We are part-way through Ramadan, one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims, a time of self-reflection, self-evaluation, increasing worship and charitable deeds. The month involves a daily fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink, including water. For SECAmb colleagues observing Ramadan, while it is a beautiful time of the year, it requires some adjustments at work. Paramedi
SECAmb was represented at a special community Iftar gathering in Surrey held by the Epsom and Ewell Islamic Society on Sunday. Advanced Paramedic Practitioners Kay Ayre and Jake Lean from Banstead joined the Head Imam, Joynal Ahmed, society chairman Abdul Mannan, the centre’s executive committee and congregation for the Iftar, the evening meal which breaks the daily fast observed during Ramadan. O
A Surrey woman who was unaware she was having a heart attack has thanked a SECAmb ambulance crew for their quick response and care, saying they saved her life. Last December, Janice Nuttall from Great Bookham phoned 111 for advice after suffering some chest pain and feeling short of breath. “It wasn’t a great pain, I have to say,” said Janice as, along with her husband Brian, she was reunited with
An innovative collaboration between South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals is bringing emergency X-ray services to the homes of patients – a first of its kind for a UK ambulance trust. The four-month trial of the Emergency Community X-Ray Service has been so successful that – as well as supporting patients, reducing Emergency Department (ED) admissions and
SECAmb is providing key PPE training to acute hospitals across the South East, to cover High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) scenarios. Utilising its specialist trainers experienced in these situations, a SECAmb team has created a bespoke course to train NHS staff on how to safely use the PPE ensemble recommended for assessing HCID patients. NHS England has instructed there should be a unifi
The first of the new consignment of MAN Box Body Dual Crewed Ambulances (DCAs) are due to start arriving at Make Ready Centres across the Trust. In total, 92 new vehicles will be joining the fleet between now and the end of March. They will replace the oldest Mercedes Sprinter DCAs, along with 34 Fiats which end their lease in the summer. At the commissioning centre, the vehicles are fully kitted
An innovative project at SECAmb is in the running for a prestigious HSJ Digital Award. Introducing an automated text messaging system to deliver welfare calls which used to be sent manually has freed up clinical time, helping teams to reach more patients in a timely manner. Although a record-breaking 468 entries were received for this year’s Digital Awards, the SECAmb project stood out as a succes
SECAmb is extending the use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) throughout the Trust. Already used by operational crews as part of a violence reduction programme, BWCs will now be mandatory for command roles such as Operational Team Leaders during an incident response. Considered a key step in strengthening emergency response and resilience, the initiative follows recommendations from the Manchester Aren
Kind-hearted colleagues at Chertsey and Walton-on-Thames ambulance stations have donated a big delivery of presents to their local children’s hospice. The festive gift collection was organised by student paramedic Tiffany Milner who, in the absence of Santa’s sleigh, loaded up her family’s X-Trail with more than 80 toys and games, helped by her husband Ben. “All the presents have now been delivere
HART operative Hannah Mitchelmore is breaking boundaries as well as developing new skills to improve patient care and safety. Hannah has just passed the final assessment to qualify as the first female Rope Rescue Operator Instructor in SECAmb. Literal high points of the course included hanging in suspension underneath the Tamar Bridge in Plymouth and working at the top of a 120m high reservoir int