Becoming a University Ambulance NHS Trust with CEO Jason Killens

Preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is a priority for many. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) there are currently more than 55 million people suffering from dementia worldwide, and nearly 10 million new cases each year. It is also currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally.   To speak about this I’m speaking with the Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs for Cognivue, Dr Ernest Fung. Ernest is committed to Alzheimer's prevention through cognitive health promotion and early detection. Cognivue provides cognitive assessment tools to healthcare providers for the early detection of cognitive impairment, allowing patients to address modifiable risk factors sooner. With a background in molecular diagnostics and life sciences, Ernest Fung is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology. With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Fung has collaborated with physicians from multiple disciplines to assess and treat individuals with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. To find out more about the rapid 10-minute tests see here: https://cognivue.com/ PHCP Question Time: We are collecting your questions to discuss on upcoming episodes. Please use this email to email the show and we will discuss your questions: [email protected] This Podcast is now live on YouTube, please find the interview here: https://youtu.be/Ea8ZWy5LRHQ This podcast is sponsored by PAX. Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid-access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovatively designed product range please click here: ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this conversation, we will examine what is involved with the application and benefits of becoming a University Ambulance NHS Trust. As of the start of April of this year, the Trust is now known as the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust. The sought-after status has been granted by the Welsh Government in recognition of WAST’s commitment to develop its current and future workforce and to drive research and innovation. To do this I have Jason Killens with me. Jason is the Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, which is the national provider of 999, 111 and non-emergency patient transport services for Wales. Please enjoy this wide ranging conversation about the progressive steps of this academic innovation. To read more on this please see here:  https://ambulance.nhs.wales/news/nhs/2024/welsh-ambulance-service-awarded-university-trust-status/   We are also on YouTube. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PrVv7Y_3CvQ?si=e4vaamkF7peO0RG1  

In this episode, we dig into the life of a fast jet pilot with Paul Heasman. Paul speaks candidly about Crew Resource Management (CRM), the line between training and instinct, OODA loops, decision making, and much more. Paul joined the Air Force in 1999 and went through training through various aircraft types. Paul then flew the Tornado F3 from RAF Leeming for three years before being selected for instructional duties. He progressed to RAF Valley on Anglesey, spending eleven years flying the Hawk Trainer, initially the Hawk T1 before being selected to bring the Hawk T2 into service. It was at this time Paul became interested in human performance and became an RAF aircrew performance coach. Recently, with Draken, Paul became a CAA CRM instructor for the business and facilitated CRM discussions as part of aircrew routine training. To follow Paul, please see his Instagram here: www.instagram.com/this_is_air2air

In this conversation, we will examine the role of AI within pre-hospital care. We will also look at how AI is being embedded within the systems and processes from dispatch algorithms to diagnostics to demand profiling. We also look at the future of AI and where it might support patient care. To do this I have Nico Preston with me, Nico is a scientist and paramedic with a background in health, technology, and innovation. He has 15 years of experience with complex emergencies, emergency medicine, infectious disease, natural disasters, supply chains, and toxic drugs and a career spanning non-profit, academic, government, and corporate sectors.

In this conversation, we will examine Patient Liaison and follow-up. Pre-hospital clinicians are often just the first point of medical contact, so checking in throughout the rehabilitation allows clinicians and patients to close the loop on any unanswered questions and often is a chance to learn about things from the patient’s perspective. This fosters continuous improvement by identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Additionally, ongoing liaison both humanises patients and builds trust & rapport with clinicians and can bring closure for EMS personnel who often only witness the initial phase of patient care. Knowing patient outcomes and recovery status can improve job satisfaction.   To do this we have Stuart Plumbley and Sarita Taneja with me. Stu is the Patient and Family Aftercare lead at Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) Air Ambulance Trust, Emeritus HEMS Paramedic, & Critical Care Paramedic (SECAmb). Sarita is the Patient and Family Aftercare Manager at KSS and was awarded Charity Staff Member of the Year at the Air Ambulances UK Awards of Excellence in 2022. KSS as a service can be found here: https://aakss.org.uk/

Join me in this episode where I speak with Mike Donal. We unpack his journey through growing up, dropping out of school, drug use, mental health, self-harm, suicidal attempts, steroid use, sex, and mental health section in a hospital, all before 21 years old. We also look at Mike’s journey through the gym, alcohol, relationships, tattoos, and steroids. Mike shares his 180-degree turn to cleaning everything up and influencing others for the better as well as his current revelations on health, faith, and a balanced mindset. We discuss the theme of selfishness and where that comes from, mental health issues such as addiction to pain and torment, self-harming, the gym, self-loathing and coping mechanisms, steroids, and the second-order effects of steroids. Mike also talks about his children, Amber and Ezra, and how they played a significant role in his change. Join us as we unpack Mike's story and take-home messages.

In this episode, we speak with Professor Mark Wilson about the forthcoming SIS trial. This randomised study aims to compare the safety and patient outcomes of the current spinal immobilisation practice versus a more flexible "movement minimisation" approach for suspected spinal injury patients. The findings could inform future clinical guidelines. The main concepts of the trial include assessing if "movement minimisation" is no worse than the current standard "triple spinal immobilisation" for patients suspected of spinal injury in pre-hospital and emergency settings. Current practice of triple spinal immobilisation (rigid board, straps, neck collar) may have potential harms like breathing difficulties, skin/brain injury. Movement minimisation allows more flexibility and comfort, but its safety/efficacy compared to triple immobilisation is unknown. Around 8,316 patients will be randomly assigned to either movement minimisation or triple immobilisation groups. Their neurological function, complications, and long-term well-being will be assessed. The study involved spinal injury and trauma patient groups (ASPIRE, Imperial Trauma PPI) in design, emphasising the need for research before guideline changes. Results will be shared internationally with patients, the public, paramedics, doctors, and nurses through conferences, social media, reports, and publications to inform future NHS guidelines. More information on the trial can be found here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/research/ctu/trials/sis/ This podcast is sponsored by PAX. Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid-access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovatively designed product range please click here: ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this conversation, we will look at the relationship between Paramedic theory and practice with Vince Clarke. We will dig into Vince’s doctorate in Education on the subject, various frameworks for the acquisition of skills through simulation, reflective models of learning, the progression from novice to expert, directive versus facilitative learning, theory/practice conceptual frameworks, and finally, student views and where they perceive learning originates.   To do this I have Vince Clarke with me, Vince has been a paramedic since 1998, progressing on to an IHCD tutor. As well as completing an undergraduate degree in Paramedic Science, he has completed a master’s degree in health law and ethics in Practice and a Doctorate in Education.  He is currently the principal lecturer at Hertfordshire University Paramedic Science Program, the trustee for education with the College of Paramedics, and an external advisor to several organisations. Vince's thesis can be found here: https://uhra.herts.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/2299/21089/99008890%20Clarke%20Vince%20final%20version%20of%20submission.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 This podcast is sponsored by PAX. Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid-access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovatively designed product range please click here: ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this conversation, we will look at the life of an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP). We will dig into what the training looks like, the autonomy involved, the various specialisms you can take, what Dan has learnt along the way and much more. As more and more alternative career pathways are opening, we explore if this one is an attractive option. We also look at the alignment to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) curriculum and how this shapes Dan's practice, skills and clinical decision making. ACPs play a vital role in the delivery of emergency care across the UK. They now make up over 10% of the college membership. There are over one thousand ACP members and this number is rapidly increasing. ACPs are represented on all major RCEM Committees. We also examine some of the educational expectations outside of the RCEM curriculum to fulfil the role as an ACP and also some of the various clinical backgrounds that ACPs come from. To find out more about the ACP role you can visit the RCEM website, menu, - training / careers/ Advanced Clinical Practitioner https://rcem.ac.uk/emergency-care-advanced-clinical-practitioners/  This podcast is sponsored by PAX.  Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid-access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovatively designed product range please click here: ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this episode, I will be speaking with Jay Baldwin. At 26 Jay had suffered bilateral leg amputations from an IED whilst serving in the British army in Afghanistan. He was medically discharged from the UK military at 28, divorced at 32 and battled and won cancer at 33. Since being medically discharged from the Army, the dad of six has learned to walk on prosthetic limbs, has retrained as a fitness instructor and has truly inspired many. He is currently the UK’s only double amputee personal trainer. You can find Jay on social media @ https://twitter.com/NoLeggedNinja1