People Promise Manager & Paramedic, East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. π³οΈβπ
Chair of EEAST LGBT+ Staff Network.
Trustee MAGPAS Air Ambulance
A young life saved this evening thanks to fast call handling and appropriate dispatch, my left hand, a laryngoscope, magill forceps, very responsive parents and the prompt arrival of a second car and a double staffed ambulance. That's why we are here.
#WeAreEEAST
@EastEnglandAmb
25th January...12 years working in the
#NHS
as a
#Paramedic
and today will also now be remembered as the day I was discharged from
@HHFTnhs
1 week earlier than predicted. It's been an experience I'll never forget. The care received has been absolutely outstanding.
#RoadToRecovery
I'm going to a number of patients who are not wearing masks even when they have Covid symptoms and know we are coming. Is it forming part of the pre arrival instructions, much like "put your animals away" that people should wear a mask to protect ambulance clinicians coming?
The power of a lanyard. Incident involved a trans person in a mental health crisis. Crew struggling to progress their care plan. Introduced myself, built trust & rapport. The lanyard instills a sense of safety to the LGBT+ community.
#WearWithPride
& understand the responsibility
Yesterday not only marked the end of yet another extremely challenging year for our profession, but also the end of my secondment as a Leading Operations Manager for
@EastEnglandAmb
. It's been a honour and a privilege to be part of such an amazing team at East & North Herts. HNY.
I am so delighted to finally share with you all my appointment as Clinical Trustee of
@Magpas_Charity
. Tonight's AGM and trustee meeting has filled me with excitement for the opportunities ahead and future of this incredible charity and team. I am truly honoured to be appointed.
Nothing like a picture of men from Police & Fire being served by a female supermarket worker to advertise
@asda
's very kind offer of complimentary drinks while on shift, but come on now...ditch the stereotype! Nice gesture, ambo too busy out working to be in the picture as usual!
'Like' if you've done it...left scene and you notice other road users being very accommodating and kind, thinking that society is actually quite wonderful a few minutes later you realise blues are still on.
At this time, on this day last year I was undergoing what ended up being a 8 hour operation on my abdomen to remove the aftermath of what was a high grade tumour in my appendix. The care I received at
@HHFTnhs
was phenomenal and I am writing this today because of them. Thank you.
First full night shift for 15 months tonight. Really enjoying being back out 'on the road' again. A little rusty around the edges, but joined a great team here in South Cambridgeshire.
From today and for the next few weeks, I will experience our
#NHS
from the opposite side. My boots have been polished and stored to be worn again in the near future. I'm not looking for sympathy, this is just a justification for my absence from the profession for a while.
It disappoints me when clinicians complain to me that they are working with new staff, "unqualified" or learners. It should be seen as a privilege to be influencing someone's practice at such an early time in their career. You should be honoured to be in that position!
Today marked the end of 6 years as East of England region Trustee/Council member for the
@ParamedicsUK
. It's been an absolute privilege to represent my region and gave me incredible exposure to personal development. Many congratulations to
@HelenH_Para
who will take it from here.
Absolutely delighted to report that
@EEAST_LGBT
staff network and the
@EastEnglandAmb
policy writer have worked closely together over several months to produce a
#Transgender
and
#NonBinary
Equality Policy and in doing so have joined just 5% of UK employers with such a document.
It's been a very busy couple of weeks in the
#NHS
and
#PrimaryCare
. Many on duty staff have beautifully embraced the Christmas spirit and NYE celebrations as best they could, but the workforce is tired and hospital delays are increasing.
#ProtectTheNHS
.
#ChooseWell
.
#HNY2024
.
Out and about in
#Luton
today with the
@TonyTone17
. Good opportunity to catch up on all things
@ParamedicsUK
as well as seeing patients and colleagues.
The care I have been receiving from the
#NHS
@HHFTnhs
is absolutely phenomenal since my admission on Thursday. Recovering well. Thank you for all of your amazing support.
At the end of Feb my Business Support Manager secondment at
@EastEnglandAmb
will conclude. I am delighted to announce I will be returning to a clinical role as a Leading Operations Manager in South Cambs. The EEAST H&WE team have been incredible to work alongside and learn from.
I recently made the difficult decision to hand over the Chair person role of the
@ParamedicsUK
Diversity Steering Group to someone new. It ends a 7 year relationship with the College, where I've been trustee, Council member & DSG Chair. It's been an absolute honour and privilege.
10 years ago today with
@LDNairamb
I still remember the excitement, but equally the tragedy we found ourselves involved in the day before Christmas. Such a mix of emotions many can't understand. You want the call, but you wouldn't wish it on anyone. Merry Christmas, stay safe. β€οΈ
23:00 and the 'out of office' is finally on and the laptop is off for almost 2 weeks. Its been an extremely challenging few months for the NHS. But its now time for me to get some sunshine, sand and massive cruise ships! Caribbean here we come. Stay safe all. ππ’βοΈ
Prime position at this year's
#UKSPC19
and a very busy start. Student Paramedics from all over the country and introducing
@EastEnglandAmb
to a very engaged audience. Thank you
@ParamedicsUK
The sign of a very wet and busy
#OpsCommander
shift for
@EastEnglandAmb
is my high vis jacket coming inside to dry out over night. Two outside incidents in pouring rain at either end of a very long shift.
@ASPolice
Absolutely breathtaking. To neutralise and then save a criminal's life and allow for a trial and sentencing is testament to the morals of our police officers. Putting themselves in potential danger every working day with the unpredictability of our society.
#Heros
Honoured to have been presented my Queen's Jubilee Medal by
@EEAST_SLMWeS
last week. Continuing my
#NHS
career into
#Leadership
, driving positive change, improvements and staff engagement at
@EastEnglandAmb
Last
#Pride
event of a mammoth summer π³οΈβπ season in green. This one is alongside
@NWAmbulance
at
@ManchesterPride
. May you all have happy and safe celebrations and remember the cause
#Inclusivity
and acceptance to be you.
I will never understand why some uniformed ambulance colleagues have things like shears, tourniquets, radio attachments etc on them when not operational or patient facing. For example training days. Any thoughts? Fashion? Status?
14th Jan, my personal day of thanksgiving to the most incredible team of surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing, healthcare and domestic staff that all got me through my mega operation 2 years ago. To all at
@BasingstokePmi
...forever in my heart. Forever thankful. Never forgotten.
24 clinicians trained in minor wound care over 2 days at Stevenage ambulance station. Improving patient care and developing staff. Great achievement
#WeAreEEAST
@EastEnglandAmb
"Poor staff wellbeing = poor patient care, costs money and is a strategic risk."
"We check our life-saving equipment, vehicles etc every day. Who checks you?"
#ALF2023
@Kevin_Fong
Great engagement with the Suffolk community at this year's
#PRIDE22
. Representing the
@EastEnglandAmb
. Member of public just came over to thank us and said how important it was to her that the ambulance service was here supporting the
#LGBT
+ community.
@HeyTomAbell
@EEAST_LGBT
π³οΈβπ
So over the last 12 years of working in the
#NHS
I have attended a lot of
#CPD
events. But having spent my first 6 hours of many on a surgical ward, being on the receiving end of
#care
is by far the best CPD I've done. It's like a chef tasting their own food!
I love doing
#EventParamedic
work with
@enhanced_c_s
, it allows me to go back to basics, caring for patients with a warm smile and a sticky plaster! It's a busy June and July for me, but back to the day job on Friday and then Essex Pride on Saturday.
Back doing some engagement with school leavers today in Hertfordshire. Spreading the word that the ambulance service isn't just the people you see in the ambulance. Control room staff, IT specialists, mechanics, HR, finance and many more. So many opportunities at
@EastEnglandAmb
While I'm in full support of
#Shortsgate
, we have been talking about cultural and religious wear such as turbans & hijabs being added to national uniform for a few years now. No ambulance service has yet been the first to announce their introduction?
@AACE_org
any updates please?
As our summers get warmer some of our people have asked for shorts to be provided as part of our uniform. Iβm pleased to say that
#TeamWAST
will soon be able to access shorts for use at work in the summer months to make working in the hot weather more comfortable.
Feeling great about returning to face to face conferences again. Spoken to lots of members and people interested in joining the
@ParamedicsUK
. Fantastic
#aeromed2022
conference put on by
@EHAAT_
. Thanks for having us again.
Really productive Workforce & Renumeration Committee meeting as a new Trustee of
@Magpas_Charity
. Made to feel very welcome here, fantastic work going on behind the scenes delivering the organisation's strategy & ensuring excellent clinical care is there when people need it most.
6 years ago with
@Ldn_Ambulance
and I'm doing the same again today but for
@EssexPride
with
@EastEnglandAmb
. Although no high vis or stabby vest, just rainbow epaulettes and Pride socks [and the rest of my uniform don't worry!)
#Pride22
Yesterday was a very very wet and muddy end to my 2023
@The_RHS
flower show season with
@enhanced_c_s
. I've thoroughly enjoyed every day of all three beautiful shows. It's a privilege to be part of these events, come rain or shine!
#EventParamedic
First shift complete on the
@EastEnglandAmb
Herts & West Essex Winter Oversight Cell tonight. Working with HALOs to manage hospital delays & reduce out of service with the aim of improving ambulance response times to our patients and get staff home at the end of shift
#TeamEffort
Another example of the
#NHS
at its finest yesterday. Called GP in the morning with R sided CP following surgery a few weeks back. GP call back within the hour, GP face to face an hour later, referred to
@NWAngliaFT
#ACU
. Seen, assessed and discharged
#PleuralEffusion
. Thank you.
Just wow. What a truly inspirational two days at the
@NatAmbLGBTUK
#NALGBT2023
Conference. Some incredible speakers doing incredible things. So much to reflect on and take back to
@EastEnglandAmb
and
@ParamedicsUK
. Thank you to all that made it possible. π³οΈβππ³οΈββ§οΈπ
It was an honour to be invited to the
@Magpas_Charity
official opening of their incredible new headquarters. A fantastic facility that will benefit the team and nearby organisations for many years to come.
@HRHPrincessAnne
This opportunity to reunite with colleagues and eat an awesome meal couldn't have come at a better time for me earlier this year. It was a wonderfully positive day during a difficult time. Couldn't have been more proud to represent
@ParamedicsUK
. Thanks
@MasterChefUK
and
@EHAAT_
.
It's been a busy couple of
#OpsCommander
nights playing post holiday email triage. Picking out the 'must-dos' from the 'will-dos'. Also, 1st on scene to a patient in their 30s in cardiac arrest who, as a team we reverted from asystole to needing post ROSC sedation with no shocks.
Wow, I've done a clinical shift every weekend since October with many more booked. Love being out of the office, seeing the seasons, working with my colleagues and treating our patients.
#WeAreEEAST
It's been almost two months since I have seen a patient and I genuinely miss it. I've still got a few months left of recovery before I can even plan to be operational again. Sometimes it takes something significant to make you realise you enjoy your job.
#Positivity
Enjoyed being at
@NewmarketRace
for the
@EastEnglandAmb
Leadership Day earlier in the week. Great opportunity to talk to colleagues about the work the
@EEAST_LGBT
and
@NatAmbLGBTUK
networks are doing and also to hear from so many departments sharing their incredible work.
Yesterday's shift defined the role of an
#OpsCommander
beautifully. Out of the office supporting crews on cardiac arrests and a trauma positive patient, as well as balancing this with in office welfare support for on and off duty staff. It was a long day but rewarding.
Enjoying some much needed time off in France π«π· with the husband. Rainy day expected tomorrow, so no doubt
#PrideMonth
work to continue including organising various Pride events imminently upon us.
#JobSatisfaction
alert. Out of area EMT on break at Cambridge last night. Explained how I encouraged & supported her through her application to be Apprentice EMT. Now qualified & accepted on to a
@EastEnglandAmb
#StudentParamedic
pathway. I "changed her life" and "no regrets". π
Emergency services need absolute zero tolerance to racism, misogyny, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination. We must remove the culprits of this vile culture from our organisations. If you think like that - it affects your treatment of service users. The end. Bye. ππ»
Start of my 5-day
@NARU_org
#SORT
refresher with
@EastEnglandAmb
. CBRNe, HAZMAT, command & control theory and annual fitness test day today. Everyone doing well so far.
You would think "999 followers" is a term used for people who stalk the emergency services, but on this occasion its a super exciting milestone on the imminent horizon (don't you dare unfollow me!)
Central line came out yesterday and I'm suddenly at risk of becoming one of those patients who finds random tiny tablets in their bedding.
#GetMeHome
#ImDoneNow
#NHS
54 Easter eggs purchased by the South Cambridgeshire management team for our incredible team of clinicians and Make Ready Operatives on duty this Bank Holiday Monday.
Finished
@NARU_Education
#OpsCom
course today. Really useful day on the legal system, attending coroners court & public enquiries. Included scenarios where students were cross-examined by a professional barrister. Exceptional education. But should all
#Paramedics
receive this?
Great to see the University of Bedfordshire students earlier. They are ready to embark on their placement journey with
@EastEnglandAmb
. Good luck and welcome to our organisation
#WeAreEEAST
.
Putting
#EoLC
into practice following
@ParamedicsUK
#ParaCon21
conference all week. Took a long time to set up, but pt remained at home for a good death with family. Relevant referrals, medication and paperwork in place.
A nice early Monday morning run out in to the countryside as
#OpsCommander
to support resources on scene. Fortunately not quite as given and all is well. Safe travels everyone.
@EastAngliAirAmb
@EastEnglandAmb
So pleased with our
@EastEnglandAmb
LGBT+ Staff Support Network meeting tonight. Exec & Non exec representation,
@NatAmbLGBTUK
, our EDI team,
@Magpas_Charity
and numerous clinical and non clinical staff & volunteers coming together to improve patient care and employee experience.