January 17, 2022 4.00 pm
This story is over 22 months old
Military begin support of Lincolnshire ambulance service to plug COVID staff shortage gap
Helping EMAS during a COVID-influenced staff shortage
The first of 60 military personnel have started training with EMAS to relieve staffing pressures on the ambulance service in Lincolnshire. | Photo: EMAS
The first 60 military reinforcements have begun their training to help East Midlands Ambulance Service cope with phenomenal demand and added pressures of staff shortages brought on by COVID-19 cases.
Armed forces were drafted in to work alongside the EMAS urgent care ambulance crews that attend non-emergency patients, in a bid to relieve pressure on the wider NHS system.
This decision was made after a number of staff members at the ambulance service were self-isolating with COVID-19, leaving feet on the ground to help with 999 calls threadbare.
The forces personnel will not drive in blue lights and will wear their uniforms while working with EMAS. | Photo: EMAS
EMAS’ clinical education teams have been showing the military the ropes. | Photo: EMAS
The 60 military personnel have now begun their training with the EMAS clinical education team, where they have been working on preparing to help patients who require inter-facility transfers, or those seen by a healthcare professional that require hospital visits.
The forces colleagues will not drive on blue lights and will wear their own uniform, but will be carrying out tasks such as safe moving and handling of patients and equipment, as well as supporting the use of defibrillation.
The familiarisation training will prepare the personnel for non-emergency situations. | Photo: EMAS
A spokesperson for EMAS said: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome the first of 60 military personnel to EMAS who will be supporting us with responding to non-emergency patients in the coming weeks.
“Our new colleagues have already started their three-day familiarisation training with our clinical education teams – including safe moving and handling of adult patients and essential equipment, and learning the layout of our ambulances.”
They will be assisting with patient response in the coming weeks. | Photo: EMAS
Tasks will include inter-facility patient transfers and taking people to hospital on advice of a medical professional. | Photo: EMAS
Military staff have also been called in at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to help deal with staffing pressures in the county’s health sector, with 30 armed forces personnel assisting hospitals across Lincolnshire through January.
During his interview with The Lincolnite, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said it was “right and good” that military forces were brought in to help healthcare staff during their “time of need”.
The military have been training with dummy patients at the moment, as they familiarise themselves with the tasks that EMAS face. | Photo: EMAS
He said: “Obviously we’ve got a proud link with our military forces here in this county.
“So it’s right and good that if they’re able to help and assist, and they can do well, then I’m very pleased that the senior managers within the NHS and Lincolnshire have taken that option, if need be to help them out in a time of need.
“It has been a very difficult time for all staff across the two years, especially within the NHS who’ve been on the frontline; whether it’s in the COVID wards to the ICU units.”
| Photo: EMAS
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.
North East Lincolnshire has become the first upper-tier council to approve a devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire, despite multiple concerns raised by opposition members.
Councillors voted on the deal, which would see a mayor elected for a new authority covering Lincolnshire, North and North East Lincolnshire authorities. This new setup will control funding for housing, job creation, and public transport, including buses.
Residents have slammed a Home Office engagement meeting regarding its plans for the RAF Scampton asylum centre, labelling it “propaganda.”
The government agency scheduled two sessions at the Lincolnshire Showground for Thursday evening: the first targeted local residents identified as vulnerable by the Department for Health and Social Care, and the second was for local business owners. However, attendees left the meetings visibly annoyed.
Whatsapp
