New Ambulance Is Un-Valed

SPRING 2007

The Newsletter for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust

Paramedic Osian Roberts with the new ambulance New ambulance is un-Valed he first of the new breed of state of the art ambulances Osian, a paramedic for 14 years: “The new hydraulic ramp at the hit Welsh roads in March when Vale of Glamorgan took back will make things lot easier. delivery of the first operational vehicle. “We’ll be able to cut turn-round times at hospitals too because we TThe £115,000 ambulance, hot off the production line at Brighouse have our own wheelchair instead of having to hunt round A and E in Yorkshire, went to Pontyclun and has since been joined by a host for one. more. “They are much roomier as well and they have an automatic The new Mercedes 515 Sprinter-based vehicle built by UV gearbox which makes for a smoother ride in towns and cities. Modular had been unveiled earlier in the month before Welsh “This is our working environment and it was important that we Assembly Government Health Minister Dr Brian Gibbons at the were able to have an input and that the views of the people who will Senedd in Cardiff. be using them were listened to. The fleet of 119 new ambulances, 67 Patient Transport Services “The aim was to make it the best and most usable vehicle in the vehicles and 40 Rapid Response Vehicles which will help drive the ambulance services and I think they’ve succeeded. Service forward, has been funded by £16-million of Welsh Assembly “It will be brilliant to have a state of the art vehicle – they are in a Government money. different league to anything we’ve had before and we’re all looking All 119 new ambulances are due to be operational by the end of forward to it.” May and the reaction from the people who will drive them has been Appropriately, the chairman of UV Modular, Peter Howard Jones, very positive, according to Welsh Ambulance Service National Fleet is a Welsh-speaker from Abergwyngregyn in Gwynedd and he’s Manager Tony Cowley who said: “They’re going down an absolute thrilled that his company was chosen to build the new vehicle. storm with staff – they think it’s a tremendous vehicle. He said: “As a Welshman I’m very proud to be part and parcel of The first paramedic to take the wheel was Osian Roberts, from the regeneration of the Welsh Ambulance Service. Llandudno, who as part of the vehicle working group played a full “This is a tremendous vehicle and has everything a modern A and part in its development, and appropriately he drove the first vehicle E vehicle needs – I believe it will become the definitive vehicle of off the production line. choice for UK ambulance services.” “The biggest thing will be the reduction in the amount of lifting and handling we have to do,” said 34-year-old See Pages 6 and 7

pages 2&3 page 5 page 10 Miracle drug Hero Brother On Air Alan Murray Says... drug to the RESCUE Is the 999 system being abused? Wonder This is a question on the lips of many, following our boatbuilder has hailed as heroes the lorry driver enjoyed another back at work for two months. declaration of a major incident on 12th February. airborne Welsh Ambulance Service Christmas with his wife thanks Paramedic Chris Joyce was first on the Firstly, let’s examine what happened. The Welsh Ambulance paramedics who brought him back from to the swift response and the scene in the RRV, closely followed by an Services NHS Trust has traditionally been an organisation Athe dead after his heart had stopped. Aexpertise of an ambulance paramedic in ambulance crewed by paramedic Tristan that is surprised by Christmas on the 25th December every Fifty-seven-year-old grandfather Mike Webber administering a new ‘wonder’ drug. McKillen and technician Rob Reynolds. year. There is no longer an excuse for that, because emergency thought the heart attack that almost killed him Ian Crandon collapsed with a heart Chris said: “Mr Crandon felt unwell at activity is largely predictable. There is a yearly cycle which was indigestion caused by a burger gulped down attack at the home of his in-laws in home, he had chest pains and was worried peaks in March. It’s weather related. Cold weather makes at a pub lunch. Cardiff but an Ambulance Service Rapid so he drove to his in-laws who live blood more likely to clot; it exacerbates chronic chest But Mike owes his life to the speed and skill Response Vehicle was there within four nearby,” he said. conditions; it ices up drives and pavements and causes people of Air Ambulance paramedics Ian Binnington minutes to give him an injection of a clot- “We gave him an initial assessment, to fall. and Meurig McMillan and the new clot-busting busting drug to save him. gave him oxygen and aspirin, and then The Trust’s new performance management system gave us the wonder drug that is saving lives around Wales. His wife, Wendy, said: “He is only thrombolysed him. That’s the clot-busting evidence of an impending emergency in late January. It told Mike, from Borth y Gest, near Porthmadog, 45 and he doesn’t drink or smoke but drug we use. I think it was only the us that, in the South East alone, we had experienced over 900 had been working on a new 23-foot fishing boat imagine if it had happened when he was second time I had used it but it did the extended hospital delays (over 50 minutes) in December and when he began to feel as if the burger he’d eaten driving or the following week when we trick and we got him to hospital then.” over 1,100 in January and that, unless we did something, for lunch was giving him indigestion. were supposed to be on holiday in Spain. The difference the new clot-busting drug we could expect a peak of over 1,500 in March. Mike “I sat down for a while and took a painkiller “A lot of bad things have been said in has made is huge, according to Chris, 36, Cassidy got to work in early February, to bring this to the and went back to work but I realised the the press about the Ambulance Service but a paramedic for 10 years: “They’re like attention of our NHS partners. However, before any action indigestion wasn’t going away,” he said: “I was they were fantastic. They deserve a pat on different people by the time you get them could be taken, the severe weather hit. On 11th February, sweating profusely and looking in the mirror I the back.” to hospital,” he said. we received 64% more 999 calls and responded to 38% was just grey, I wasn’t well at all. Wendy, 38, an administrator, who works “The first I did was about 73 years old more red calls than on a normal Sunday. We coped with “I was taken to Porthmadog football ground by at Companies House, said: “It was just and it happened when he was bowling at 80 extended hospital delays compared with the average of ambulance and the helicopter was already there. lucky he had taken a day off. My father Sophia Gardens. 37. This continued into Monday, when we had 99 extended “The Air Ambulance paramedics got into the had to call 999 but they were there so “He looked terrible, very pale, very delays and the highest daily number of chest pains on record. ambulance and were working on me there and quickly. sweaty, very scared. We thrombolysed On an average Monday, we expect to have around 80 units as they were putting the needle in my arm the “We think the problem is hereditary him and by the time we got to hospital committed at the peak of the day. On that day, we reached a paramedic said ‘Stay with me, stay with me’ and but he has had a quadruple bypass at the he wanted to know if he could play bowls peak of 153. We had nothing left to respond with. I could feel the blackness closing around me – I University Hospital of Wales and he’s been that afternoon. The contributory factors included delayed discharges due to “Apart from shocking the bad weather, exacerbated epidemiology and upgrading someone and bringing of urgent calls by GPs, who couldn’t get a response through them back to life it’s the normal urgent route. The last of these is a vicious cycle. probably the most As the emergency care system heats up, GPs who are worried amazing drug we give. about their urgent patients become more inclined to upgrade “They can go from them and, the more patients they upgrade the more the system thinking they’re going overheats. Added to this, a large number of people who dial to die to having a nice 999 do not need an ambulance. Paramedic Maggie Lloyd with Abermule postmistress Pauline Albrecht. chat. Abuse? Well, apart from the small minority of nuisance A recovering Ian callers, my answer would be no. It is a fact of EMS life that Crandon has now gone a large percentage of callers dial 999 because they don’t know here is a campaign in Wales to save and so grateful to Maggie and her colleagues. back to work, though any other way into the emergency care system. It’s our duty to village post offices but paramedic Maggie “She saved my life,” says the 62-year-old only on light duties, put options other than an emergency ambulance response in Lloyd has saved the village postmistress postmistress simply: “I want to praise the “I’m getting on quite place to cater for them. And many GP urgent patients are T– with the help of the wonder drug which is ambulance service to the hilt. well now,” he said: “I sicker than their 999 counterparts, so we need to get our High revolutionising emergency cardiac care. “They are something else, they really are. I’d had a quadruple bypass Dependency Service up and running as soon as possible, so we The former RAF air stewardess from Newtown, sooner be seen by a paramedic than anyone so it will take a while can admit them safely and punctually to hospital care. in Powys, is an old hand when it comes to else – they’re full of common sense and good but it’s better than the There is no argument about the duty of an EMS crew when administering the thrombolysing clot-busting judgment.” alternative.” an emergency comes in: get out and get moving as quickly as drug that has made such a difference to so many The importance of that early treatment via possible. But what of the Trust’s duty? Here, I will repeat a heart attack victims in Wales. the thrombolysing injection was underlined statement I have made to many of you face-to-face: I have an Maggie, aged 42, has used the clot-busting by Maggie who says: “It’s life changing. It’s the ethical objection to sending a five tonne vehicle at high speed injection four times to good effect. difference between spending the rest of your life through heavy traffic when we know the patient doesn’t need One of those recipients of the thrombolysing as an invalid and being back in work in a few Mike Webber with Ian Binnington and Meurig McMillan it. injection was Mrs Pauline Albrecht, the months and that’s a whole new ball game. My part of the bargain is to ensure that we triage out callers postmistress at the village of Abermule, near “Before this we might have spent 20 minutes was gone.” who don’t need that kind of response and find alternatives for Newtown. with the patient before getting them into the Paramedics Ian and Meurig were preparing to them. The GP in Control scheme was simply an acceleration Maggie recalls: “She was very pale, very sweaty, ambulance, 20 minutes on the road to hospital administer the thrombolysing drug which busts of section 2.2 of Time to Make a Difference. As you know,the and she had chest pain so we did the checks and another 20 minutes, maybe longer getting funding for this scheme was due to run out at the end of the clots which cause a heart attack when they necessary and gave her morphine and then we the patient assessed. March. The good news is that it had to carry her down three flights of stairs to “They reckon for every minute it’s 11 days realised Mike had gone into cardiac arrest. has shown such promise that the the ambulance - luckily she was a very slight off the patient’s life – over an hour and you’re “The first thing we did was to thump him in Welsh Assembly Government found lady. looking at two years – that’s a big difference. the chest,” explained Meurig, aged 38, from funding to take it through to “I went through the procedures with her and “The cardiac muscle doesn’t repair itself so Dolgellau: “His heart didn’t start beating again so May. This will give us time to gave her the thrombolysing drug. the quicker you can bust the clot and return we shocked him twice with the defibrillator. conduct a proper evaluation. If “As often happens her heart rate went down circulation to the affected part of the heart, the “The second time he sat bolt upright and started this service lives up to the promise so I gave her atropine to bring it back up again more chance you have of saving it. screaming – that was good. shown in its first few weeks, we will have to find a way of funding and then we took her to the coronary care unit at “Once part of the heart is dead it’s done and as “Then we gave him the drug and loaded him on Shrewsbury.” it is a pump it won’t work properly if part of it is it in the long term. the aircraft and the pilot, Bob Kendall, flew him “It’s fantastic, especially for us in a rural area broken and it will have to work harder to get the Whatever the outcome, it is where time is critical because it takes the best blood round the body. to Ysbyty Gwynedd to the cardiac care unit.” our duty to both callers and to part of an hour to get to the Royal Shrewsbury “If it’s working harder than it should do then A grateful Mike said: “The Ambulance Service EMS crews to find appropriate Hospital by road.” the chances are it’s going to break down again are my heroes and people should be made aware alternatives for those who don’t need A year on Pauline’s back behind the counter pretty soon.” of the job they do.” Ian Crandon, his wife Wendy and Paramedic Chris Joyce an emergency ambulance response.

“Safety Comes first” paramedic swapped “There’s nothing worse than the A littleSTAR his ambulance for a fear of the unknown. What we six year old boy has been hailed as a hero after he saved his prognosis would have been a lot worse – he basically saved the skin classroom to drive want to show is that we are an sister from severe burns. on his sister’s leg.” Ahome some important safety integral part of every day life.” “We are the people who always Nathan Smith, from Old Colwyn, jumped into action “The shield is just a small memento from the Ambulance Service messages. A to say well done to Nathan.” have to deal with the aftermath when his nine-year-old sister, Rebecca, spilled a scalding hot milk Dermot O’Leary visited Ysgol drink on her right leg. His colleague, Ambulance Technician Bruce Urqhart, added: Llandrillo yn Rhos, in Rhos of things like car accidents.” “I see this as an important part According to the ambulance crew who were called, Nathan “What Nathan did was very important, time is of the essence with a on Sea, to give a talk to literally “saved her skin” by spraying water onto the affected area to burn – the way he acted was very good.” the reception class. in accident reduction – the key message is stay safe. Anything we cool down the burn. “It certainly helped long-term with the healing process, it could He told the And the crew rewarded his presence of mind with a special shield have been a lot worse.” youngsters about his can do to reduce the number of accidents has got to be a plus. from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. work and showed The children’s mother, Nicola Bates, recalled: “Rebecca asked for a A proud Nathan with his shield, big sister Rebecca, Paramedic John Preston (right) and them the equipment “What we want is to see Ambulance Technician Bruce Urqhart people walking around cup of Horlicks with milk so I put it in the microwave for two he carried. minutes.” Dermot said: “The – happy, safe and healthy – and not in the back of an “It came out really, really hot so I put it in back kitchen reasons behind these and told her, whatever she did, not to touch it because it school sessions are ambulance. If I can play a part in that by adopting was really, really hot.” to reinforce the “But what did she do? The next minute we looked over messages they get healthy lifestyle, stressing the importance of good road and Rebecca had the cup of Horlicks balancing on the about road safety arm of the chair. I could see exactly what was going to and by talking and safety sense then I’m happy.” happen but it was way too late.” about the ambulance “The milk spilt all over her leg. She was screaming. service we are taking Teacher Helen Evans said: “It’s been amazing Luckily we had a friend here. We whipped her pyjama out a certain scary bottoms off and our friend said that we element. because it’s taken the fear away – if they come should get her in the bath.” “Usually, people only “We phoned the ambulance service see us when things have across a paramedic in future they shouldn’t be and they said that we should keep her in gone wrong, if there’s been an the bath.” accident or because of illness. so scared.” “It was also an “Nathan was an absolute little star. He “It demystifies the job if had hold of the shower hose and kept they get to see us as human opportunity to drive home important safety it on her leg and he was holding the tea beings like their mums and towel and putting the water on her leg.” dads doing a job. messages – he got them all in.” “He didn’t cringe one little bit, he was “By showing them some of brilliant. He was quite happy to join in the equipment they know that, it and help – I stood back because I don’t can make it less scary for them. like anything like that.” “He was the coolest customer in the house. We are all very proud of him. It’s good that he’s been recognised for doing a good job.” “The burn has healed now but it could have been very different if the right Greta’s royal response to paramedics things hadn’t been done.” “It’s back to normal now and Rebecca Brecon woman was so impressed by the ambulance crew and your local hospital during the Brecon ambulance crews. can go swimming and everything. She quality of the care by local paramedics his recent illness. He said: “It’s very, very kind of Mrs Havard when her cousin twice suffered heart “The Queen was glad to know that your cousin - we were just doing our job. was very lucky.” A has now returned to good health.” “When we arrived at the house Mr Williams Rebecca recalled: “I felt absolutely attacks that she wrote to the Queen - and she had a reply congratulating him on his recovery. The letter went on to say that Mrs Havard’s was sitting in the kitchen, very pale and with scared when I spilled the drink – I was Gwynfor Williams collapsed twice within the letter had been forwarded to the Secretary of terrible chest pain, classic symptoms of a heart screaming and crying. Nathan worked space of six weeks at home earlier this year and State for Health, Patricia Hewitt ”so that she attack. very hard and he’s a little star. I love him each time the ambulance was on the scene in may be aware of your comments.” “It’s caused by a clot in an artery near the heart to bits.” Mrs Havard said: “I can only praise the double quick time to give him emergency care so we injected a thrombolising agent into the ambulance staff for what they did for Gwynfor. By the time Paramedic John Preston and whisk him off to hospital. vein on the back of his hand. arrived on the scene Rebecca had been If it wasn’t for them he wouldn’t be here. “That disperses the clot pretty quickly and he It prompted Mrs Greta Havard, a retired “He was in a bad state. When he went into the put into the bath. was improving as we took him to Nevill Hall hospital auxiliary, to dash off a letter to Her ambulance I wasn’t expecting him to come back.” He said: “The cooling with the bath Majesty praising “the boys and girls for their Hospital.” Not only has he come back, twice, but water was what we would have done prompt and most excellent service to Gwynfor Gwynfor, also 73, a retired sheltered Brecon Locality Officer Glyn Hobby said: “It which saved his life. stands very high for a member of the public to when we got here, we just put some accommodation manager who lives with his cling film to stop any infection.” “I am so overcome by their excellent attention cousin in Libanus, is on the active list again: be so impressed with the quality of care that they and skills I am sharing my grateful thanks. I “But for the ambulance staff and their quick write to the Queen. “Young Nathan started it all off be must tell you of them all.” response I probably wouldn‘t be playing bowls “I’m extremely impressed and equally wetting some towels and putting them Mrs Havard, 73, of Libanus, Brecon, had a tonight,” he said. impressed that Mrs Havard should get a reply. on his sister’s leg.” reply from the Queen’s senior correspondence Paramedic Paul Amphlett, who attended when I’m very pleased and very pleased for the crews. “If Nathan had done what he did it officer saying: “Her Majesty has taken careful Mr Williams had his second heart attack along “Because of the size of Powys and its rural would have been a completely different note of your comments regarding the service with colleague Ken Williams, is thrilled that the nature the ambulance service is very much the scenario by the time we got here. The your cousin, Gwynfor, received from the Queen has been told about the excellent work of front line in community care here.”

TOUCH&GO AMBULANCE ARMADA SETS SAIL

hat do Sarah Vivian and James Hook have in common - apart from he first of a new breed of state of the art ambulances has hit box, central locking and other modern electric updates. From top: Checking equipment placement scoring tries against England? Welsh roads. The vehicle computer also has a diagnostic function needed on the production line. The answer is the Welsh Ambulance Service. Sarah is a paramedic The Welsh Ambulance Service’s new flagship vehicles were by that flashes up problems early and a special design feature Win Cardiff while James’s father, Richard, is the Service’s Clinical Operations The working group in discussion. Tunveiled before Welsh Assembly Government Health Minister Dr where body parts such as skirts and panels can be easily replaced, Manager for Central and West Region in Swansea. The wraps come off. Sarah touched down for the Welsh women in their Brian Gibbons early in March at the Senedd in Cardiff. meaning that vehicles are easily maintained and back on the road defeat by England in the Touch Rugby World Cup They are part of an armada of 119 new ambulances, 67 Patient in hours rather than weeks. Paramedic Osian Roberts drives the first in South Africa in January while James’s early try Transport Services vehicles and 40 Rapid Response Vehicles which A high proportion of all ambulance staff retire early because vehicle off the production line. set Wales on their way to a Six Nations victory at will help drive the Service forward, funded by the Welsh Assembly of back and other physical problems, but the new on-board the Millennium Stadium. Welsh Office Health Minister Dr Brian Sarah was part of the Welsh women’s touch Government. All the ambulances were due to be operational by handling equipment means patients will only have to be lifted Gibbons chats to paramedics Graham rugby squad which reached the quarter finals of June. once. A hydraulic tail-lift and a special hydraulic stretcher Plumridge, from Barry, and Sara Jones, the Touch Rugby World Cup where they lost to Dr Gibbons announced a £16 million investment in ambulance and a wheelchair aim to reduce the number of muscular- from Rhyl. eventual runners-up New Zealand. transport in October and which has since been followed by a skeletal injuries to staff. Despite that loss to England in a group game, further £55 million for a new digital communication system. The vehicle’s five tonne weight means it can easily carry all Wales had earlier beaten Scotland and Japan and Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s Chief Executive the equipment it needs with spare capacity. it was a great experience for the 31-year-old from Kidwelly who has been a paramedic in Cardiff Alan Murray said: “This commitment by the Welsh Assembly Staff across Wales are currently being familiarised with for four years: “It was 35 degrees out there so a bit Government recognises the importance of investment in the the new ambulance and there has been widespread support different from Cardiff in January,” she said. service’s infrastructure and will provide our clinical staff with a from the people who will be behind the wheel, according to She took up rugby at university in Aberystwyth purpose designed care environment which does proper justice to National Fleet Manager Tony Cowley. where she was studying law and while the attraction of their skills. He said: “The familiarisation process is going ahead a legal career faded, her enthusiasm for rugby did not and “These vehicles have been designed with fast and easy throughout Wales now and the feedback we’re getting from she plays for powerful Llandaff North in the Welsh Women’s League. “I realised before I graduated that I didn’t want a career in law,” she said: “I joined the ambulance service eight years ago and I can’t see myself doing anything else. “It’s a very rewarding job and I’ve been lucky to work with really good people at Cardiff East station in Rumney.” There’s been success on the rugby field as well with Llandaff North who have been Welsh league champions five times and won the cup four times but Sarah, a scrum half who has played for Wales A and Welsh Students, also took to touch rugby two years ago. Touch rugby has long since shed its image as an introduction to the game for the very young – the mighty All Blacks use it extensively in training to hone their ball-handling skills and in South Africa there were 54 teams taking part from 17 countries in seven different men’s and women’s sections. “It’s a lot like rugby league,” she said: “You get six touches – like the six tackles in league - and then have to give the ball back. There are no scrums or lineouts. “That’s what I enjoy about it. I love the pace of the game and having to use your skills to create openings accessibility to equipment and, as you know, seconds do save lives staff is excellent. rather than brute force.” so the faster we can get to the patient in a life-saving situation, the “Each paramedic and ambulance technician will receive It was no free holiday greater the chance of that patient surviving. familiarisation with the new vehicle which will be arranged on an for Sarah either. She and “This, together with the decision to spend £55 million on a overtime basis so as not to interfere with normal cover. the rest of the Wales new state of the art digital communications system, marks our “The response has been phenomenal and the staff who have squad had to raise determination to improve the ambulance service in Wales. been on the courses have been contacting their colleagues and the £1500 cost of traveling “Our goal is to provide the country with the modern, 21st encouraging them to get their names down. The enthusiasm has themselves century healthcare provider it deserves, giving our staff the been tremendous and the courses are really taking off. though she tools to deliver that service. This development underlines our “We believe it to be the best ambulance in service in the UK and had help with commitment to doing so.” are pleased staff want to get to grips with it and are sure they will events held Dr Gibbons said: “I announced £16m of Welsh Assembly appreciate it when they do.” at the Government funding in October last year and it is exciting “Staff have already played a major part in the new design and Llandaff North to see the results of this funding with this new hi-tech fleet of formed an advanced technology working group drawn from all club. ambulances. areas of the Trust. “I have given my commitment to providing extra funding to the “We carried out a survey and the points raised by staff have been Ambulance Trust over a number of years. incorporated into the project so that the concept we’ve come up “This funding will be supported by the Trust’s modernisation with is at the forefront of ambulance design. plan which is about ensuring that the most appropriate “Our ambulance driving instructors have even undergone infrastructure, equipment and logistic support are in place in tuition from Mercedes’ own driving instructors in the new vehicle order to ensure effective service delivery. and will come back to deliver that to our staff.” “It will ensure that the men and women who provide this The UV Modular Mercedes Sprinter 515 will be powered by important service are supported by a modernised organisation a 2148cc Euro 4 diesel engine at 150bhp that meets the latest and that performance and response times of the ambulances can specification for emissions. improve to meet all our expectations.” It has a fully-automatic five-speed gearbox with tiptronic manual The vehicles are fitted with the latest satellite navigation and option and an electronic stabilisation package with ABS, traction vehicle location technology. They also have air-conditioning, cool control and brake assist.

FIREandWATER It’sGravedigger’s a GRAVE lifesaving mission top Welsh Ambulance Service officer showed he has lost none of his anxious to pay tribute to the people who saved him. business! paramedic skills when his ‘Speedo’ reponse helped save a swimmer The grandfather from Edgemoor Drive, Killay, Swansea, said: “I owe my who had suffered a heart attack. life to them and I’m so grateful. I seem to have picked the right place, the AFitness fanatic Grayham Mclean, the Ambulance Service’s acting head of right time and the right people.” training, was on his regular early morning swim at the Wales National Pool ravedigger Byron Evans is a man with a mission - saving lives. in Swansea on a Friday morning. reat-grandmother Gwennie Evans was ‘brought back from the dead’ “For most of my clients it’s too late for them by the time That’s when 74-year-old Lyn James collapsed while swimming: “A lady by the swift action of Welsh Ambulance Service volunteers. they meet me,” he says: “I don’t often get the chance to do swimming behind me said I just coughed a couple of times and then started The 89-year-old from Tregaron wasn’t breathing and there were no Ganything for them but hopefully that will change.” to sink - I don’t remember a thing until I woke up in Singleton Hospital,” Gsigns of life when part-time firemen Aled Lewis and Emyr Evans arrived at The 45-year-old has trained as a First Responder, part of the said the retired bus driver. nationwide network of members of the public ready, willing and able But his heart had stopped and only quick action saved him: “There’s a “I think you’re too late. She’s gone” to fill those precious seconds ahead of the arrival of an ambulance group of us train for triathlons,” explained Grayham: “We were swimming with expert treatment. together as usual when the alarms started to sound at the pool. her home at 5.30 in the morning. Byron, from Llantwit Major, can operate a defibrillator and oxygen “Lifeguards were pulling a man out of the water and I and a friend, Dr The two are co-responders, part of a Wales-wide network of volunteer equipment as well as give resuscitation treatment. Rhodri Evans, offered our assistance.” lifesavers trained by the Wales Ambulance Service. He runs his own groundworks firm, BL Landscapes, and is a But after they had given the elderly lady an electric shock with the member of Llantwit Major and Cowbridge Lions who have promised “It was like Baywatch but without defibrillator machine that first responders are taught to use she was to pay for the hire of a hall for a public meeting about forming a improving rapidly by the time the ambulance arrived. First Responder Group. the hair, muscles and tans.” “Mrs Evans’ daughter said to us ‘I think you’re too late. She’s gone’ as we walked through the door,” said Aled: “We put her on the floor and started “I actually got into the gravedigging about 11 years ago when my Grayham was a paramedic at Neath before going into training and knew wife, Liz, came home and said she had a new job for me, digging what to do: “The man had had a heart attack. There was no pulse and he graves, and I thought no chance but a funeral director wanted to see wasn’t breathing. me about it. “I took the lead and we started giving him mouth to mouth and chest “I said I was willing to help out and now I work for 13 or 14 compressions while I sent someone to get my paramedic kit from the car. of them, carrying out over 200 burials a year, and there’s a lot of “The lifeguards had done a great job, they were excellent, and two churches won’t have anyone else. ambulance crews arrived very quickly as well. “It’s a really hard job and you’ve got to do it whatever the weather. It’s not as if you can put if off, is it?” But it was another member of his family that sowed the idea of becoming a First Responder: “I heard that an elderly man had collapsed with a heart attack in a local supermarket and I thought it might be my dad because I knew he had gone there. “It turned out it wasn’t him but it made me think and I went round some local businesses to see if we could set something up and I even went to see Jane Hutt who was Minister fort Health then. “That put me in touch with the Ambulance Service and I trained with the Barry group but I don’t get any calls because I’m too far away. “That’s why I want to form a group in Llantwit and Cowbridge or maybe two groups and the Lions and the local Rotary are backing Heart attack survivor Mrs Gwennie Evans, of, Swyddffynnon, with members of the Tregaron Fire and Rescue First Responder team who saved her, from left, Emyr Evans, me.” Huw Davies, Gareth Davies, Peter Williams and Aled Lewis Welsh Ambulance Service First Responder Officer Tony Rossetti was delighted that Byron had seized the initiative and said : CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and Emyr puts the defib pads on her. “Specialist training for members of the public in basic life support Grayham McLean wih lifeguards at the Wales National Pool “It said ‘shock advised’ and so I shocked her and then we carried on giving skills can and does save lives. her CPR and oxygen. “The First Responder scheme does not, in any way, replace “We got him onto a stretcher and shocked him twice with the defibrillator. “By the time the ambulance crew came she was gasping for breath and emergency services but is a valuable and important resource which “The first provided a pulse but no breathing so we shocked him again and now she’s made a good recovery.” can be vital in the first few minutes of a life-threatening situation. we had a very strong pulse but he still wasn’t breathing. Mrs Evans’s son, Dai Lloyd Evans, a county councillor and the former “If an airway is left blocked for three minutes then the brain may “The crew continued to ventilate him and got him to Singleton Hospital leader of Ceredigion County Council, paid tribute to the efforts of the start to suffer because of the lack of oxygen. as quickly as possible. volunteers: “If it hadn’t been for Aled and Emyr my mother would have “We can teach people to use a defibrillator safely in very short “I was running after them to the car in my Speedo trunks - it was like died,” he said. time. The technology has come on in leaps and bounds so you don’t Baywatch but without the hair, muscles and tans.” “We’d given her up for dead. She had gone limp in my sister Eira’s arms require any specialist skills and knowledge - the machine will do the Dr Evans, a radiologist based at Singleton Hospital, and Grayham and she said ‘She’s dead’ but they arrived and they were so quick and so job for you. followed to the hospital: “When we got there the crews were outside efficient and she came round. “The work of First Responders focuses around the cardiac smiling,” said Grayham: “They said Mr James was sitting up in the “Then the ambulance arrived and Chris Doughty in the ambulance was emergency, that’s the core reason for First Responders being there. resuscitation bay, waiting to thank us.” asking Eira how old my mother was and she couldn’t remember what year He added: “It was a textbook example of what we call the chain of she was born and my mother said ‘1917’. “The First Responders provide a service that is over and above the survival. “Now she’s fine and although she’s a bit weak she can walk with a frame. provision of the Ambulance Service. They are complementing what “We had a quick alert, immediate basic life support at the scene, a “My mother has five children, 14 grandchildren and 19 great- we provide. defibrillator shock followed by advanced life support by the ambulance grandchildren and they think the world of her and were so pleased they “There is no such thing as a typical First Responder – they come crews and at the hospital and it led to a successful resuscitation. could visit her this Christmas. from all walks of life. “If this chain of survival is in place then it can increase survival rates from “She was so pleased to be able to give each one of them a present too and “As well as Byron there are retired professionals, a school dinner three per cent to 31 per cent.” as a family we appreciate greatly the efforts made by everyone. lady, a chapel minister, a bank manager and any other background Grayham, aged 40, from Swansea, and married with two young children, “It shows that the emergency services are working and working very well.” you’d care to mention.” is currently acting national training manager at the Ambulance Training Aled Lewis, 41, a farmer, said: “You don’t do the job for money but To become a First Responder you must be between 18 and 70 years College at Cefncoed Hospital, Swansea, which recently gained A grades in it’s nice when you get a thank you and shows you are appreciated in the old, be physically fit and hold a clean UK driving licence. its annual inspection. community. He is a member of the Multisport triathlon team from Swansea who are “Our first job is to put out fires but seven of the 14 retained firemen are former winners of the Welsh National Triathlon Team Championships, the trained as co-responders by the Ambulance Service and we have answered discipline which puts competitors through a gruelling series of swimming, quite a few calls. cycling and running disciplines. “When we started off people did take the mickey but now we’re accepted A grateful Mr James, a fitness fanatic who has competed in triathlons and people know we can make a difference and that’s a great thing for the Gravedigger Byron Evans, armed with a defibrillator, at St Tathan’s Church, St Athan himself, is now looking forward to getting back to his swimming and community and for us.”

IMPROVINGtheairwaves Bravery award forparamedics he northern mountains and the valleys of the south are among the features of Wales but as anyone he Royal Humane Society has recognised the bravery of two West “It’s always good to have a feather in your cap, it’s just such a shame that connected with the ambulance service will testify, they can be a huge nuisance. Wales paramedics who clambered down seaside cliffs in darkness the patient didn’t survive.” For if there is anything more frustrating than being out of radio contact it is having and fought their way through the incoming tide to try and save a Gary Price agreed: “It’s a few months ago now but the job is still very Tintermittent contact, where only snatches of messages are picked up. Twoman. vivid in my mind,” he said. Now, at last, that problem is being resolved as work begins on a £55m upgrade of the Welsh Eurwyn Davies and Gary Price have been awarded the RHS Testimonial “But even though we’re proud and privileged to have won it, it was still a Ambulance Services NHS Trust’s communications system. on Vellum which is signed by the Society’s president, HRH Princess tragic event and our thoughts go out to the lady’s family who have to deal In line with the other emergency services, the Trust is introducing the 02 Airwave system Alexandra. with her sad loss.” which will see the control rooms equipped with the latest technology and new radios It is awarded to someone who has “put themselves in considerable danger The nomination from Dyfed-Powys Police stated: “The tide was rising. installed in all vehicles as well as the three air ambulances. to save, or attempt to save, someone else.” Davies and Price scaled down the particularly steep and unstable sheer cliffs The state-of-the-art digital system, funded by the Welsh Assembly Mary Nayler, awards coordinator of the RHS, said: “It’s wonderful news before swimming a short distance across a small bay to the woman. Government, will cut out many of the frustrations experienced over many that they have been recognised. It’s an award of considerable renown.” “They attempted to resuscitate her prior to the arrival of the lifeboat. years and ultimately, it is envisaged, help save lives by improving response The two paramedics were called to Ogof Mali, a steep-sided cove at 9pm Their position was precarious as they had to carry out resuscitation times. at night on Sunday, September 24, where a woman had fallen down the procedures in the water and the tide was coming in. They were waist deep Overseeing the massive project is David Jackland, who took up cliff into the water. in water. his post as the Trust’s Director of ICT in November. He has 20 Paramedic Eurwyn Davies, 41, a former Royal Marine from Cardigan, “Other members of the emergency services did not attempt to reach the years’ experience in the field, in both the private and public was first down the 60-foot cliffs and he waded through neck-deep water woman because they assessed it to be too dangerous” sector, and moved to Wales from the Greater Manchester with the tide coming in to Ms Luffingham. Superintendent Arfon Jones, of Dyfed-Powys Police, who nominated the Ambulance Service which is acknowledged as one of the best He pulled her onto the rocks with her partner and gave her life support two men, said: “They went above and beyond the call of duty to get to the technologically developed services in the country. for an hour before a lifeboat came. injured person and render her first aid.” His vision of the modernised service in Wales coincides exactly with With similar systems being introduced in England and Scotland it will He was joined in the water by fellow paramedic Gary Price, 39, also from Cardigan Locality Ambulance Officer Huw Davies was also thrilled at the that of the Trust’s Chief Executive Alan Murray, who has helped drive the also improve working methods on cross-border incidents. Cardigan, who brought equipment down and had to swim across the cove award: “They were very courageous,” he said: “They went above and beyond ‘Time To Make a Difference’ programme through while recognising the The system will take about two and half years to roll out across Wales, because the water was now deeper. the call of duty and we’re all very proud of the lads for the bravery and importance of gaining the support of staff at all levels. with North Wales the first to benefit early next year. Sadly Ms Luffingham, from Llandrindod Wells, was later pronounced professionalism they showed.” The existing radio system has been in operation for seven years and is David, 45, a native of Newcastle, sees the Airwave system as symbolic of dead after being airlifted to Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen. They were due to receive their testimonials from the Chief Constable proving unable to meet present-day demands even without the added Eurwyn Davies said: “It’s nice to have this recognition for us and for the of Dyfed-Powys Police, Terry Grange, at a special ceremony at police the new wave of optimism and confidence in the service, and says that Alan Ambulance Service. headquarters in Carmarthen. problems of the mountains and valleys. Murray deserves great credit for the current modernisation programme. “It has been a horrendous problem in some areas. There has been a lack of investment in the past and we have been running on borrowed time. “We are starting to see improvements in performance and we are more This new system is urgently needed,” said David. focused in terms of individuals and organisation,” he said. With the new system not only will control staff find it easier to contact Mr Murray said the digital communications system would make a huge all vehicles but it will enable all the emergency services to liaise with each difference to the service. other at major incidents, and to do so on a secure channel. “The investment marks a significant step forward in the Trust’s “It will make things much easier for control room operators, especially in modernisation of the service in Wales and will enhance patient care and North Wales,” he said. improve service delivery,” he commented.

A new 32-inch High Definition TV was just Thomas all NHSDW, Conway House, the ticket for Wendy Welch and her family for Swansea; Grier Talbot Hawthorn; Gethin DRAW WINNERS the Wales v England rugby international. John Bateman Pembrokedock; Roger “It was brilliant watching Wales win on it,” Freeman Newtown.Mobile: Silvio Bianchi; said Wendy, left, who works at Ambulance Mark Ivy Hawthorn; Paul John Richards Headquarters in St Asaph: “And now we’re Bryncethin; Martin Brown Bangor; Lesley digital-ready and don’t have to worry about Bostock SE Regional HQ; Treena Louise the switch over. Boyle Gelli; Nicola Penlington Finance Dept, “It was a lovely surprise to win it and all Trust HQ; Lee B Crewe Wrexham; Karin Hool the family are enjoying it and so are the C&W Control, Carmarthen; Neil Phelps Gelli. kids’ friends – we’ll be selling popcorn to Voucher: Kath Maggs Bargoed; Pamela them soon.” Jane Harris SE Regional HQ; Julie Miller Time To Make A Difference draw Car Leasing Dept, Trust HQ; Amanda Green winners: HD Television: Wendy Welch Fleet Office, Wrexham; Gareth Richard Trust HQ. Adams NHSDW, Swansea; Jacqui Jones iPod: Peter John McLaughlin Newport; National Ambulance Training College; Colin Dyfan Roberts Dolgellau; Ray Thomas John Wallis Ferndale; David Wayne Sullivan Bala; Ray Keith Evans Corwen; Marion Aberdare; Simon Hooton Llandudno; David Griffiths; Anne Padfield; Simon Richard Jones Newtown. Paramedics Eurwyn Davies, left, and Gary Price. LEADING way in KNOWLEDGE he Welsh Ambulance Service continues to lead the way among NHS purpose, highlythe skilled and highly developed with a system in place to make implementation are 23 KSF champions who have been trained to provide “It can’t fail,”& says Jason:Skills “It’s a NHS-wide programme that is all part of the Trust in Wales in implementing the NHS Knowledge and Skills them even more highly skilled and developed. local support in each area and among them is Damon Turner, a paramedic Agenda for Change.” Framework (NHS – KSF). “It prepares people for the next step up the ladder but if you enjoy your job, based in Porthcawl. It’s being backed from the top too, as Welsh Ambulance Services Trust TAlready 72.9 per cent of the 2,599 Trust staff, including all paramedics, if you are a paramedic for example and don’t want to do anything else, the He said: “Our first job will be to explain locally what it’s all about and to be Board non-executive director and Wales TUC general secretary Felicity ambulance technicians and Patient Care Services personnel, have had their system allows you to do that while developing your skills as new techniques a point of contact for staff. Williams said: “KSF and its associated development review process lie at the post outlines written as part of the Health Services Agenda for Change (A4C) and processes come on stream. Indeed, the whole point of the KSF is to make “We want people to grasp what it’s all about and to be enthused about it heart of the career and pay progression strand of Agenda for Change and as a because it means people can take ownership of their own careers. programme. you the very best you can possibly be in the job your are employed to do.” Trust Board we are wholly committed to it Full implementation of the KSF is going to be a mammoth task as each Each member of staff will meet with their line manager or appropriate “It’s the first time we will have had the opportunity to sit down with a “We see it as playing a vital part in helping staff realise their potential by person gets their own personal development review and plan in a wide- peer at least annually to discuss their career and development and each line reviewer every year and be able to discuss how we are getting on and what we ranging and ambitious strategy to improve core and specific skills right across manager from the top down will be trained to conduct such interviews and want to do. developing themselves and their careers within the Ambulance Service. the Trust. draw up plans with staff. “What I’d like to see in future is that each post will have a structure and “The Personal Development Plan will focus on helping each person build “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a paramedic, a cleaner or a receptionist, Feedback has been very positive, says Jason: “Staff surveys have proved really people who apply for a new role will have achieved what’s required to be their knowledge and skills to meet the demands of their job but the PDP will you will be treated as an individual and your needs met,” says Jason Williams, solid so that’s been excellent because we want them to have ownership of this. eligible for the job.” change and develop as each employee learns and develops throughout their the staff side lead on KSF. “We want them to discuss development with their line manager and make The champions have been trained and next up are the executive team and career.” “The idea of KSF is that as long as someone can fulfill the requirements of suggestions so they can choose what they need though of course there are senior managers with the plan being that they will then cascade the process their personal development plan then there will be a pay progression until mandatory requirements they must achieve.” through the Trust. If you have any queries regarding the KSF please do not hesitate to contact Jo-Ann Dyson, they reach the top of their banding. The KSF programme is being led throughout the Trust by the ‘KSF Team’ It will mean that each member of staff will be given their own personal Jason Williams and Grayham Mclean. They will either offer direct advice, or put you in touch “We are talking about making sure we have a workforce that is fit for (Jo-Ann Dyson, Jason Williams and Grayham Mclean). Supporting the development review and plan in the coming months. with a local KSF champion.

10 11 Win causesSHOWER win on the Wales Air Ambulance Charity Air Ambulance since its inception. Pembrokeshire Normandy Veterans Association. Draw means a Pembrokeshire man can Mr Robinson said: “ I have been trying to Kevin Johns is an avid supporter of Wales Air Acarry out the renovation work needed to organise a level access shower for my wife and we Ambulance and selected the winning ticket at the enable his ailing wife to take a shower. are delighted that we will now be able to complete Swansea Fundraising Office. It co-incided with Mr. Eric Robinson of Kingsbridge Drive in this on-going project because the winning amount the Charity’s sixth birthday. The second prize of Pembroke was delighted to receive a phone call is almost exactly what we require, and it will make £1000 was won by Eira Bevan from Llanwrda in from Swansea Sound Radio Presenter Kevin Johns life so much easier. If there is any left over, I’m Carmarthenshire. who broke the news that he had won the top prize sure my four sons will relieve me of any surplus!” Wales Air Ambulance has three helicopters of £5000 in the Wales Air Ambulance birthday Mr Robinson is a Normandy Veteran and took across Wales, based at Swansea, Caernarfon and draw. Mr Robinson hails from Lincoln but part in the invasion of France in 1944. He was Welshpool. The service costs £2.5 million per year moved back to Wales with his wife Brenda, a local an infantryman in the Lincolnshire Regiment to operate and the Charity Draw plays a major girl, and they have been keen supporters of Wales and has just been re-elected as Treasurer of the part in the fund-raising process. Visit by Patron Bryn

pera star Bryn Terfel has been named as the Patron of the Wales very important cause. Air Ambulance, writes Helen Harper. “Who’s to know, we might be the people in need of something like this? Bryn recently visited the North Wales air base near Caernarfon “They were telling me that the helicopter needs to be upgraded in 2009. Oto meet the paramedics and find out more about the service for himself. You can see how important it is when you are actually here to see what Paramedics Tony Dovey Evans and Martin Lisin showed Bryn the goes on.” helicopter, Helimed 61, and talked through some of the call-outs they Bryn chatted with the crew about the possibility of landing the had attended. helicopter within the grounds of the Faenol, or bringing along their new Bryn famously hosts his annual Faenol Festival over the four days of the rapid response vehicle. August Bank Holiday which last year featured the likes of Shirley Bassey But this is not the first time that Bryn has helped the charity. and Westlife and attracted crowds of 12,000 people on both nights. Last month, the Air Ambulance was one of 10 charities to receive a Bryn hopes that the Air Ambulance will be able to benefit from the cheque for £600 from a group called the Tuesday Golfers, of which Bryn festival’s success. is a member. Bryn explained: “We Lynne Garlick, from the Air Ambulance, said: “It is an honour for us to give different charities have Bryn as our patron. I hope this is going to raise the profile of the Air the chance to bring Ambulance even more.” their buckets to the Helimed 61, based at Caernarfon Airport, is one of the busiest air Faenol Festival and ambulances in the UK and since the New Year, has been called out nearly hopefully we will be 100 times. able to give one of On average, the team are called out around 60 times a month, however the evenings to the last July they were called out a staggering 127 times. Air Ambulance. The service relies entirely on donations and the team hope that with “With 12,000 people Bryn as their patron their profile will be raised even further. there, if everybody gave Bryn added: “I am proud to be a patron. I certainly see there is a huge £1, it would be to a demand for an aircraft in this part of the country.”

Call our Lottery Hotline on 08700 720 999 or Bryn Terfel Picture courtesy: Arwyn Roberts, Caernarfon Herald 08700 736 999 or visit www.walesairambulance.com

If you have any comments or ideas about the issue or suggestions about how it can Please contact Alistair Syme on 01824 703073 or e-mail at alistair@ceidiog. improve than please contact a member of the editorial team.This is your magazine com, Steve Salter (South-East Region) on 01443 492986 or e-mail Steve.Salter@ and if you are reading it and thinking that it doesn’t address issues that you feel are ambulance.wales.nhs.uk, Andrew Watt (North Region) on 01341 421023 or important, then it is down to you to contact your regional representative and tell e-mail [email protected] and Michael Jose (Central and West them about it. Any stories or ideas are also welcomed so please contribute and make Region) on 01656 890154 or e-mail [email protected] this your magazine.