South Central Ambulance ServiceNHS Foundation Trust

Foundation TimesFoundation TimesA newsletter for every member of our trust Issue 4 Autumn 12

Welcome to the autumn edition of Foundation Times.

Since our last issue, your local ambulance service has been shortlisted for more awards.

Find out more on page 2.

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July 2012Following an appeal for nominations for the BBC 999 Awards, SCAS had many members of staff nominated. Ben Brown, one of our emergency operations centre (EOC) staff, was shortlisted for this prestigious award. SCAS 999 Misuse Cost Lives campaign was the gold winner of the new Healthcare category at the 2012 Wessex and Channel Islands Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) PRide Awards. It was

also shortlisted in the Healthcare category in the Thames and Chiltern region.

August 2012SCAS Green Team was on the shortlist in the Energy Efficiency category of the coveted HSJ Efficiency Awards 2012 for its Energy Wise campaign.

September 2012SCAS held its annual Ambies Awards ceremony to recognise talent and outstanding contribution to the

trust. We also held our Annual General Meeting and first annual members meeting.

We hope you will enjoy this issue, packed full of interesting stories about your ambulance service; inspiring articles from governors and members, useful information from our non-executive directors and directors and also from our regular columnist Debbie Marrs.

We’d love to hear from you. Email getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk or you can write to us at:FREEPOST - Communications – membershipSouth Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation TrustFreepost RSJY-USUX-GKBE7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road, BicesterOxfordshire OX26 6HR

What happened in the summer?

SCAS’s Assistant Director of Quality Debbie Marrs talks to us about Security Management within the trust

Security Management at the trust is led by Steve Mullen, the Head of Risk & Security and NHS accredited Local Security Management Specialist (LSMS). The role of the LSMS is to create a pro-security culture, deter and prevent incidents, detect and investigate incidents and, to seek sanctions and redress against offenders. The LSMS is also responsible for:

• The protection of staff against violence by reviewing all security related incident report forms (IR1) submitted by staff; by ensuring, where appropriate, that local control measures are implemented or by liaising with the local Police. These control measures include conflict resolution training and flagging the addresses of known violent offenders.

• The security of property and assets by joint working with the operational support and estates departments and operations directorate to identify and reduce areas where the potential for theft or loss exists.

• The security of controlled drugs and prescription medicines by joint working with the pharmacy adviser, operations directorate and local Police controlled drugs liaison officer to ensure these items are secured, issued and audited in line with current legislation and NHS guidance.

The LSMS produces the Security, Management of Violence and Aggression and Lone Working Policies in addition to an annual Security Management Report and Work Plan. Steve is an active member of the National Ambulance Security Group and Trust Health, Safety and Risk Group where he provides bi-monthly reports which identify trends, highlight concerns and make recommendations.

Debbie says...

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Members of the Bransgore Community First Responders receiving their medals at the South Central Ambulance Service Nursling Resource Centre

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Long serving community first responders (CFRs) were recently presented with their Jubilee Medals by South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for their commitment and dedication to their schemes and to their communities.

The Jubilee Medals have been issued on behalf of the Queen to those in front line services for over five years (as of 6 Feb 12) and for the first time, this includes community first responders.

Ann Hampton from Warsash & Locks Heath Community Reponders said: ‘It was a complete surprise to learn that we were to receive this medal. It is very much appreciated by all members of the group as recognition of their service to the community.’

Bransgore Group Co-ordinator Mike Jukes, said: ‘We are honoured that Her Majesty has recognised the service of unpaid volunteers in support of the

emergency services and the community. We are already proud to wear the Crown Badge as part of our uniform and we accept the medal on behalf of all those volunteers in our group who give their time willingly in the service of others.’

Hampshire’s Community Responder Manager for South Central Ambulance Service Nic Morecroft said, ‘It was not only an honour but a pleasure to present our CFRs with their medals. They all play a vital role in responding to emergency calls within their local area and are an asset to the trust. Well done to you all.’

Long service CFRs receive Jubilee medals

CFRs are trained in basic life-saving skills to provide early and often vital intervention for patients experiencing life-threatening medical emergencies in the immediate vicinity of where they live or work, while an ambulance is en route. Interested in volunteering as a CFR for SCAS? Then telephone 0800 587 0207 or email cfr@scas.nhs.uk.

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On 26 June Sue Putman, the trust’s Clinical Lead, Mental Health and Learning Disability, and Paramedic Keith Marr held an Ambulance Awareness Day at the Options Day Centre, Winslow, Buckinghamshire.

The day was designed to educate and inform those living with a learning disability when they need to call for an ambulance and what to expect when they do.

Paramedic Keith Marr worked with a group of service users from Options Winslow and Buckingham to test a series of Easy Read patient information leaflets and Sue had an opportunity to complete patient satisfaction surveys with those who had experience of using the ambulance service.

Keith and Sue had arranged for an ambulance to attend the event so that anyone who wanted to could explore the vehicle in a fun way with a view to reducing their anxiety should they need an ambulance to attend them in the future.

Unit Co-ordinator Jenny Begley commented: ‘The day’s entertainment provided a valuable opportunity for our clients to experience an ambulance in a non-emergency situation and for ambulance staff to gain a better understanding of their needs and preferences.’

Options service user Gareth concluded: ‘The ambulance is useful to pick up people who get injured. I like the commitment and the services, but the best bit was wearing the hat and the ambulance itself.’

Learning from those living with learning disability

SCAS provides pre-arranged transport for our patients, with medical needs, to and from the treatment centres via our Patient Transport Service (PTS). For general enquiries, please ring:

• For Berkshire and Hampshire - 0300 100 0024• For Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire - 01869 365 220• For eligibility criteria for Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes residents - 0300 100 0015

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Tony Ledger, Graham Skinner and Colin Parkinson retired from the service in July 2012 after completing 49 years, 37 years and 20 years service respectively.

Tony Ledger started work aged 15 years in the saw mill at the Cowley car plant machining wood for the Austin Princess and Morris Minor. His sights set on a career in the military, he left aged 21 years to join the Oxfordshire Ambulance Service in 1964, where he planned to stay for just a year before joining the forces. Tony worked responding to 999 emergency medical calls for over 30 years,

many of them as an ambulance technician, before transferring to the Patient Transport Service as an ambulance care assistant. For the last few years Tony has worked two days a week for the trust as an ambulance car driver.

Graham Skinner spent nine years as a Marine Commando and six years at the Cowley car plant before joining Oxfordshire Ambulance Service in 1975 where he worked for 25 years, many of them as a paramedic, before transferring to the Patient Transport Service in 1995.

Colin Parkinson worked as a Fireman and HGV driver and at Rover Cowley before joining Oxfordshire Ambulance Service’s Patient Transport Service in 1993 as an Ambulance Care Assistant.

Doug Sinclair, Head of SCAS’ Patient Transport Service said: ‘These three long serving members of staff will be sorely missed by staff and in particular by patients. When you consider the patients they have moved over the years the numbers must run into the thousands. SCAS is losing three characters from the service and I wish them well in their retirement.’

Three ambulance men clock up 106 years of public service in Oxfordshire

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South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is recommending that older persons and younger people living with a disability or long term health condition get their hands on the Lions Message in a Bottle.

The Lions Message in a Bottle is a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details including a list of the medication they are taking or a repeat prescription form in a common place at home where these can easily be found in a medical or other emergency. Your information

is kept on a sheet of paper provided in a plastic bottle in the fridge and the bottle comes with two labels - one to be displayed on the inside of your front door or the main entrance to your home and the other on the door of your fridge.

Why keep the bottle in the fridge? Because it’s the last thing that burns in the event of fire.

The Lions Message in a Bottle is FREE from your local Lions Club. To order yours please email miabcenorder@lions.org.uk or telephone 0845 833 9502 for details of your local Lions Club.

Message in the Bottle

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Left to right Clinical Mentor Steve Kurtz, Kerry Wallis, baby Lara-Mae, Neil Flynn and Paramedic Ben Terry

Berkshire paramedics praised for home deliveryOn 15 August 2012, Clinical Mentor Steve Kurtz together with newly qualified Paramedic Ben Terry from Wexham Resource Centre responded to an address in Windsor where 31 year old Kerry Wallis had gone into labour with her second child.

Steve and Ben arrived on scene to find Kerry experiencing contractions just one minute apart with her baby’s head crowning. With the midwife stuck in traffic 40 minutes away from the scene, Ben attended to Kerry, helped by Steve and Kerry’s partner, 37 year old Neil Flynn.

SCAS Clinical Mentor Steve Kurtz continues the story:

‘It quickly became apparent to us that the baby was experiencing serious problems. The baby’s head was born, but the shoulders were stuck and the baby was turning purple. We immediately realised that this was a form of obstructive labour known as shoulder dystocia and that this could be a time critical emergency.

Shoulder dystocia occurs in less than 1% of births and the vast majority of those births take place in hospital. Carefully I managed to manipulate the baby’s shoulders out and 9lb 10oz Laramae was born at 16:40.’

The ambulance crew transferred Laramae and her parents to the waiting ambulance. Steve drove the ambulance to Wexham Park Hospital as Ben continued to care for little Laramae in the back of the ambulance. Laramae was checked at hospital as a precaution and found to be unharmed - injuries can occur during deliveries where shoulder dystocia occurs.

Proud parents Kerry Wallis and Neil Flynn said: ‘Steve and Ben did an amazing job without the midwife present responding very quickly to the difficult situation and making us both feel at ease.’

Laramae is a sister to two and a half year old Jessica Flynn and is now safely back home with her parents.

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Keith Nuttall, one of our six non-executive directors, provides an insight into the contribution their roles make to SCAS.

Appointments of non-executive directors, or NEDs for short, are made on merit and any political activity plays no part in the selection process. They are people who usually live or work in our area and who have shown a keen interest in helping to improve the health of local people.

The role of the NEDs is to bring a range of varied perspectives and experiences to strategy development and decision-making and to ensure effective management arrangements and an effective management team is in place. Operational responsibility is delegated to the executive and non executives have the role of holding the executive to account for performance

NEDs chair, and are members of, the Board sub-committees, leading on important subjects such as audit, quality and safety, nominations and remuneration and charitable

funds. They also attend executive working groups that feed into these committees.

In addition, they form part of a team who undertake regular organisational walkabouts testing the views of our staff and inspecting facilities and vehicles.

NEDs have specific agreed roles which include, patients champion, voluntary community first responders and whistleblower contact.

They provide the important role of being the eyes and ears of the Board, liaising with other NEDs across the wider NHS and local authorities.

NEDs are also the interface with the governors of the trust, thereby ensuring the voice of staff and the public is duly considered and, if appropriate, acted upon.

For more information about our NEDs, please visit our website. Please email Steve Garside, our Company Secretary, at company.secretary@scas.nhs.uk if you wish to speak to one of our NEDs.

Who are the NEDs?

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SCAS’s Quality and Clinical Strategy sets out our vision to transform the organisation from a transporting ambulance service into a mobile healthcare service, offering the right care, at the right time and in the right place to meet individual patient needs.

Our quality strategy aims to set, maintain and improve standards of care to the patients we serve and their families.

SCAS aims to achieve clinical excellence by improving clinical outcomes, ensuring patient safety and providing a positive patient experience, performing in line with the top quartile

of English ambulance trusts against national benchmarking data and international best practice.

The delivery of this vision/strategy will be through:

• Clinical assessment for each individual

• Personalised care based on individual needs

• Right care, right person, right time, right place.

Clearly documented plans are in place to improve the quality of care in the following three key areas:

• Patient safety

• Clinical effectiveness

• Patient experience.

In order to achieve the quality improvements, we will continue to develop a shared understanding and commitment to quality through our new service delivery structures, while meeting our contractual and regulatory requirements. Our plan for delivering Quality improvements is outlined in the forward plan for the year.

Clinical and quality priorities are monitored through the annual quality accounts.

Download a copy of our Quality accounts at:http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/our-services/clinicalfocus/qualityaccount.ashx

Our Director of Patient Care Fizz Thompsonexplains SCAS’s Quality and Clinical Strategy

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Membership engagement updateDespite the damp summer, our staff managed to get out and about and engage with and recruit as many members as possible.

They attended numerous play and activity days in Oxfordshire, the Bucks County Show, Reading Pride, Emergency Service Day at Waddesdon Manor, shopping centres and supermarkets in various locations and cultural festivals in Eastleigh, Newbury and Milton Keynes.

We were also present at the New Forest Show, where SCAS shared the stand with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Furthermore, we held several foundation trust and well-

being roadshows in carer centres in Oxfordshire and at a private company in Berkshire.

Lastly, we held our AGM and first annual members meeting at the Holiday Inn in Padworth, Reading West on 26 September.

We also organised our first members-only event for Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire members in Bicester in August, where we met one of our youngest members (read his article on page 14).

Find out what Wexham Student Paramedic Ian Sayer says about his experience at one of our events on page 15.

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Governors Update Foundation trust members play a vital role in the future of your local ambulance service. Catch up with one of our governors (p13) and find out how you can get involved.Our Council of Governors meets four times a year and represents the interests of members and stakeholders.

Meetings are open to the public. For more information please visit our website at http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/foundation-trust/councilofgovernors/councilofgovernorsmeetings.ashx. Our next Council of Governors meeting will be on 28 January 2013, at Shaw House, Newbury, Berkshire (6.30pm-8.30pm).

Want to find out who your governors are? Visit our website at:http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/foundation-trust/meetourgovernors.ashx

WATCH OUR LATEST CAMPAIGNWatch our award winning Misuse Costs Lives campaign atwww.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk

GET INvOLvEDFind out how you can get involved in your local ambulance servicewww.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/get-involved/getinvolved.ashx

SCAS NEWSVisit our website to catch up on our latest newswww.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk

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David RidleyBuckinghamshire public governor

First I was a member then became a governor of the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS).

The two happened fairly simultaneously in my case. I heard (in 2011) that the SCAS Board had applied for foundation trust status and I wanted to become a member and be part of the organisation to highlight those areas where I thought the service needed to improve, in my case response times, especially in rural areas.

Members can influence the trust, particularly though their governors. By becoming a member of SCAS, I can play a real part in the future of immediate response and care in the community, whether via the 999 emergency system or in the more routine, but still very necessary, non-clinical transportation.

I realised SCAS was also looking for public governors. It seemed a logical step forward for me and so I applied to be elected as a public governor for Buckinghamshire. I was privileged to be elected and now serve to help focus the Board of directors and managers on solving some of the financial and operational issues by scrutinising their business plans and playing my part in ensuring that you get the ambulance service you need - in the time that you need it.

Make no mistake, we, the governors, listen to members and put forward your ideas and concerns about the service SCAS provides to benefit our communities now and in the future.

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Meet Askar Keen, one of SCAS ‘s youngest foundation trust members

I joined SCAS as a public member in June of 2012. I’m therefore fairly new to the service. My lifelong ambition is to be a doctor and work in pre-hospital medicine and trauma. This means I could join the BASICS scheme, which is where a doctor can be called at anytime to respond to a major trauma in the surrounding area. When I’m old enough, I hope to also

become a community first responder. In the meantime, I am a member of St. John Ambulance in High Wycombe and I attend all sorts of public duties,

eg local horse shows, sponsored walks and sponsored runs.

We, as an ambulance service, are trying to be more youth-friendly and talks are currently going on about starting a forum where young people can voice their opinions. So, if you know any budding politicians aged 14 to 17 with an interest in medical matters, get them to become members! In fact, I would advise anyone reading this to invite friends and family to become members of SCAS. There are a vast number of opportunities and you can get involved as little or as much as you like.

Best of all, you can make a difference to YOUR local ambulance service.

With the help of members and governors, SCAS will go from strength to strength (we are already rated as an ‘excellent’ service) and we need to maintain and improve on our current record – will you help us by contacting us with any queries and concerns at Getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk today?

The Council of Governors meets four times a year and represents the interests of members and stakeholder organisations. Meetings are open to the public. For more information please visit our website on http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/foundation-trust/councilofgovernorsmeetings.ashx. Next COG meeting will be on 28 January 2013 at Shaw House, Newbury (6.30pm-8.30pm).

Do you want to find out who your governors are? Visit our website at:www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/foundation-trust/meetourgovernors.ashx

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Ian Sayer, Student Paramedic at Wexham Ambulance Resource Centre tells about his experience.

‘The Newbury Cultural Festival on 30 June was a pleasant afternoon, thankfully with some decent sunshine.

‘Our purpose was to engage with the public, raise awareness about our services and to recruit foundation trust members. We were also able to take a front line ambulance and show members of the public the inside of one, look at some of the kits and discuss what our role is.

‘It was also an opportunity to offer free blood pressure checks to the public and offer any general advice should they ask. The children at the event enjoyed the spectacle of the ambulance and they thoroughly enjoyed playing with the blue lights and sirens. Aside from this, it was a beautiful day weather wise, lots of people were present throughout the course of the day and there was a multitude of food, drink and music for all to enjoy.

‘It was a successful day in terms of being able to talk to members of the public who did not need to be rushed to hospital and tell them about our work; recruiting members for our foundation trust; and maybe even a couple of future paramedics too!’

CASE STUDY

Getting involved

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On Wednesday 26 September, we held our Annual General Meeting and first annual members meeting at the Holiday Inn, Padworth, Reading West.

It was a very successful day and the positive feedback which we received from some of the attendees is a testimony to the hard work of our staff, the support of our members, the public and also to the commitment of our governors.

Most of the governors attended and they had the opportunity to introduce themselves one by one to our audience and to interact with our foundation trust members and members of the public after the event.

We will make it our challenge to make next year’s event even bigger and better and we hope to see you in larger numbers.

Event was worth my time in attending and was put together well.

We both enjoyed the Open Day enormously. It was all so well presented and most informative. You looked after us very well.

It was a good event.Would recommend it to anybody!

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the event, thank you.

AGM and Annual Members Meeting Feedback

AGM and first Annual Members Meeting success

First aid self care

It's important your medicine cabinet is well-stocked to deal with minor accidents and injuries at home, and medicines are safely stored according to their labels and are within their use-by dates.

A basic first aid kit should contain these items:• Plasters, in a variety

of different sizes and shapes

• Small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings

• At least two sterile eye dressings

• Triangular bandages• Crêpe rolled bandages• Safety pins• Disposable sterile

gloves• Tweezers• Scissors• Alcohol-free cleansing

wipes• Sticky tape• Thermometer,

preferably digital• Skin rash cream such

as hydrocortisone or calendula

• Cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings

• Antiseptic cream• Painkillers such as

paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen

• Cough medicine• Decongestant tablets

or nasal spray• Antihistamine tablets• Distilled water, for

cleaning wounds and as an eye bath.

We all get into accidents at home or suffer from autumn and winter ailments such as coughs and colds. Most of the time, we can care and patch ourselves up with the help of a first aid kit.

Don’t forget to keep your medicine cabinet out of the reach of children. Medicines should be kept in their original packaging with their advice leaflets. Please check expiry dates regularly.

There are times when your home first Aid kit simply won’t suffice. It’s important to remember that there are a variety of options available to you, depending on the extent of your pain. Visit our website for more information.

http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/campaigns/choose-well2.ashx

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BEATFLUthe

CATCH ITBIN ITKILL IT

Be prepared for winter!

Seasonal flu vaccinations are available to help protect people who are most at risk, such as older people, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Start thinking about how to protect yourself and ask your GP for more information.

To prevent the spread of the flu virus, remember to catch it, bin it, kill it:

• Alwaysuseatissuewhencoughingorsneezing

• Throwawaythetissueafterwards

• Killthevirusbywashingyourhandswithsoapandwater.

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We would really like to know what you think of this magazine.

Please contact the Membership Office with your comments, or suggestions for future articles:

Tel: 01869 365126Email: getinvolved@scas.nhs.ukPost: FREEPOST - Communications – membership

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Freepost RSJY-USUX-GKBE 7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road, Bicester Oxfordshire OX26 6HR

We welcome contributions from staff, public members and anyone with an interesting story to tell.

Editorial guidelines are available on request and we are happy to advise and guide contributors.

We would love to hear your thoughts

12,900The number of our trust members to date, including staff.

Did you know

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Produced by

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Units 7 and 8 Talisman Business Centre Talisman Road, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 6HR

Tel 01869 365 000 - Fax 01869 322 814 Email Getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk

Website www.southcentralambulance.nhs.ukgs©scas-ft1112

Get to know your governors

Staff governors

John Donne

David Palmer

Carol Watts

EddieCottrell

Christina Fowler

Public governors

Berkshire constituency

GaryClark

MelanieHampton

BenitaPlayfoot

BobDuggan

Richard Fraser

David Ridley

Buckinghamshire constituency

Patrick Conafray

Bob Lassam

Tim Windsor-

Shaw

Oxfordshire constituency

Kemi Adenubi

Richard Ryan

Paul Carnell

Jamie Hartridge

AllanRead

Al Tottle

Hampshire constituency

Appointed partner governors

Cllr Simon Hoare

Cllr Mary Ballin

Cllr KeithHouse

BarryLipscomb

Pauline Quan-Arrow

Vacancy

haveyour sayand support your governors. Make a difference by helping them shape the future of your local ambulance service. Email them at getinvolved@scas.nhs.uk