Anthony Marsh to become improvement advisor at struggling East Midlands Ambulance Service

April 22, 2016 Leave a comment

Anthony Marsh, CEO of West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS), is to become improvement advisor at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) as part of plans to help turn around the struggling service.

Marsh will be supporting EMAS on an interim basis, providing advice and support to the executive team. He will work the equivalent of one day a week, starting from Monday 25 April 2016, for a period of 6 months.

It has been confirmed that he will continue his role as CEO of WMAS.

When asked how he intends to ensure his role at WMAS will not be affected by his new position, a spokesperson said: “West Midlands Ambulance Service will operate in the normal way with the executive team continuing to run the organisation in the same way as it normally does, for example when Mr Marsh goes on holiday.”

EMAS chairman, Pauline Tagg, has been in discussions with NHS Improvement over how the service could strengthen its leadership following the departure of its former chief executive, Sue Noyes, due to “personal reasons” in March.

Mr Marsh’s appointment comes at a time when EMAS is facing considerable financial and performance difficulties.

Latest figures released by the Trust reveal a £12.46 million deficit—20 times the planned amount of £0.12 million.

The service’s financial position has triggered escalation with its regulator, the NHS Trust Development Authority, resulting in the application of a loan for £9 million.

Responses to Red 1 calls at EMAS have been well below the national target of 75%, with the service failing to achieve a response within 8 minutes in 7 out of 8 months this year.

In addition to Mr Marsh’s appointment, Richard Henderson is to continue in the role of acting chief executive until further notice. Henderson has held a number of clinical and operational senior managerial roles including divisional director for EMAS’ Lincolnshire division, and chair of the National Ambulance Service Director of Operations Group.

David Whiting is to become chief operating officer for the next 6 months. Whiting has over 30 years’ experience in the ambulance service and previously worked for EMAS as director of operations until 2009.

“I’m excited about my return to EMAS and look forward to working with colleagues and staff to help further improve services for the communities we serve,” said Whiting.

Mike Naylor becomes acting finance director from today, as current director of finance Richard Wheeler leaves EMAS. Naylor has been leading EMAS’ future planning and budgets work for 2016/17 since 1 April.

“These leadership appointments bring expertise, knowledge and experience to allow us to continue to transform and improve services for our patients,” said Tagg.

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 22 April 2016.

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Health Education England chair praises WMAS staff developments

June 3, 2014 Leave a comment

Sir Keith Pearson, chair of Health Education England and Jenni Ord, chair for Health Education West Midlands have praised the staff developments that are being undertaken by West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS).

During a visit to the WMAS headquarters on 12 March, the pair received an overview of the educational systems embedded into the Trust, such as paramedic progression and apprenticeships.

Key to the presentations were the way the Trust has invested heavily in helping staff to train to higher levels of education which ultimately allows individuals to deliver better patient care. For example, they heard about the additional skills paramedics have which means many more patients are now cared for within their own homes rather than needing to be taken to hospital as might have happened only five years ago.

The role of WMAS critical care paramedics and their role within the Medical Emergency Response Intervention Team (MERIT) was next on the agenda. MERIT has been noted as a world leading trauma initiative, which sees highly skilled paramedics and trauma doctors being dispatched to some of the most serious incidents within the region.

WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh said: ‘The visit provided the opportunity to demonstrate how we are strengthening our workforce, particularly with paramedic progression through recruitment as well as providing existing staff development opportunities. This progression will help to ensure we continue to provide patients with high quality services. We are getting ever closer to our aim of having a paramedic on every vehicle which will undoubtedly improve patient care.’

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 26 March 2014.

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WMAS uses social media to advise public on alternative treatment options

June 3, 2014 Leave a comment

As the NHS approaches its busiest time of the year, West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS) has asked the public to consider whether someone is in life-threatening danger before calling 999.

All this week (Monday 16–20 December), via social media site Twitter, WMAS is giving an insight into the lives of its staff as they go about their roles. The range of calls received by the control room and how the service responds to them will be highlighted, in an attempt to help people to understand some of the challenges faced by WMAS.

As well as following ambulance staff each day as they respond to emergency calls, WMAS will also be outlining some of the alternatives to the ambulance service and A&E.

Assistant Chief Officer, Daren Fradgley, said: ‘We hope that this awareness will help the public to take a moment to make sure that they ‘Choose Well’ when they access the NHS.

‘Not everyone who calls 999 needs an ambulance or to be taken to hospital. In fact, the percent of those who are taken to hospital by us is continuing to fall. This is allowing us to concentrate our resources on treating those who are seriously ill or injured.

‘We hope that by providing information and demonstrating the types of calls that we receive that people will only call us when they need us. By doing so, we will be better able to help the people who really need us.’

Taken from Journal of Paramedic Practice, published 16 December 2013.

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