Paramedic UK » SCAS

Paramedic reflects on 40-years of service

Editor — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:40:51 +0000

A paramedic from Trowbridge who was called out to the aftermath of a policeman’s murder in Trowbridge has retired after 40 years with the ambulance service.

Colleagues of Chris Rosewarn, clinical team leader at Trowbridge Ambulance Station in Hilperton Road, collected him in the vintage Austin Princess ambulance from Trowbridge ambulance station on Saturday afternoon and took him to a special farewell party they had organised at Hilperton Village Hall.

They had a barbecue and disco and he was presented with an inscribed plaque, a satellite navigation system, some holiday vouchers and several bottles.

via Wiltshire Times.

OAP left waiting by dining paramedics

Editor — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:42:03 +0000

An injured 96-year-old was left shivering on a pavement for more than an hour – because an ambulance crew was having dinner.

The frail woman was wearing just a nightgown when she fell during the early hours.

Read full article: Metro.co.uk .

SCAS: we need volunteers to hit waiting times

Editor — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:41:52 +0000

Key ambulance waiting times will only be hit if members of the public attend to some patients first, a health chief has said.

A South Central Ambulance Service boss said it could not get to 75 per cent of seriously ill patients within eight minutes without peoples’ help.

It is offering to train residents as “community first responders” who would attend some cases, such as heart attacks.

Read full article: Bucks Free Press.

Stroke patients misdiagnosed by 999 system

Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:19:59 +0000

More than half of stroke patients taken to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance were misdiagnosed by the 999 call system, a new study reveals.

Potentially vital emergency care was delayed after computer software used by call-handlers at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS) misdiagnosed stroke victims.

During the six-month study (December 2006 to May 2007), of almost 5,000 patients admitted to Basingstoke hospital by ambulance, 126 were subsequently diagnosed by a doctor as having had a stroke.

Read full article: This is Hampshire.

“Enormous pressure” call on failing ambulance bosses

Editor — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:54:08 +0000

Ambulance chiefs should be put under “enormous pressure” to improve failing waiting times, it has been urged.

South Central Ambulance Service must address “serious concerns” among the public over response times that are not hitting national targets, managers were told.

Latest figures show that 63 per cent of the most serious “category A” calls are met in eight minutes. The target is 75 per cent.

Read full article: Bucks Free Press

Ambulance ransacked by thieves looking for drugs

Editor — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:10:49 +0000

Paramedics fear ambulances are being targeted by drug addicts after a 999 vehicle on an emergency call was ransacked and so badly damaged it was put out of action.

A crew tending to a seriously ill patient at a house in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, were shocked to find that while they were inside, their vehicle had been smashed up, equipment wrecked, and personal belongings stolen.

Read full article: Peterborough Today.

Firefighters to learn vital medical skills

Editor — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:03:07 +0000

More firefighters in Hampshire are to get medical training to offer life saving first aid at the scene of an emergency.

Due to its success in supplying fire crews in the county with life saving skills, the co-responder scheme with South Central Ambulance Service is being expanded.

Crews from Bordon, New Milton and Romsey were selected for the scheme in 2004, with others in the north of the county added later.

Now, firefighters at Hythe, Alresford, Andover (retained), Botley, Hamble, Lymington, Petersfield and Ringwood will get the training.

The first six units have been used in around 3,000 medical emergency 999 calls every year and it is hoped with the new units co-responders could save more lives by attending up to 10,000 calls per year.

Read full article: This is Hampshire.

Woman’s two-hour ambulance wait

Editor — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:28:38 +0000

An ambulance trust has apologised for allowing a woman to wait for more than two hours for paramedics after she fell outside her friend’s Hampshire home.

Lynne Hixon, 62, of North Baddersley, who broke her hip, said what occurred to her last December was “disgusting”.

South Central Ambulance Service should respond to 95% of non life-threatening category B incidents within 19 minutes.

The trust said Mrs Hixon’s situation was “unacceptable” and that the number of calls was up 30% last winter.

However, it added that it responded to 81% of category B incidents within the required time last December.

Read full article: BBC NEWS.

Ambulance crews slam 999 hoax calls

Editor — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:50:11 +0000

Ambulance crews slammed young children who made a series of hoax 999 calls in Stevenage.

Three times crews were sent to the Tesco supermarket in the town centre after 999 calls said people had collapsed and on two other occasions, crews went to the seated area outside the old Littlewoods store, also in the town centre, after they received further 999 calls saying people had collapsed and needed emergency help.

The calls were eventually traced to the nearby public phone outside Costa Coffee.

“These hoax calls are diverting crews away from what could be real emergencies,” said Beds and Herts Ambulance Service spokesman Gary Sanderson.

“Crews are very angry when they suddenly realise their time has been wasted by a hoax call.

Read full article: The Comet.