Presentation by Paul Litherland, Ambulance Operations Manager for Lincolnshire, from East Midlands Ambulance Service regarding service provision improvements across West Lindsey.
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed to the Committee Mr Paul Litherland, Ambulance Operations Manager with the East Midlands Ambulance Services (EMAS). It was explained that Mr Litherland had attended in the past with his colleague and that he had been requested to attend again to provide Members with an update on service provision since his last visit to the Council.
Mr Litherland thanked the committee for inviting him back. He explained there had been several changes implemented since his last visit and the focus of his talk was to update the Members on these changes and the impact they had made on service provision.
Members heard that EMAS had amended their shift rotas in order to have more staff on during the day, although this meant there were fewer teams on at night. Mr Litherland explained that staff had been wary of these changes but it had proved to be successful, as proven by night shifts starting with ‘a clean slate’ rather than there being a backlog of calls for them to deal with first. This staffing change had led to a positive impact on response times both during daytime hours and over the night shifts.
In addition to these shift changes, there had also been a new helpline initiated which was staffed by trained paramedics and nurses and was available for ambulance teams to call in situations where a patient may not need to be transferred to A&E. There were also arrangements in place for the patient’s doctor to be kept informed and seen within a short period of time meaning no one would be left without follow up treatment. It was further explained that should that person then need to call 999 again, the urgency of their call would be assessed with the additional information from the helpline team. This was with a view to reduce attendances at A&E thereby improving waiting times at hospitals and allowing ambulance crews to return to service much sooner.
Mr Litherland explained that they had also implemented several joint-working arrangements with GP surgeries which had the double benefits of both reducing doctors’ waiting lists and redirecting what may otherwise be 999 calls. This worked by dedicated paramedics and nursing staff being based with GP surgeries and seeing patients that, for example, needed an urgent GP appointment or a home visit. He also explained that there was much closer working across the emergency services with a new hub due to open shortly that would house police, fire services and ambulance crews.
Mr Litherland also commented that EMAS were the only ambulance service outside of London to have a sepsis protocol which included the rapid administration of specific medication. He added that cases of sepsis had risen significantly, in part because of raised awareness, and the protocol meant that patients were treated as early as possible rather than having to wait to be admitted to A&E.
Members were shown the most recent statistics which clearly demonstrated improvements in response and treatment times. Mr Litherland was confident that these improvements could be shown to be a direct result of the changes implemented in recent months. On concluding his presentation, he invited questions from Members and assured them that if there was information he did not have to hand, he would respond in due course.
The Chairman thanked Mr Litherland and explained that Councillor Mrs D Rodgers had sent a statement to be read aloud. She had been unable to be present on the night but wished to extend her thanks to EMAS for their response and treatment of a family member who had been taken ill. Mr Litherland thanked Councillor Mrs Rodgers for her comments and assured Members he would convey her thanks to those on the frontline. He explained that front line staff did not always receive the thanks and recognition they deserved for working in what were often challenging and difficult situations.
The Committee enquired of Mr Litherland what could be done by West Lindsey District Council to help EMAS. He explained that, as finances were outside of the control of the council, Councillors could assist by promoting healthcare initiatives within their wards and, for example, highlighting the alternative options to calling 999. He mentioned the sepsis awareness leaflets and it was agreed that leaflets of this kind could be displayed and available within the council reception. He highlighted that Councillors could help publicise the positive stories of good care as it was too common for complaints to be highlighted in local press and social media.
The Chairman again thanked Mr Litherland for his attendance and requested that the Committee’s thanks be passed to Mr Litherland’s teams.