Heart Day which takes place today (Monday 16th October).
Now in it’s tenth year, Restart A Heart Day is aimed at teaching as many people as possible how to do CPR, an essential skill that can be the difference between life and death when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
Whether young or old, everybody has the ability to perform CPR, so what better time to learn or refresh your skills?
In the UK, only around one in seven people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), much lower than other parts of world.
Half of OHCA are witnessed and by having early bystander CPR it is shown to more than double the chances of survival.
WMAS is today launching a week-long campaign to promote the importance of learning CPR and has produced a new video explaining how to do it, which you can view and download here.
Cliff Medlicott, WMAS Community Response Manager, said: “Lots of people imagine you have to be a paramedic or a medical professional to save a life, but the truth is that everybody has the potential to be a lifesaver.
“There is no doubt that coming across a cardiac arrest is scary. It’s different to a heart attack. In a cardiac arrest, the patient will be unconscious and their heart won’t be beating – they are clinically dead – unless someone is prepared to do something.
“Performing CPR buys the patient time until the ambulance service gets there. It’s really important to realise that you cannot hurt the person, doing something can only help.”
WMAS would love to see as many members of the public as possible having a go at learning CPR, and has produced a certificate to congratulate them for giving it a try, which can be downloaded and printed out here.
Whether it’s you, your son, daughter, brother, sister or any other family member, we would love to see pictures of you all with your certificates once you’ve had a go, so we can share them on our social media channels to help promote how easy it is to learn this lifesaving skill.
A man has sadly died after a collision in Selly Oak in the early hours of this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 12.36am to Pershore Road and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found two cars had been involved in a collision.
“A man from the first car was found outside the vehicle in a critical condition.
“Ambulance crews immediately began administering advanced life support but sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, he could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.
“A woman from the same car was treated by ambulance staff for injuries not believed to be serious and conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment.
“The driver of the second car, a man, was also treated for injuries not believed to be serious and taken to the same hospital for further treatment.”
A man has sadly died and another is in hospital after a collision involving in Erdington yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 1.33pm on Sunday to Tyburn Road and sent two ambulances, three paramedic officers, the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), West Midlands CARE Team, an Air Ambulance Critical Care Car from Cosford and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found one car had come off the road and crashed into a tree and there were two patients.
“Sadly, it quickly became clear that the driver, a man, could not be saved due to the extent of his injuries and he was declared dead at the scene.
“The second patient, a man, was in a critical condition and had suffered life-threatening injuries.
“Ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support and advanced trauma care.
“He was conveyed via land ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further treatment.”
A woman has sadly died after a collision involving a motorbike and a car near Whitchurch last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.47pm to Heath Road in Prees Heath and sent three ambulances and a paramedic officer to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found a car and a motorbike had been involved in a collision.
“A woman, who was a pillion passenger on the motorbike, was in a critical condition. Ambulance crews immediately began administering advanced life support and advanced trauma care but sadly, due to the extent of her injuries, she could not be saved and was confirmed dead at the scene.
“The motorbike rider, a man, was treated my medics for injuries not believed to be serious before being conveyed to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further treatment.”
Jamie Arrowsmith – Thursday 12th October 2023 – 8.30am.
A man has been treated for potentially serious injuries and taken to hospital following a collision involving three lorries on the M6 in the early hours of this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the northbound carriage of the M6, between junctions 13 and 14, at 1.04am and sent one ambulance and two paramedic officers to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Upon arrival, crews found three lorries that had been in collision, all of which had suffered significant damage.
“The driver of one of the lorries, a man, was treated for potentially serious injuries before being taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital.
“A second man was assessed and treated for minor injuries before being discharged at the scene whilst the third occupant of the vehicles did not wish to be assessed.”
Murray MacGregor – Friday 6th October 2023 – 9.55am.
The tables were well and truly turned on a member of WMAS staff earlier this week when she received a prestigious national award.
Jenny Hubble is usually the person who organises the West Midlands Ambulance Service awards ceremonies, but on Monday it was she herself who was on stage picking up an award for her outstanding work.
Jenny received the ‘Exceptional Support Service Staff’ award at the annual Ambulance Leadership Forum, which is run by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE).
Jenny has one of the most important jobs in our Trust – organising the awards ceremonies that recognise the efforts of staff, volunteers and partners, which attracts upwards of 500 individuals each year.
In addition, over the last 12 months she has assisted in the distribution of thousands of Platinum Jubilee Medals as well as the AACE Jubilee Coins.
WMAS People Director, Carla Beechey, said: “Jenny is one of the great unsung heroes of our service who puts in an immense amount of work to make sure our people get the recognition they deserve.
“It is therefore fitting that she has received national recognition for her work. We regularly get calls from other emergency services and NHS organisations asking about our awards ceremonies because they are so well received.
“It was nice to be able to give back something to someone who works so hard to make others feel appreciated.”
Jenny added: “I have to say I was a little taken aback when I found out I had not only been nominated but was also to get the award.
“I am only doing my job and certainly don’t do it for recognition; in fact, I much prefer to stay behind the scenes, so it was bit strange being up on the stage receiving my award.
“One of the best parts of my job is when you see so many happy faces on awards nights. I get to read about so many cases where staff have gone above and beyond what might normally be expected and to see that recognised and celebrated is so rewarding.”
Jenny is pictured receiving her award from AACE Chair and North West Ambulance Service CEO, Daren Mochrie.
Shaunna Farley – Thursday 5th October 2023 – 10.30am.
A man has died after a collision in Burton-Upon-Trent today.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to a road traffic collision involving a motorbike and a lorry at 5.45am on Wellington Road and sent two ambulances and a paramedic officer to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, we found a man who was the motorcyclist being cared for by bystanders. He was assessed by ambulance staff and had sustained life-threatening injuries.
“Ambulance staff administered advanced life support to him but unfortunately, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.
“The driver of the lorry did not require treatment from ambulance staff.”
A woman has sadly died after a collision in Crewe yesterday.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by police at 7.41am on Sunday 1st October to Main Road in Bowsey Wood and sent an ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found one car had been involved in a collision and had ended up on its roof.
“The driver, a woman, was in a life-threatening condition.
“Fire colleagues assisted with extricating her from the car and ambulance staff immediately began administering advanced life support.
“Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, the woman could not be saved and she was confirmed dead at the scene.”
Four people are in hospital after a multi-vehicle collision in Dudley last night.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 6.50pm on Thursday to Birmingham New Road and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedic, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman says: “On arrival, crews found three cars had been involved in a collision.
“In the first car, which had ended up on its side, there were three patients: two women and a man. Both female patients, who were passengers, were treated by ambulance staff for injuries not believed to be serious before being conveyed to Sandwell Hospital for further treatment.
“The driver, a man, was assessed by medics but was not injured and so was given self-care advice and discharged at the scene.
“The male driver of the second car was treated for injuries not believed to be serious and also taken to Sandwell Hospital for further treatment.
“The female passenger of the same car did not wish to be assessed by ambulance crews.
“The male driver of the third car was assessed by medics but was not injured and so was given self-care advice and discharged at the scene.”
Murray MacGregor – Thursday 28th September 2023 – 10.55am.
A piece of equipment that can literally save lives has been unveiled at a community centre in Coventry.
A community automated external defibrillator (AED) has been placed at Harp Place in Coventry, a centre for a number of local Coventry charities and community organisations
The defibrillator has been funded by Harp Place itself and has been provided by a local charity “Heartbeat UK”, Heartbeat UK Coventry, who aim to provide defibrillators for local community groups.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or defibrillator is a lifesaving device that can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.
Paramedic Alpesh Mistry, who volunteers at Harp Place, said: “As a paramedic I see just how important an AED can be in saving lives. The centre is in the heart of the Coventry community so this is an ideal location for such a device. We also have lots of elderly people use the centre so it is ideally placed should it be needed.
“Clearly we hope it never will be used, but having one here means that should such an event happen, it will give the patient the best possible chance of survival. You do not need any training to use an AED – the device has simple instructions.”
“If someone has a cardiac arrest, it is vital that you start call 999, start CPR and get someone to find a defibrillator. The 999 call assessor will let you know if there is one nearby. They will also tell you what to do if you don’t already know. Starting CPR and getting a defib quickly will give the patient the best possible chance of survival.
The unveiling took place on Friday 22nd September with two local MPs Zarah Sultana (Coventry South) and Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West) on hand to assist. In addition, Coventry CFRs (community first responders) brought one of their vehicles along.
Harp Place is situated at 2 Sandy Lane, Coventry, CV1 4DX, telephone number 02476 555 222.
Inderjit and Sam (top left) and Bhikiben (to the right)- Harp Place volunteers
Carl and Robin – Coventry CFRs
John and Glenys (in elephant onesie) – Heartbeat UK
Alpesh Mistry, Zarah Sultan and Taiwo Owatemi – Coventry MPs
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.”
Murray MacGregor – Wednesday 20th September 2023 – 8.20am.
A motorcyclist has died after a crash on a dual carriageway.
The incident happened on the Bristol Road in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham at just before 2.00am on Wednesday morning.
An ambulance crew who were returning to base witnessed the crash and were immediately on scene to provide care to the rider.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “A second ambulance, a paramedic officer and the MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic were sent to back up the initial crew.
“The man was moved to the ambulance and received advanced life support and trauma care but unfortunately it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”
