Local ambulance staff are pleased with the results of an investigation into patient experiences.
Christine with paramedic James Rousseau and Technician Fak Hussain talk about the Tympanic temperature monitor
West Midlands Ambulance Service is celebrating after a series of events to mark National Patient Safety Week (12th – 18th September 2011) proved a huge success with staff and patients.
Staff from the Clinical and Quality Directorate joined with non-executive directors to visit a total of eight hospitals throughout the region to speak to patients, staff and carry out random spot checks on ambulance vehicles.
The visits took place in Stoke, Stafford, Dudley, Birmingham, Redditch, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Coventry and Warwick.
Sir Graham, Christine and Technician Andy Blakemore looking at the ParAid Child Restraint system.
WMAS Director of Nursing and Quality, Sandy Brown, said: “It is essential to ask patients what they think of the services provided. The Trust has an excellent record of seeking feedback on the quality of care we provide and it is a credit to our frontline staff that in the vast majority of cases we provide high quality care for patients.
“The comments we received from almost thirty patients we spoke to were extremely positive but we recognise that occasionally the service we provide does fall below the patient’s expectations and we need to learn from these occasions to ensure ongoing improvement.”
While staff and hospitals were generally congratulated, there were also some adverse comments from individual cases.
Trust Chairman, Sir Graham Meldrum commented, “For some years the non-executives at WMAS have been going out to talk to staff about the service and speak to patients so that we can hear first-hand what is going on. The learning from enquiries such as that into Mid-Staffordshire Hospital have backed that up.
“I was really impressed with the knowledge of the staff and their keenness to ensure that our vehicles have the right equipment and staff are correctly trained so that patients can be protected at all times.
“We are committed to listening to the views of staff, our patients and their carers so that we can constantly look for improvements in the design of our equipment and processes so that patients remain safe.”
