Local MP Maria Miller visited the Southern Central Ambulance service today at the Basingstoke Station, meeting with manager Mark Ainsworth to discuss key achievements and goals of the Ambulance service.
Maria said: “It is great to hear about the excellent work of the SCAS, with an excellent and supportive system of team work, championing in specialist areas such as mental health, dementia and end of life care.
However, more needs to be done to help paramedics hit their goals and to ensure that patients get proper care at the right time, with 25% of patients in the most critical conditions not being reached within the target time of 8 minutes. The new Critical Care Unit would cut travel time by 30% for patients suffering from strokes and cardiac arrest, taking Ambulances away from heavy traffic in local towns and ensuring that patients travel on a quicker and safer route to Hospital.”
Maria attended the SCAS Annual General Meeting in the afternoon, where she gained support from the local ambulance service for the Critical Care Unit.
There is a growing need for Community First Responders to provide basic care for patients while they wait for the assistance of Paramedics. This role provides invaluable help to both the Ambulance service and those who require emergency care, as Community Responders perform basic history checks and observations on patients, as well as providing first hand basic life support and first aid. If you think that you or somebody you know would be interested in becoming a Community Responder, visit http://www.southcentralambulance.nhs.uk/our-services/communityresponder… for further information.