Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (LIVES) have launched a new emergency care team to provide a higher level of clinical expertise to patients.
The voluntary system has provided a volunteer Medic and First Responder service since the mid 1970s.
The new LIVES Care Team will operate in addition to the existing service, but will provide a fully qualified doctor or nurse alongside an emergency care assistant.
After a 13 week pilot period, the team will evaluate how the service can be further developed to provide the best pre-hospital critical care possible.
The initiative began on February 1, and will run on the Saturday of every week.
Stephen Hyde, from the LIVES Care Team, said: “The ability to provide a number of surgical procedures on location will mean a 30% greater chance of patient survival.
“We will be responding at the request of East Midlands Ambulance Service with a fully equipped rapid response vehicle.
“The scheme itself makes a lot of sense. The cost is minimal as it is run by volunteers and is an excellent addition to the air ambulance service, for example, as there isn’t often the opportunity for the presence of a doctor on board.
“The service will cost around £50,000 per year. But cost per shift will depend on the equipment used.
“Our first shift went extremely well. We attended an incident involving patients affected by smoke inhalation. While the would have gone to A&E usually, we were able to treat them in their own home.”
The LIVES Care Team are appealing for qualified volunteers to come forward to offer their services.
You can contact [email protected] for more information, or call 01507 525999.
Ambulatory Emergency Care extended
Meanwhile, a new major emergency scheme has been rolled out at Lincoln Hospital, offering urgent same day treatment for patients.
The Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC) service will mean most people will not have to be admitted to hospital before gaining treatment.
Patients with certain conditions, such as mild asthma, falls, suspected blood clots, chest pains and skin infections who arrive via A&E or are sent by their GP will also be fast tracked for assessments and tests.
It is hoped that the scheme will free up hospital beds, leading to a reduction in waiting times.
Dr Ben Loryman, A&E Consultant at Lincoln, said: “This is a significant development for the hospital and the feedback we have received from patients so far has been extremely positive.
“The service is already having a measurable effect on the number of patients we are able to discharge.
“Since the unit launched we have been able to discharge over 400 patients most of whom would have been admitted to hospital otherwise. As a result there has been a 12% reduction in admissions to the Medical Emergency Assessment Unit.
“The safety of our patients is paramount and we will only allow patients home on the same day if assessments have confirmed that their clinical condition does not require a stay in hospital.”
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Residents, visitors, and traders have expressed their disappointment following the cancellation of the beloved Lincoln Christmas Market, on what would have been the inaugural day of this year’s four-day event.
Although the poor weather might have deterred some people, the city’s Bailgate area was notably quiet around 12pm on Thursday, typically the time the event usually opens its doors.
Although Lincoln’s famous Christmas Market is no more this year, and won’t be opening today, there are still alternative festive events happening in Lincoln.
City of Lincoln Council’s decision to cancel the 40-year-old event over safety concerns prompted backlash from people and business but, despite pleas from opposition members, its leaders would not change their stance.
There are, however, still some events in Lincoln to get you in the festive mood this week, including these highlights:
Christmas Market at County Assembly Rooms
The County Assembly Rooms in the Bailgate will still hold its own Christmas Market that it has done for many years.
Manager Gill Hunter said stallholders had already pre-booked and 70% still wanted to do it despite the cancellation of the city’s 40-year-old Christmas Market in uphill Lincoln.
There will be a range of festive stalls, food, drinks and performers when it opens at the following times:
Thursday, December 7 (4pm-9pm)
Friday, December 8 (10am-9pm)
Saturday, December 9 (10am-9pm)
Sunday, December 10 (10am-7pm)
This coincides with the free parking at selected city council car parks in uphill Lincoln on Thursday and Friday. This is available at these car parks: Westgate 1,2,3, St Pauls, Castle Hill, The Lawn, and Langworthgate
The bar at The County Assembly Rooms will be serving hot chocolate, festive sandwiches, alcoholic beverages and more. There will also be a brewery selling bottle ale and roasted hot chestnuts will also be available to buy.
Lincoln Castle Illuminated
Lincoln Castle Illuminated will run from Friday, December 8 until Saturday, December 23.
The Castle grounds will be bejewelled with festive lights and illuminated Christmas features. You can take a drip down Candy Cane Lane and also see the resident Castle dragons Lucy and Norman.
The Castle has retained its popular Illuminated Wall Walk, but the lift is currently out of action so it can only be accessed via the spiral staircase.
You can also board the ‘Mini Polar Express’ and enjoy traditional fairground rides.
In addition, there will be local vendors offering sweet treats and winter warmers, including hot chocolate and mulled wine.
Dog friendly evenings will take place on December 13 and 20.
The full Lincoln Castle Illuminated experience costs £11 for adults, £10 for concessions, £6 for children, and £28 for family tickets. Alternatively, you can choose to visit the grounds only for £3 per head (free for under 5s).
Festive fun at Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral will be hosting an array of festive events this month, including during what would have been the Christmas Market period.
Crafters market in the Cloisters – December 8 and 9 (10.30am-4.30pm)
Nativity Crafts – December 9 (10am-3.30pm)
London Concertante: Christmas at the Movies – December 9 (7.30pm). Ticket prices range from £33.99 to £47.72
‘After Hours’: Walking towards Christmas – December 10 (6.45pm)
Winter Market at Lincoln Museum
Lincoln Museum on Danes Terrace is holding a Winter Market on Saturday, December 9, which has been organised by Shelf Editions.
There will also be workshops to take part in including metal wreath (£45) and felt decoration (£15) making, which can be booked via the museum’s website.
For the younger visitors there is also a free drop-in Calendar wreath craft session with the Elbow Room Collective.
Entry to the market is free from 10am-4pm with the cafe serving a festive menu from 11am-3pm.
Lincoln Ice Trail
Lincoln Ice Trail will run from 10am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday, December 9 and 10.
There will be 20 Lincoln-themed ice sculptures to find – you can pick up a map of the trail from the Visitor Information Centre.
In addition, there will be festive entertainment, as well as live-ice carving demonstrations of the Cathedral.
The Travelling Historical Christmas Market
Although this event is next week, The Travelling Historical Christmas Market offers another festive alternative for people in Lincoln.
The free event will take place at St Mary le Wigford Church on St Mary’s Street between December 14 and 17 at the following times: