EMAS experiences highest ever 999 demand

The festive season got off to a busy start for EMAS and its frontline crews on Friday 21 December
when it dealt with 2,384 emergency calls - that’s 457 more than would normally be received on a
typical Friday. And record call volumes continued into the early hours of the following morning.

As in previous years, people drinking to excess were the main reason for the increase with crews
dealing with callers who had injured themselves or were so ill, they needed hospital treatment.

A spokesperson for EMAS said: “We geared up for a very busy night because the last Friday before
Christmas is traditionally a time of high demand as people finish work and start to party. Sadly, many
of the patients we dealt with had their night out spoilt and some will even be spending Christmas in
hospital rather than with their family and friends. We expect the increase in demand to continue over
Christmas and into the New Year and whilst we don’t want to be killjoys, we’d urge people to drink
sensibly to avoid the same problems happening to them.”

The service is also asking the public to only call 999 in cases of genuine life-threatening emergencies.

Ambulance trusts' South West merger plan moves closer

BBC News has posted that plans to create a single ambulance service for south-west England have been sent to the health secretary for approval.

Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GWAS) wants to merge with South Western Ambulance Service (SWAS) to create a single foundation trust. The new trust will cover an area from Gloucestershire down to Cornwall.

GWAS said the merger would see some job cuts, however frontline services would not be affected.
A spokesman could not say how many staff would be affected.

If approved by Jeremy Hunt, the trusts could merge by February.

Ken Wenman, chief executive of both organisations, said the plans had been subjected to "rigorous scrutiny" by external bodies such as Monitor and the strategic health authority."It is reassuring that at no stage of the process have there been any concerns that the partnership should not proceed and we are now looking forward to receiving final approval from the secretary of state," he said.

 

Sea of Santas raise £5,000 for air ambulance

 

A Santa dash at Lydiard Park earlier this month, organised by the Rotary Club of Swindon Phoenix and the charity, raised £5,000.The event saw more than 200 Santas brave the bitter cold to run 5km around the park, and this week the club visited the charity to hand the cheque over.

Caroline Corrigan, fundraising manager for Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “It costs the charity £2,000 per day to keep the helicopter in the air and the Rotarians’ goal was to raise enough funds to keep the helicopter flying for further two days by raising £4,000.

“They did in fact raise £5,000 with more funds due to come in. The money will keep the air ambulance flying for another two days and potentially save six lives.”

Swindon Phoenix was invited to the unit to donate the funds raised and see the helicopter.Paramedic Matthew Baskerville who flies on the helicopter gave them a look around and answered questions on the role he plays as a crew member.

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance relies completely on the public for funding. The service does not receive any Government funding towards its annual target of more than £700,000.In the last year crews flew to more than 42 incidents in and around the Swindon area.

Phoenix Rotary president Paul Parfrey said “I have chosen Wiltshire Air Ambulance as one of the beneficiaries from the fundraising that Swindon Phoenix are doing as it’s a critical service to saving lives in Wiltshire.

“The Santa Run took hours of organising but it paid off. The members of Swindon Phoenix are proud to support this worthy cause and we have booked December 1, 2013 for the next Swindon Santa Run.”

For more information about Wiltshire Air Ambulance visit www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk or for more information about the Rotary Club visit www.swindonphoenixrotary.org

From the Swindon Advertiser: http://tinyurl.com/cypjabl

 

Interim chief executive for ambulance trust

An interim chief executive has been appointed to the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust.

Andrew Morgan, former chief executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney, will lead the trust while the next stage in the recruitment process is carried out.

Maria Ball, chairman of the trust, said: “Andrew is a superb person to lead the trust whilst the next stage of the recruitment process is carried out. The trust is entering an important time as we work with new commissioners to agree how the service will be funded, what services will be provided to patients and to what standards.

“With Andrew’s extensive expertise within the NHS, he will be able to guide the trust forward to improve our services to patients, and see EEAST through the difficult winter period where traditionally we see an increase in demand on 999 services.”

Mr Morgan has worked in the NHS since 1982 and has held posts as chief executive at NHS Bedfordshire and NHS Harrow, and has spent time as a health authority director in primary care.

 

Fundraising for National Air Ambulance Week

The chance to try flying an ambulance without leaving the ground will be available in Basingstoke’s Festival Place shopping centre on Saturday 29th September.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) will be bringing its Helicopter POD to the centre as part of the fundraising National Air Ambulance Week.Visitors will be able to make donations and find out more about HIOWAA and its associated charities.

Flying an average of four to five missions every day, the air ambulance is estimated to incur operational costs of £3,600 for every day it flies – a figure that is only raised through donations.

HIOWAA chief executive John Perry said: “We receive no funding from the Government or the National Lottery for operational purposes, and so we rely on the generosity of the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to maintain the service.”

HIOWAA has flown 3,946 missions in its first five years, many of which have saved lives.
Ten fundraising events will be taking place across the region for air ambulance week. For details of all fundraising events across the county, visit hiow- airambulance.org.uk.

New students to be given drinking advice by paramedics

On Tuesday 25th September, Will Lodge of the Daily Gazette writes that freshers at Essex University will be given life-saving lessons and safe drinking advice by ambulance teams.

Crews from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) are visiting freshers’ fairs in the region promoting their What to Do When Your Mate’s Had a Few campaign.

Paramedics at Essex University’s event on Saturday October 6 will also be teaching students first aid skills including CPR and advising students to register with a local doctor.

Help needed for this year’s Commando Challenge

Can you help?  Devon Air Ambulance Trust is looking for volunteers to help at their biggest fundraising event of the year – which takes place on the weekend of Saturday 6^th and Sunday 7^th October.  The annual Commando Challenge, now in its 22nd year, starts at Bicton Arena and volunteers are needed to marshal the route across Woodbury Common to the Royal Marines assault course.  Thousands of  participants are booked to take on the challenge over the two days, with the warm up training and support offered by serving Royal Marine Commandos.

Caroline Creer, Fundraising Director of Devon Air Ambulance Trust, explained, “This event is always so well supported and every year the teams say what a fantastic time they have had.  It’s the only time of the year that the course is open to the public and, with the help of the Royal Marines themselves, it really is a unique challenge which also raises significant funds for both the Trust and ‘C’ Group, the Royal Marines charity.   As with any event of this size, however, the safety of participating teams is paramount and that relies on the goodwill and help of a great number of volunteers.  We would be really grateful to hear from anyone who can come along on either of the days to offer a hand.”

If you would like to help at this event please call Caroline Creer of Devon Air Ambulance Trust on 01392 466666, or indeed, if you have grit, determination, a terrific sense of humour and a team of people to help you along the way (minimum team of 4,) then why not enter this year’s Commando Challenge.  Entries are still available on the day - visit www.commandochallenge.co.uk for further details or email c.creer@daat.org