Working together to improve efficiencies

July 7, 2016 Leave a comment

Adobe Spark (4)It was recently announced that the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust will be coming together to form an alliance across the North of England (Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), 2016). The services have said the launch of the Northern Ambulance Alliance will help to improve the efficiency of ambulance services in the areas covered by all three Trusts.

It is important to stress that it is not a merger but an attempt by all three organisations to work closer together to improve patient care. Additionally, it is felt the alliance should help identify savings through collaborative procurement and offer improved resilience. So, in effect, the boards of each of the individual Trusts will still have responsibility for their individual service, but will also consider the work and objectives of the Northern Ambulance Alliance when making decisions.

One of the key driving forces behind the inception of the alliance was the Lord Carter Review (2015)into productivity in NHS hospitals, which supports identification of efficiencies and reduction of unwarranted variances. Some of the areas already identified where the Trusts can work together include looking at ‘efficiency through joint procurement exercises, major changes to IT, assessing specialist expertise and learning from each other’s achievements’ (AACE, 2016).

This alliance should be commended and highlights the overall commitment from each of the Trust’s to improve patient care. While demand for each service will inevitably differ due to considerations such as population and community, their strategic priorities are inextricably linked. It therefore makes sense that they should be considered together. More than anything, the alliance offers an excellent opportunity for the sharing of best practice and to tackle mutual difficulties. An example was highlighted by Rod Barnes, chief executive officer of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, of how the Trusts could come together to deliver on a single issue: ‘This might mean the procurement of a single agreed vehicle specification for all three services, identifying savings through the standardisation of maintenance and equipment contracts, which is something that has proved elusive at a national level’ (AACE, 2016).

It has been assured that there will be no direct staff consequences as a result of the alliance. However, it may mean in the future that the three organisations consider joint appointments or shared working for new roles and replacements.

It is hoped that other services will follow and create their own alliances. Who knows, it may even be one step closer to a single national ambulance service.

References

Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (2016) Three Northern Ambulance Trusts Form Alliance “That Will Improve Efficiencies”. http://aace.org.uk/ambulance-alliance-will-improve-efficiencies/ (accessed 27 June 2016)

Carter PR (2015) Operational productivity and performance in English NHS acute hospitals: Unwarranted variations. An independent report for the Department of Health by Lord Carter of Coles. The Stationery Office, London

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 1 July 2016.

Filed under Editorial Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Reducing the alcohol burden

December 22, 2015 Leave a comment

According to a new survey, almost half of paramedics in the North East of England have been subjected to alcohol-fuelled physical assaults while on duty (North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) and Balance, 2015). The survey of more than 350 paramedics details the impact of alcohol misuse on the region’s paramedics, and also revealed more than two in five NEAS paramedics have at some point been sexually assaulted/harassed while on duty. Additionally, nine out of ten paramedics agreed that dealing with alcohol-related callouts places an unnecessary burden on their time and resources; and three in five paramedics believed they shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of excessive consumption of alcohol. A quarter of paramedics stated that at least 50% of their workload on weekday night times is alcohol related, while two thirds of paramedics stated that alcohol-related incidences account for at least 50% of their workload during weekend shifts.

Unfortunately this survey does not represent an isolated issue affecting a single region in the UK. The burden of alcohol is a global issue, whether that be the 3.3 million deaths every year that are attributable to harmful use of alcohol, or the causal relationship that can be seen between harmful use of alcohol and a range of mental and behavioural disorders, other non-communicable conditions as well as injuries (World Health Organization, 2015). Within the UK, the total annual cost to society of alcohol-related harm is estimated to be £21 billion, with the NHS incurring £3.5 billion a year in costs related to alcohol (Public Health England, 2014). Few other health harms have such high overall costs when the impact on productivity and crime are included, and so it is imperative that more measures are taken to tackle this problem.

As emphasised in the NEAS and Balance report, alcohol should be less affordable, less available and less widely promoted if the overall burden of alcohol on ambulance services is to be reduced. The Government needs to support a range of targeted, evidence-based measures such as a minimum unit price, which has been shown to save lives, reduce hospital admissions and lessen the financial burden alcohol places on frontline services. After all, ambulance staff have a right to work in a safe environment, free from workplace violence.

Currently, the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) is conducting research into the impact alcohol has on emergency services in England (IAS, 2015). The survey has been designed for frontline ambulance staff and developed with the help of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives. Research into workplace violence against emergency medical services is still in its infancy, so I would encourage all those who have not completed the survey to do so.

References

Institute of Alcohol Studies (2015) Ambulance Survey. http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=dv%2f2rbLBkjsEC6dqjV3Dv%2bcW6jpu4uNTsg%2fqgjbrjUI%3d (accessed 28 August 2015)

North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Balance (2015) Paying the price: North East Ambulance Service paramedic survey 2015—a summary. http://www.neas.nhs.uk/media/97014/balance_neas_media_report_final_web.pdf (accessed 27 August 2015)

Public Health England (2014) Alcohol treatment in England 2013–14. The Stationery Office, London

World Health Organization (2015) Alcohol Fact Sheet. WHO, Geneva. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs349/en/ (accessed 28 August 2015)

Filed under Editorial Tagged with , , , , , ,

Report reveals extent of alcohol-fuelled physical assaults on ambulance staff in North East

December 22, 2015 1 Comment

According to a new survey, almost half of paramedics in the North East of England have been subjected to alcohol-fuelled physical assaults while on duty.

The survey of more than 350 paramedics was carried out by the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (NEAS) and Balance, the North East of England’s alcohol office. Results of the survey were published on 19 August and detail the impact of alcohol misuse on the region’s paramedics.

The report also revealed more than two in five NEAS paramedics have at some point been sexually assaulted/harassed while on duty. Additionally, nine out of ten paramedics agreed that dealing with alcohol-related callouts places an unnecessary burden on their time and resources; and three in five paramedics believed they shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of excessive consumption of alcohol.

A quarter of paramedics stated that at least 50% of their workload on weekday night times is alcohol related, while two thirds of paramedics stated that alcohol-related incidences account for at least 50% of their workload during weekend shifts.

Between April and December 2014, Balance surveyed 358 paramedics, representing 32% of the NEAS workforce, to establish how they perceive the impact of alcohol misuse on their lives. Throughout the report the term ‘paramedic’ includes the roles of emergency care support workers, technicians and urgent care assistants.

Yvonne Ormston, NEAS chief executive, said: ‘Our crews don’t just deal with drunk weekend revellers; our crews see the effects of alcohol at all times of the day and all times of the week, spread across our region and from patients of all ages and backgrounds.’

She added: ‘We take a zero tolerance approach to assault and support staff every step of the way if they have been abused. All staff also have access to a counselling service and a number of helplines to ensure their mental health is looked after as much as possible.’

In 2013/14, Balance estimated that alcohol-related harm cost the region £911 million, with the NHS paying £242 million.

Colin Shevills, director of Balance, said: ‘ It’s outrageous that paramedics don’t feel safe in their working environment as a result of other people’s alcohol misuse. These are people who are there to help us when we need it most, yet they are living in fear of physical and verbal abuse on a daily basis. How many of us would expect to work like this?

He added: ‘Our relationship with alcohol is out of control. We need to bring it under control by making alcohol less affordable, available and less widely promoted. We need the Government to support a range of targeted, evidence-based measures such as increasing the price of the cheapest, strongest alcohol products, which has been shown to save lives, reduce hospital admissions, cut crime and lessen the financial burden alcohol places on frontline services.’

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 19 August 2015.

Filed under News Tagged with , , , , , , , ,