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£200,000 compensation for paramedic disabled in bag fall
Workplace Law
30 Nov 2009 10:24AM
A paramedic has been awarded £200,000 after becoming permanently disabled as a result of a fall while attending an emergency call.
Michael Kirkham, 58, has had to take early retirement since his bulky work equipment caught on a door handle in March 2003. Mr Kirkham said he had previously complained to his bosses about the safety risks of carrying 60lbs of emergency equipment in the large bags, which were brought in to replace rucksacks.
Paramedic Sheila says farewell
3:00am Wednesday 2nd December 2009
By Laura Smith
THE first female paramedic in Southend has retired after 34 years of dedicated service.
Hard-working Sheila Davies said farewell to her East of England Ambu- lance Service colleagues who she worked with at the depot in Short Street.
They tucked into a cake in the shape of an ambulance and drank some champagne to toast her retirement.
“I think it’s the right time to go,” said Sheila. “I’ve given 34 years and have been lucky throughout to have such great crew mates.
“I think I’ll miss the people the most. The job has changed so much over the years, but the people have always been a constant.
“I’m looking forward to taking it easy, chilling out when I want to, and walking the dog, but I’m also going to miss the job and will keep in touch with people.”
Sheila joined the service in November 1975, after moving from her native Wales to south-east Essex, but has finally decided to take a step back from front-line work.
Paramedic says monkeys could be trained to perform medical procedures
A paramedic suggested consultant anaesthetists should get their "heads out of their own a---s" and that a monkey could be trained to carry out medical procedures, a misconduct hearing was told.
15 Dec 2009
Daily Telegraph
James Hughes made the comments in an article for a magazine in which he also made age-discriminatory comments about older doctors, it is claimed.
He was given a caution by the Health Professions Council after being found guilty of misconduct.
Mr Hughes wrote the article for the Ambulance UK journal in February this year about the need for training in intubation - placing a tube in a patient's throat to help them breathe.
It included the comments: "Let's face it intubation is not a difficult skill to perform on patients. You could train a monkey to pass a tube down someone's throat.
"I know it takes a long time to become a consultant anaesthetist but they need to take a look at the bigger picture.
"They need to get their head from out of their own a---s.
"Without intubation on the road anaesthetists wouldn't be getting half the patients they are seeing."
He claimed a decision not to teach intubation may be "ploy" by the "older fraternity" to reduce its workload.
Vicky Lord, for the HPC, said: "References were made to various practitioners. To a committee as being a kangaroo court.
"A professional must communicate properly and effectively with colleagues.
"They must behave with honesty and integrity and behave in a way which doesn't damage public confidence in you or your profession."
However, Ray Carrick, defending Mr Hughes, said the allegations were unfair.
He claimed Hughes had submitted the article for editing and asked Ambulance UK magazine to "evaluate it if you think the article is suitable for publication in your journal."
Mr Carrick said: "He was sensitive to the idea [the article] should be checked.
"He asked the magazine to make a decision and gave them the option so that his article matched the magazine's own editorial policy.
"But staff singularly failed to do as he asked. Staff admitted the error was a combination of human error, which had never occurred during 24 years of publication."
Mr Carrick added: "Sometimes the gentle language of Jane Austen is insufficient. Perhaps this has been one of those occasions.
"James was expressing himself in too rough and ready a manner for some people. It's the language of the mess room rather than the dinning room table.
"It's this which has lead to him being brought before the HPC."
Mr Hughes was given a one year caution.
Paramedic on standby at St David’s
Dec 16 2009 by Abby Alford, South Wales Echo
A PARAMEDIC has gone on duty in a shopping centre to look after the emergency health needs of its shoppers.
From his base in St David’s in Cardiff, Dale Maguire can now reach any of the centre’s shoppers within minutes.
Mr Maguire, who carries a full medical kit, has already treated people suffering from chest pains, stomach pains, epilepsy and diabetes.
His presence in the £675m mall, which covers around 30% of the city centre, means patients can be reached quicker, giving them the best chance of recovery.
“It is early days but I am really enjoying this new role,” said Mr Maguire, who responds to at least two incidents per shift on foot.
“Shoppers and staff appear to be reassured when they see me walking through the centre and on several occasions have been coming up to ask me questions.
“Being here in the run-up to Christmas means I can provide a fast first response to people facing a health emergency.”
Acting area ambulance officer Gerry Wilson said Mr Maguire was directly linked to the ambulance service control room in Cwmbran so staff could direct him to any 999 call. He also has a communication link to the St David’s control room, which will direct him to any incidents in the million-square-foot centre’s shops.
“With certain conditions, seconds count,” said Mr Wilson, adding Mr Maguire was ideally placed to respond.
He said the project had been rolled out with the support of St David’s management and the data from December would be analysed after the January sales, with a possible view to it continuing.
“St David’s is a massive complex and in the next few weeks will become extremely busy with people shopping for Christmas and also the sales,” said Mr Wilson.
“On the back of this we decided it would be an ideal location to base a paramedic until the festive rush is over.”
He added: “Staff at the centre have been fantastic with their support. They have provided Dale with a room to store his equipment.”
Steven Madeley, centre director for St David’s, said: “By having Dale based at St David’s we are ensuring that all our customers have access to immediate assistance.
“It is unusual that serious accidents do happen, but due to the sheer volume of Christmas and sale shoppers expected in the centre over the coming weeks, we have Mr Maguire in place to help if a situation does arise.
By Cara Sulieman
Friday, June 26, 2009
THE SCOTTISH AMBULANCE service has launched its new vehicle for a quicker response to emergencies – a push bike.
The bikes will be used by paramedics in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help them get through crowds more easily.
Launched at this year’s Royal Highland show, the cycles will only be used at crowded events like the Fringe Festival to allow the ambulance service to carry out minor treatment.
Two bikes have been kitted out in bright ambulance colours and logos and come full equipped to deal with emergencies.
Marathons and fun runs
Head of the ambulance service in the Lothians, John Alexander, said: “We will be seeing these at all sorts of events which involve large numbers of people.
“Marathons and fun runs is an example, and during the Festival we’ll be with them in town to deal with any incidents.
“Also, if there are any significant road works which means ambulances or motorbikes can’t get access, they may be there too.”
They are unlikely to be sent to large sporting events or concerts as more heavy duty vehicles will be on site for them.
Mini-defibrillators
They will be pre-planned to attend specific events and weave in and out of the crowds to reach those needing help.
Carrying everything they need in their pannier, they will be able to aid heart attack victims with mini-defibrillators.
And if a patient needs to go to hospital, then a normal ambulance will be close by to take them.
Mr Alexander said: “It’s about getting to people quicker in situations where we otherwise couldn’t.
“Wall to wall people”
“Motorcycles are pretty good at getting into awkward places and through large crowds, but even for things like getting onto a cycle track these will be good.
“The Royal Highland show was a good place to launch these bikes because it’s simply wall to wall people.”
But there is one thing the push bikes are missing – a wailing siren and flashing lights.
Mr Alexander added: “I think the only siren will be the paramedics voice.”
Monday 20th April 2009
By Lucy Tatchell
A MALVERN man who severed his hand with a power saw has thanked the paramedic who treated him.
Steven Tyrrell, aged 21, injured his hand in June while working at Permadoor Plastics in Malvern.
First on the scene was Ledbury and Ross team leader Paul ‘Bomber’ Harris in his rapid response vehicle.
The saw had sliced through Mr Tyrrell’s tendons and the West Midland’s Ambulance Service paramedic was concerned the worker could lose his hand.
He called for back-up from the Midlands Air Ambulance in Strensham but the injured man refused. Mr Tyrrell said: “I thought it could be used for someone more serious.
“I had two legs, so I could walk.”
He was taken by car to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and later transferred to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham where surgeons operated on his hand.
When he returned home, Mr Tyrrell invited the paramedic to his home in Tan House Lane, Malvern, to thank him for the treatment and speed with which he arrived.
