Agenda item

Dan Smith, Head of Service for Greater Manchester, and Sarah Jones-Roberts, Operations Manager for Bury to provide an update at the meeting.

Dan Smith, Head of Service for Greater Manchester provided an update on the North West Ambulance Service with particular focus on the impacts from COVID-19 to service delivery and changes.

Three Ambulance Stations cover the Greater Manchester area, however due to the nature of the service the ambulances are not ring fenced and will respond to incidents depending on who is the nearest to the incident area.

When the outbreak first caused considerable health issues to people within the United Kingdom in around March 2020, the ambulance service found unprecedented 999 and 111 calls. The usual average in a year would be around 3000 calls to 999 and this increased to 5000 along with 111 call figures trebling the usual amount to 9000 in a day.

The Ambulance Services was then tasked with reducing hospital admissions where possible through getting patients to the safest care provider for them. Staffing absence and issues effected the service the same as other company’s and this was a period of higher sickness absence due to COVID-19.

400 Clinicians were recruited along with 80 front line emergencies ambulances through utilising PTS Vehicles as many outpatient clinics were closed down. Trained PTS staff to work on the emergency vehicles along with paramedic training students being deployed into other needed roles.

Nationally the process changed for 999 call handling so all calls were screened for COVID-19 to ensure appropriate care was provided. Calls were passed to alternative providers if urgent and emergency care was not required for them along with increasing the clinical leadership as many volunteers stepped forward to help the service due to being on furlough or not working at that time.

Swabbing stations were set up for staff swabbing to ensure quick turn around and mitigate staff loss through absence. New sickness management procedures were introduced to support staff to manage absence in the workplace where possible.

Cleaning of vehicles for infection prevention was increased and improved from good practice from Italy. The turnaround of vehicle was increased and incredibly successful and is still being utilised today. Sarah Jayne, was in charge of Personal Protective Equipment for Greater Manchester and whilst media discussed a lack of PPE it was not the case for Greater Manchester and the North West Ambulance Service.

Discussions took place regarding the new testing procedures announced by the Government and how it may affect the NWAS if NHS cannot gain preferential access to testing facilities. It is right that constraints need to be in place to ensure those in urgent need are tested.

Cleaning costs can be maintained as long as there is seen as a heightened benefit as the cost benefit is currently managed due to the need to sustain this facility.

Whilst GP’s now regularly conduct virtual consultations there has not been a direct correlation between this and demand on the North West Ambulance Service. Most patients who called 999 over the period of March to September did require the Ambulance Service.

Accommodation was provided through hotels to certain staff members who required this and this is still ongoing whilst this is not used much now as shielding arrangements have reduced. This service was often provided for free by hotels to support NHS workers to maintain in work.  

It was agreed:

1.   Dan Smith be thanked for his update

2.   To record a vote of thanks to all the ambulance service on behalf of the Chair, Councillor Robinson and the Committee.

3.   To recirculate the slides Dan provided within the agenda pack.

4.   To receive an update in the future form Dan Smith on the Ambulance Service.