Click here for further information, visit the Meetings page on this site ...
EVENING STANDARD - Friday, 03 December 2021
By: Rose Lydall, Health Editor with comments from Malcolm Alexander, Chair, LAS Patients' Forum
By: Rose Lydall, Health Editor with comments from Malcolm Alexander, Chair, LAS Patients' Forum
Click on the image to download ...
Click on the image to download ...
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Click on image to download ... 8 pages
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LETTER TO NW LONDON CCG, from MALCOLM ALEXANDER, CHAIR, PATIENTS' FORUM FOR THE LAS
26 October 2021 - 1 page
26 October 2021 - 1 page
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CONTRACTUAL MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT - September 2021
PowerPoint Presentation - 23 slides C1 is for patients with life threatening conditions. See page 14 of the pack. Serious deterioration Cat C1 performance.
C1 ambulance responses should be with patient within 7 minute - the pack shows the average C1 responses for each Borough. North Central group were worst in London, but Waltham Forest at 9.14 minutes was the worst Borough in London. |
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QUESTIONS TO THE LAS
29 September 2021 - 6 pages Letter to Malcolm Alexander, Chair, Patients' Forum, from Philippa Keir, Stakeholder Communications Manager, London Ambulance Service |
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Click on the images to view. Malcolm Alexander (Chair, PFLAS) speaks at Point 0.19 ... switch on the volume
There is growing anger over plans to close all of London's ambulance stations with campaigners calling the proposed changes "dangerous". The London Ambulance Service plans to replace all 68 of the capital's stations with 18 so-called 'deployment hubs'.
One MP told ITV News London that the proposals in her constituency could cost lives.
One MP told ITV News London that the proposals in her constituency could cost lives.
LETTER TO ANDREW BLAKE-HERBERT FROM KHADIR MEER, CHIEF OPERATION OFFICE AND DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE - LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE - June 2021 ... 3 pages
Click on the images to download the pages ...
Click on the images to download the pages ...
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A Patient Group criticised the closure plan as 'dangerous'.
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NHS bosses plan to shut every local ambulance station in London, prompting fears that patients could be harmed if 999 crews take longer to reach them, the Guardian can reveal.
“This move to shut every Ambulance Station in London could cause significant harm to patients because of the delays that will take place in getting to them,” said Malcolm Alexander, the chair of the LAS Patients’ Forum, a non-statutory watchdog, and Hackney Healthwatch, a Government-funded Statutory Body that scrutinises NHS services in the East London Borough. “We have come across many situations where people have suffered harm because ambulances have taken too long to get there. It looks like this is quite dangerous from the point of view of patient safety.” |
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AMBULANCE STATIONS CLOSURE
Letter to Khadir Meer, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, from Malcolm Alexander, Chair,Patients' Forum for the LAS and Healthwatch Hackney. 26 August 2021 - 3 pages |
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RADOC RIDEOUT REPORT - 20 pages
Healthwatch Hackney Rideout with Paradoc History of Paradoc . Target Groups . Why GP and Paramedic . Slecting Patients for the Paradoc Service Meeting Patients' Needs . End of Life Care . Continuity of Care . Car Homes . Outreach Work . GP Out of Hours Service . Reflections on the Paradoc Rideout . Cost Savings Resulting from the Paradoc Service Outcome Data . Extending the Paradoc Model of Care . Effective Collaboration . Connectivity . Discussions with the Paradoc Team Appendix: Data on Transfers from London's 111 Services to the LAS/ED . Recommendations |
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PARADOC ZOOM MEEETING - Monday, 02 August 2021, 5.30pm - 7.00pm
ParaDoc (City & Hackney) provides rapid assessment and treatment for acutely unwell patients who would otherwise be admitted to A&E or a hospital Ward. The focus is on elderly, frail and complex patients. It also runs a morning falls service for people who have fallen and may be laying on the floor. ParaDoc comprises a GP with a Paramedic and involves local rapid responses with/Falls/Nursing/Palliative teams; Physiotherapists; Occupational therapists; Geriatricians and Social Services to help people manage better at home. Executive Director of Healthwatch : Jon Williams - jon@healthwatchhackney.co.uk Chair: Healthwatch and Patients’ Forum: Malcolm Alexander - PatientsForumLAS@aol.com Vice Chair Patients’ Forum: Sister Josephine Udie - Sisterjossi@hotmail.com ALL WELCOME – email us if you wish to attend WWW.PATIENTSFORUMLAS.NET ... DO YOU WISH TO BE REMOVED? PLEASE LET US KNOW |
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HEALTH AND CARE IN THE COMMUNITY - DURING THE PANDEMIC AND BEYOND
July 2021 ... 31 PowerPoint Slides By: Briony Sloper - Health and Care in the Commnity Cell Lead/Ageing Well Lead, London Region NHS England and NHS Improvement |
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CONTRACTUAL MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT
April 2021 ... 18 pages |
LAS TRUST IS WARNING IT FACES A 'MASS EXODUS' OF ITS AUSTRALIAN PARAMEDICS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS OVER THEIR VISA STATUS WHEN THEY RETURN HOME ON LEAVE IN THE COMING MONTHS.
03 April 2021 ... 2 pages
03 April 2021 ... 2 pages
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MONITORING THE LAS EMERGENCY OPERATING CENTRES AND SOUTH EAST LONDON 111
22 pages Volunteer Participants in Monitoring the LAS - Forum Officers and Specialist Leads - Introduction and Methodology - EOC Recommendations to the LAS - 111 Recommendations to the LAS - Use of Language Line - Protected Characteristics - Patients' Forum Leaflet |
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FORUM LEAD ON HUMAN FACTORS AND STROKE, COURTNEY GRANT, TALKS TO LIV SYSTEMS ABOUT EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CRITICAL CARE
Forum Lead on Human Factors and Stroke Courtney Grant, recently did an interview with Liv System about Emergency Response and Critical Care where he talked about his experiences with the London Ambulance Service after his partner suffered a stroke. I think you will find the interview very interesting. Malcolm Alexander, Chair, PFLAS http://www.liv-systems..com/human-factors-for-emergency-response-and-critical-care/ |
Human Factors for Emergency Response and Critical Care - Liv Systems
In this blog post, Liv System’s Nigel Scard talks with Courtney Grant, a Senior Human Factors engineer with Transport for London (TfL).Nigel and Courtney worked together for a number of years at TfL on a number of station and line upgrade projects.
We credit Liv Systems as the originators of the blog - http://www.liv-systems.com/
In this blog post, Liv System’s Nigel Scard talks with Courtney Grant, a Senior Human Factors engineer with Transport for London (TfL).Nigel and Courtney worked together for a number of years at TfL on a number of station and line upgrade projects.
We credit Liv Systems as the originators of the blog - http://www.liv-systems.com/
LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS TRUST - CONTRACTUAL MONTHLY PERFORMANCE REPORT
January 2021 ... 17 pages
January 2021 ... 17 pages
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Two London buses have been converted into temporary ambulances to alleviate the pressure of Covid-19 on the NHS across the capital.
Starting the service in the next few days, NHS staff have been prepped and vaccinated to transport up to four patients in the makeshift ambulances which have been stripped of seats and adapted with medical equipment. |
Although not exclusively for Covid patients, the buses will have oxygen onboard to provide Covid patients who need it. The buses have also been fitted with infusion pumps and monitors to ensure patients are stable while being transferred to other hospitals, including the re-opened Nightingale field hospital.
© Provided by City AM
© Provided by City AM
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MEETING BETWEEN THE LAS, EPILEPSY SOCIETY AND PATIENTS’ FORUM DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING EPILEPTIC FITS
August 27th 2019 Fenella Wrigley - Med Director, Tim Edwards & Paul Gates - Consultant Paramedics Malcolm Alexander (Patients’ Forum LAS), Nicola Swanborough (Epilepsy Society) |
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LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE STRATEGY 2018 - 2023
One Year Review, May 2019 ... by Angela Flaherty, Interim Director of Strategy ... 28 pages Introduction to our key strategy goals - Background - How we said that we would deliver our strategy - Progress on strategic programme - Progress of development of our enabling strategies - Effective stakeholder engagement - Key dependencies - Next steps |
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PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFING REGARDING THE LAS - A KICKED-OUT REPORT - March 2020
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The following issues were raised with Dr. Fenella Wrigley (Medical Director), Mark Spencer (LAS Board), Tim Edwards (Consultant Paramedic), Dr. Yvonne Doyle (Public Health England), Martin Flaherty (Association of Ambulance Chief Executives), and Mark Easton (Former Chief Officer NW London STP).
See also Guardian article below.
Questions from: Malcolm Alexander, Chair, Patients' Forum Ambulance Services London.
I have been contacted today by several front-line staff members, who are concerned about safety aspects of their care for patients who are infected, or potentially infected, with Covid-19.
The following issues have been raised with me:
1) Over last few days there has been a lack of necessary cleaning supplies and protective equipment for staff.
2) Some crews were today told that despite not having appropriate equipment that they should visit patients who might be infected with Covid-19.
3) That there is a serious shortage of infection control wipes, aprons & appropriate masks (no FFP3 masks for some crews).
4) Staff feel that they are being asked to attend patients without adequate protection.
5) Staff members told me that they are frightened about passing on virus or contracting it because of a lack of appropriate protection -
putting themselves and the public at risk.
6) Some staff are worried about the impact on their employment with the LAS if they refuse to attend patients, because they don’t have
the right equipment.
7) Advice from PHE has not been made available to front line staff.
8) Staff have asked to have samples taken at local hospitals if they feel that they have come into contact with a Covid-19 patient, but
have not yet received assurances on this issue.
9) Gold met today and staff are awaiting the outcome of this meeting in relation to the points above.
See also Guardian article below.
Questions from: Malcolm Alexander, Chair, Patients' Forum Ambulance Services London.
I have been contacted today by several front-line staff members, who are concerned about safety aspects of their care for patients who are infected, or potentially infected, with Covid-19.
The following issues have been raised with me:
1) Over last few days there has been a lack of necessary cleaning supplies and protective equipment for staff.
2) Some crews were today told that despite not having appropriate equipment that they should visit patients who might be infected with Covid-19.
3) That there is a serious shortage of infection control wipes, aprons & appropriate masks (no FFP3 masks for some crews).
4) Staff feel that they are being asked to attend patients without adequate protection.
5) Staff members told me that they are frightened about passing on virus or contracting it because of a lack of appropriate protection -
putting themselves and the public at risk.
6) Some staff are worried about the impact on their employment with the LAS if they refuse to attend patients, because they don’t have
the right equipment.
7) Advice from PHE has not been made available to front line staff.
8) Staff have asked to have samples taken at local hospitals if they feel that they have come into contact with a Covid-19 patient, but
have not yet received assurances on this issue.
9) Gold met today and staff are awaiting the outcome of this meeting in relation to the points above.
LONDON PARAMEDICS RATIONED TO ONE FACE MASK BETWEEN TWO ... The Guardian
8 March 2020
NHS says there are enough masks, but distribution issues have led to shortage
Crew members without masks were told by London Ambulance to stand two metres away from the patient if possible. Paramedics attending people who could be infected with the Coronavirus were told only one person in each team of two could wear a face mask, with the other instructed to stand two metres away from the patient if “clinically appropriate”.
The message was sent from Controllers to London Ambulance Service (LAS) crews at 3am on Tuesday, prompting Paramedics to question why they were ordered to ration face masks. A directive sent to Ambulance Terminals said that “due to high call demand there is a request for crew to utilise 1x mask whilst stock is mobilised to sites.” It went on: “The attending clinician to wear a mask and the remaining clinician to stand 2 metres from the patient where clinically appropriate.”
The LAS said it was trying to preserve protective equipment. In a private Facebook group where the issue was raised, an LAS Gold Group (strategic operations) spokesperson said the policy was in place to conserve equipment.
Doctors and nurses have warned that front-line NHS staff are at risk of dying after protective gear requirements for health workers treating those infected with Covid-19 were downgraded last week, while shortages appear to be widespread across the health service amid massively increased demand. NHS England’s Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Pritchard, on Tuesday accepted there had been distribution issues that meant protective equipment such as face masks, goggles and aprons were not in the right place across the health service.
The LAS Gold Group spokesperson said: “For our patients that are clinically stable only using 1 set of PPE will help preserve stock. This is for CoV ‘possible’ (the vast majority). Hope that helps. Thank you for all your help and understanding.” An LAS spokesperson told the Guardian that PPE guidance was constantly under review. “We have sufficient stocks of protective equipment, including face masks, but are taking all sensible steps to secure stock as well as ensure we preserve supplies where possible.”
Meanwhile, the GMB union, which represents ambulance workers, said crews arrived for their shifts on Tuesday to find insufficient supplies of hand sanitisers, face masks and wipes in their vehicles. “Ambulance trusts are desperately trying to get equipment to their staff but not enough is coming through the supply chain,” said Jason Dicker, a paramedic on the south-east coast and local GMB branch secretary.
“There’s a reason why an ambulance crew is an ambulance crew, my crew mate needs to be right beside me. It’s highly unacceptable and dangerous for us to be separated due to equipment shortages.” The NHS stressed there were sufficient supplies of equipment but conceded there had been distribution issues. “We have been assured that there is sufficient supply available nationally,” Pritchard told MPs during a health and social care committee meeting.
“We have had the benefit of being able to release our influenza stockpile and our EU exit stockpile, so nationally we are currently assured that we do have the adequate supply we need.
“However, we are aware that there have been some local distribution problems so we haven’t necessarily got the kit in the right place.”
8 March 2020
NHS says there are enough masks, but distribution issues have led to shortage
Crew members without masks were told by London Ambulance to stand two metres away from the patient if possible. Paramedics attending people who could be infected with the Coronavirus were told only one person in each team of two could wear a face mask, with the other instructed to stand two metres away from the patient if “clinically appropriate”.
The message was sent from Controllers to London Ambulance Service (LAS) crews at 3am on Tuesday, prompting Paramedics to question why they were ordered to ration face masks. A directive sent to Ambulance Terminals said that “due to high call demand there is a request for crew to utilise 1x mask whilst stock is mobilised to sites.” It went on: “The attending clinician to wear a mask and the remaining clinician to stand 2 metres from the patient where clinically appropriate.”
The LAS said it was trying to preserve protective equipment. In a private Facebook group where the issue was raised, an LAS Gold Group (strategic operations) spokesperson said the policy was in place to conserve equipment.
Doctors and nurses have warned that front-line NHS staff are at risk of dying after protective gear requirements for health workers treating those infected with Covid-19 were downgraded last week, while shortages appear to be widespread across the health service amid massively increased demand. NHS England’s Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Pritchard, on Tuesday accepted there had been distribution issues that meant protective equipment such as face masks, goggles and aprons were not in the right place across the health service.
The LAS Gold Group spokesperson said: “For our patients that are clinically stable only using 1 set of PPE will help preserve stock. This is for CoV ‘possible’ (the vast majority). Hope that helps. Thank you for all your help and understanding.” An LAS spokesperson told the Guardian that PPE guidance was constantly under review. “We have sufficient stocks of protective equipment, including face masks, but are taking all sensible steps to secure stock as well as ensure we preserve supplies where possible.”
Meanwhile, the GMB union, which represents ambulance workers, said crews arrived for their shifts on Tuesday to find insufficient supplies of hand sanitisers, face masks and wipes in their vehicles. “Ambulance trusts are desperately trying to get equipment to their staff but not enough is coming through the supply chain,” said Jason Dicker, a paramedic on the south-east coast and local GMB branch secretary.
“There’s a reason why an ambulance crew is an ambulance crew, my crew mate needs to be right beside me. It’s highly unacceptable and dangerous for us to be separated due to equipment shortages.” The NHS stressed there were sufficient supplies of equipment but conceded there had been distribution issues. “We have been assured that there is sufficient supply available nationally,” Pritchard told MPs during a health and social care committee meeting.
“We have had the benefit of being able to release our influenza stockpile and our EU exit stockpile, so nationally we are currently assured that we do have the adequate supply we need.
“However, we are aware that there have been some local distribution problems so we haven’t necessarily got the kit in the right place.”
PRESS RELEASE - 11 MARCH 2020
OUTSTANDING EDUCATION CENTRE COLLABORATION ENDED BY THE LAS!
8 pages
A highly innovative education project between the LAS and the Patients' Forum has been abandoned by the LAS without notice to the participants.
OUTSTANDING EDUCATION CENTRE COLLABORATION ENDED BY THE LAS!
8 pages
A highly innovative education project between the LAS and the Patients' Forum has been abandoned by the LAS without notice to the participants.
QUALITY ACCOUNT STATEMENT, LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE - 2020 ... REMEMBERING CAROLINE FLACK
- A Patient Describes her Experiences of Emergency Care
- Next Steps for the LAS - Providing right care first time to prevent suicide and self-harm
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MEETINGS OF THE PATIENTS' FORUM - UPDATE FOR MEMBERS
06 February 2020 ... 1 page |
Click to download ... 6 pages
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CO-PRODUCTION CHARTER FOR URGENT AND EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES IN LONDON
17 October 2019 ... 6 pages This Charter was agreed with the Chief Quality Officer of the LAS, Trisha Bain, on 17 October 2019 in a Meeting attended by Joseph Healy, PFASL and Malcolm Alexander. Chair, PFASL. |
Click to download ... 2 pages
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Click to download ... 5 pages
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FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER REGARDING BREACHES OF THE FOI ACT BY THE LAS
Letters from Malcolm Alexander, Chair, Patients' Forum for the LAS 16 December, 2019 1. To Garrett Emmerson, Chief Executive, London Ambulance Service. 2. To Richard Cotton, Case Officer, Information Commissioner's Office. |
