RSS 1.0Welcome to amber - the home of ambulance service research
amber contains records of published research authored by staff working in NHS ambulance services in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. amber is managed by the Library and Knowledge Services for NHS Ambulance Services in England [LKS ASE]. For more information see the About pages or contact LKS ASE. If you have any further questions about amber or our data please eMail library@nwas.nhs.uk.
Congratulations to Betul Yalcin on winning the LKS ASE Best Elevator Pitch Prize at 999EMS Research Forum 2023, Manchester.
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To err is an opportunityOverall, this summer has been a good one. I re-started scuba diving. Now that I have a steady income, I can take up an old hobby. I have rekindled my love for the water and being under water – though, at 17˚C, the UK waters are a tad colder than the lovely 28˚C waters of the Dominican Republic I visited in March. July also saw graduation. Despite finishing university in September 2023, graduation was held in July 2024. It was lovely to spend a week back in the North of England, seeing old mentors and friends. During graduation, I had the opportunity to speak with my tutors that had moved on to different pastures. It was lovely to see them and tell them about my adventures in London.However, the week before graduation, while on a day shift, I made my first major error. I attended to a patient who was fitting. In the London Ambulance Service (LAS), we administer Midazolam to assist in terminating seizure activity. Abstract published with permission.
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The views of current and future paramedics on prescribing: a reviewFollowing a change in legislation in 2018, paramedics gained prescribing rights but, as this is a recent change, no reviews have been carried out into their experiences. Aim: The overarching aim of this article is to understand the thoughts and opinions of current and future paramedic prescribers on non-medical independent prescribing. It also aims to identify potential barriers to paramedic independent prescribing (PIP), investigating the gaps within medication options, and the role of PIP in the autonomous scope of paramedic practice. Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed and CENTRAL was undertaken in January 2023, with articles also gathered from grey literature, Google Scholar, citation searching and author contacting to identify literature for review. Six articles underwent thematic analysis, and four themes were identified: advanced practice; improved medication management; barriers to implementation; and effect on current practice. Findings: Overall, there are significant positives to paramedic independent prescribing, such as improved patient experiences, more medication options and fewer hospital admissions. However, there were concerns, which centred on the implementation process, underpinning support and increased responsibility. Abstract published with permission.
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ECGs on the go: a clinical comfort blanketWhile not a book, another valuable resource for paramedics from Class Professional Publishing will be the subject of this quarter’s Book Review. Within this pack, you will find 21 colour-coordinated cards. The colours separate the cards into five different categories related to electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation: l ST-Segment change Bundle Branch Blocks AV Blocks SVT rhythms Ventricular rhythms. All the topics covered are ones you would expect to find on a paramedic degree course and that have relevance in the prehospital setting. Abstract published with permission.
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Maternity emergencies 2: normal birthBirth is a physiological process. However, when occurring unplanned prehospitally, it is a clinically significant event that is often unexpected and can be the cause of great anxiety. This is generally due to paramedics’ lack of exposure and training in maternity in general, the fear of the unknown and the concerns about ‘what if something goes wrong?’ An understanding of the physiology and how birth processes work will assist with the decisions around transporting the woman in labour and how to manage a birth if it occurs rapidly and unexpectedly. This series on maternity care will highlight a range of maternity emergencies and detail the pathophysiology as well as their prehospital treatment and management. Abstract published with permission.
