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Welsh ambulance service: First emergency scene doctors appointed Welsh Ambulance Service: Emergency scene doctors appointed
(2 days later)
The Welsh ambulance service has claimed to be the first in the UK to appoint doctors specifically tasked with attending the scene of major incidents. Specialist emergency medicine doctors to help paramedic crews treat patients before they get to hospital have been hired by the Welsh Ambulance Service.
A doctor would usually need to be taken away from accident and emergency departments to attend the scene. The ambulance service said there was "clear evidence" victims of major trauma do better when treated quickly by senior clinicians.
But now one doctor in north Wales and another in the south will be on standby to attend call-outs. The doctors, specialists in anaesthetics, will be on stand-by to go to major incidents.
The Welsh ambulance service said the move would provide quicker treatment to patients and ease the pressure on A&E. It is the first time for pre-hospital emergency medicine trainees in the UK.
The two doctors are both specialists in anaesthetics.
They will be able to perform actions outside the remit of a paramedic such as the administration of advanced pain relief and surgical procedures including the insertion of chest drains and clearing emergency airways.They will be able to perform actions outside the remit of a paramedic such as the administration of advanced pain relief and surgical procedures including the insertion of chest drains and clearing emergency airways.
It would mean reducing the urgency for immediate hospital action. "Patients suffering a heart attack or stroke benefit from treatment at a specialist coronary unit or stroke unit," said Richard Lee, head of clinical services.
"There is clear evidence that victims of major trauma do better when they are treated quickly by a senior clinical decision maker," said Richard Lees, head of clinical services.
"Patients suffering a heart attack or stroke benefit from treatment at a specialist coronary unit or stroke unit.
"Sometimes this means taking the patients past the local hospital. Our paramedics will sometimes need the skills of the PHEM (pre-hospital emergency medicine) doctor to facilitate these transfers."Sometimes this means taking the patients past the local hospital. Our paramedics will sometimes need the skills of the PHEM (pre-hospital emergency medicine) doctor to facilitate these transfers.
"There is huge potential for pre-hospital care and the co-ordination of that care to contribute more fully to integrated healthcare provision.""There is huge potential for pre-hospital care and the co-ordination of that care to contribute more fully to integrated healthcare provision."
'Critical care''Critical care'
Entirely by coincidence, the two successful candidates are old school friends from Bassaleg High in Newport.Entirely by coincidence, the two successful candidates are old school friends from Bassaleg High in Newport.
James Chinery, who will cover north Wales, has been seconded from the Royal Army Medical Corps.James Chinery, who will cover north Wales, has been seconded from the Royal Army Medical Corps.
"Our knowledge and experience means we can advise where is best for a patient to travel, whether it is a specialist emergency department or stroke unit," he said."Our knowledge and experience means we can advise where is best for a patient to travel, whether it is a specialist emergency department or stroke unit," he said.
"It might mean travelling that bit further, but us being on scene means we can start that critical care.""It might mean travelling that bit further, but us being on scene means we can start that critical care."
Newport-based Gareth Roberts, who is swapping the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for the open road, added: "We're here to assist the crew already on scene, and work as a team.Newport-based Gareth Roberts, who is swapping the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for the open road, added: "We're here to assist the crew already on scene, and work as a team.
"We're there if a patient needs that advanced care.""We're there if a patient needs that advanced care."
The pair will each be equipped with a rapid response vehicle to attend incidents by road, but will be based within a short drive of their respective air ambulances in case of more remote call-outs.The pair will each be equipped with a rapid response vehicle to attend incidents by road, but will be based within a short drive of their respective air ambulances in case of more remote call-outs.