Pre-Hospital Maternity Care: Optimising Outcomes for Mothers and Newborns

In this episode, we explore the critical factors shaping maternal and neonatal outcomes in the pre-hospital environment, bringing together expert insights from Camella Main, Dawn Kerslake, and Stephanie Heys. Camella, a Consultant Midwife with over 12 years’ experience across both hospital and pre-hospital settings, shares her perspective from her roles with the London Ambulance Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service, where she leads on improving maternity care through evidence-based practice.The conversation focuses on the realities of managing high-risk pregnancies and neonatal care outside the hospital, particularly in rural and remote settings. We examine current guidelines, emerging trends, and practical strategies to optimise outcomes for both mother and baby. A key theme is the immediate care of the newborn, with a detailed discussion on thermal management, why it matters, common pitfalls, and the techniques and equipment that can make a critical difference in those first minutes after delivery.We also explore the broader system challenges: how paramedics are trained and supported in maternal and neonatal care, the role of clinical governance, and the importance of structured follow-up and ongoing support for patients. The panel addresses a significant gap in pre-hospital maternity research, highlighting both the challenges and the urgent need for further evidence to guide practice.This episode offers a comprehensive and practical look at pre-hospital maternity care, combining frontline experience, clinical expertise, and a forward-looking discussion on how the field must evolve to improve outcomes for mothers and newborns. You can listen to the separate previous episodes here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vjqHk5SZXeW5HMjtZuGfmhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-future-of-pre-hospital-maternity-care/id1441215901?i=1000648721307This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

Today on the Pre-hospital Care Podcast, we dive into the growing role of high-fidelity simulation in improving clinical performance, team coordination, and patient outcomes in pre-hospital care systems. Simulation has moved beyond an educational luxury to become a strategic tool for preparing clinicians for the unpredictable and high-stakes nature of pre-hospital emergency medicine. In this episode, we explore not only the advantages of realistic experiential training but also the critical role of targeted debriefing and video-assisted debriefs in cementing learning, enhancing psychological safety, and driving measurable performance improvements.Our guest is Ben King, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Best Practice Medicine, a clinician-founded, Montana-based organisation dedicated to experiential healthcare education, high fidelity simulation, travel paramedicine, and EMS response services. Ben is widely recognised as a thought leader in resuscitative medicine, team dynamics, and human performance under stress, and has been a driving force in expanding the use of high-fidelity simulation to prepare providers for real-world clinical complexity. You can find Best Practice Medicine here: https://bestpracticemedicine.com/

In this compelling compilation series on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), the conversation unfolds through the combined expertise of Mark Wilson and David K. Menon, offering a layered exploration of one of medicine’s most complex and high-stakes challenges. Across these episodes, listeners are guided through both the immediate realities of head trauma and the deeper physiological battles that follow.Consultant neurosurgeon Mark Wilson discusses the fundamentals of head injury, focusing on brain injury, primary and secondary injury, venous drainage, and optimising pre-hospital management. As a specialist in acute brain injury at Imperial College and an Air Ambulance doctor, Mark brings a frontline perspective where early decisions can significantly shape patient outcomes.Professor David K. Menon joins for an in-depth exploration of TBI. As the Founding Director of the Neurosciences Critical Care Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, he has been instrumental in shaping modern understanding of TBI physiology, monitoring, and management. His insights illuminate the complex cascade of secondary injury processes that evolve after the initial trauma.Together, these episodes emphasise a central truth: TBI is not a single event, but a dynamic process requiring precision, timing, rehabilitation, and evolving clinical insight. You can listen to the original episodes here: Trauma Series Part 3: Head Trauma with Mark Wilson: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/trauma-series-part-3-head-trauma-with-mark-wilson/id1441215901?i=1000670004308TBI: The Battle for the Injured Brain with Professor David Menon: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tbi-the-battle-for-the-injured-brain-with/id1441215901?i=1000752384742

In this session, we’re joined by Professor Daniel Patterson, one of the leading international voices on fatigue, safety, and evidence-based policy in Emergency Medical Services. Daniel is a PhD-qualified researcher, Nationally Registered Paramedic, and Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. Daniel’s work sits at the intersection of frontline EMS practice, sleep science, and systems-level safety. He has led some of the most influential research programmes examining how fatigue affects clinicians, patients, and organisations, and, critically, what can be done about it.This conversation centres on the Fatigue in EMS Project, a landmark body of work that applied rigorous systematic review methodology to underpin the first evidence-based guidelines for fatigue risk management in EMS. Rather than relying on tradition or opinion, this research interrogates what the evidence tells us about shift length, napping, caffeine, education, workload, and fatigue modelling. Together, we’ll explore fatigue as a patient safety issue, challenge endurance culture, and discuss how high-quality evidence should shape the way EMS systems are designed and led. To read the studies mentioned in the podcast, please see here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721822001814https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29324053/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3228875/

This Paediatric Critical Care Compilation brings together three of the most important conversations we’ve released on the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast. Caring for critically unwell or injured children in the pre-hospital environment is rare, high-stakes, and cognitively demanding, and getting it right matters.In Part 1, we speak with Anna Dobbie on Paediatric Assessment in Critical Care with a focus on the fundamentals of paediatric assessment. From structured approaches to airway, breathing, circulation, and neurological evaluation, to recognising the subtle red flags that signal serious illness, this episode builds a framework for managing children of all ages under pressure.Part 2 expands into the conditions you are most likely to encounter in the field. Joined by Sarah Edwards, we explore respiratory infections, asthma, seizures, gastroenteritis, dehydration, febrile illness, and trauma. The emphasis is on pattern recognition, early prioritisation, and avoiding common pitfalls. We also examine the critical role of caregivers and the communication skills required to manage fear, uncertainty, and complexity in real time.In Part 3, we tackle one of the most challenging scenarios in pre-hospital care, Paediatric Cardiac Arrest, with Medical Director Paul Banerjee. With historically poor outcomes, we explore how one system has achieved dramatically improved survival through protocol innovation and a willingness to challenge convention.Across all three episodes, a central principle remains: these discussions are designed to inform and provoke thought, but practice must always align with your local guidelines, governance, and system capabilities. This is essential listening, content that has the potential to directly influence how we care for our sickest patients.You can listen to each episode here: Part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/paediatric-assessment-in-critical-care-with-anna/id1441215901?i=1000705648049Part 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/recognising-red-flags-a-guide-to-paediatric/id1441215901?i=1000708533081Part 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/paediatric-cardiac-arrest-with-paul-banerjee/id1441215901?i=1000733614357

In this episode, we explore how REBOA can become an integrated tool for deliberate physiologic support in profound shock. REBOA is a word that immediately commands attention in pre-hospital care. For many teams, it represents the edge of capability, a high-stakes intervention reserved for catastrophic haemorrhage and profound shock.  Many clinicians still think of it primarily as a haemorrhage-control device: inflate fully, plug the leak, and hope for the best. But in profound shock, bleeding is only part of the problem. Coronary perfusion hinges on proximal aortic diastolic pressure, and if the heart isn’t being perfused, everything else we do is on borrowed time. Today’s guests, Dr Jon Barratt and Dr Halden Hutchinson-Bazely, sit at the cutting edge of this shift in thinking. Jon is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine with the British Army and the NHS, serving as Clinical Lead for Research and Clinical Innovation at Yorkshire Air Ambulance and as a MERIT Consultant with West Midlands Ambulance Service. He is a Senior Lecturer with the Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine and a founding force behind the SPEAR programme, a resuscitation training initiative that leverages ultrasound-guided arterial access and physiologic targets to support patients in deep shock. Jon was also principal investigator for the ERICA-ARREST trial, investigating the use of REBOA to augment coronary perfusion in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Hutch is a pre-hospital care doctor at London's Air Ambulance (LAA), specialising in exsanguination, and an intensive care doctor at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, specialising in ECMO. He is practising in endovascular resuscitation across the spectrum of the medical and trauma fields. Together with Jon, he is a SPEAR and EVTM faculty member and was an investigator for ERICA-ARREST. He brings a thoughtful and clinically grounded perspective to trauma management, with a focus on practical decision-making in high-pressure environments. His work reflects a commitment to evidence-informed practice and continual learning within acute care systems.You can find more on SPEAR here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11297298241242157And here: https://www.eaaa.org.uk/what-we-do/research-and-education/clinical-education/spear 

Today’s episode, Trauma Fundamentals: Chest, Pelvis & Spine, brings together a curated compilation of three core areas of major trauma that every pre-hospital clinician must be confident in managing.In this episode, we revisit thoracic trauma with Dr Geoff Healy, exploring the life-threatening pathologies that demand early recognition and decisive intervention. We then move into pelvic trauma with Dr Ash Vasireddy, unpacking the nuances of pelvic assessment, the significance of the mechanism of injury, and the importance of early stabilisation. Finally, we round things off with spinal trauma alongside CCP Jim Walmsley, discussing decision-making, immobilisation, and the evolving evidence base guiding contemporary practice.These are conversations packed with practical insights, clinical nuance, and real pearls of wisdom from our guests. Whether you’re early in your career or an experienced clinician, there is huge value in revisiting these fundamentals and reflecting on how they shape your approach to trauma care on scene.As always, the aim is not to be prescriptive but to support your thinking, challenge assumptions, and broaden your perspective on managing seriously injured patients in the pre-hospital environment.Do remember to work within your local policies, guidelines, and scope of practice at all times. But we hope that the discussions in this episode help inform your decision-making and ultimately support you in delivering high-quality, patient-centred trauma care when it matters most.⁠This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

In this episode, we examine the evolving model of Community Emergency Medicine (CEM), a quietly transformative approach that is reshaping how urgent and emergency care is delivered. With increasing pressure on emergency departments and prolonged ambulance handover delays, CEM offers a different paradigm: delivering high-quality emergency care directly to patients in their homes, communities, and care environments.At the heart of this discussion is Tony Joy, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and a leading voice in developing CEM. Drawing on experience across both emergency departments and pre-hospital care, Tony presents a systems-based perspective on how services can safely extend care beyond hospital walls. We cover:- What Community Emergency Medicine is, and what it is not- The system pressures driving its development- How CEM can reduce unnecessary ED attendances and hospital conveyance- The significance of clinical governance, risk management, and decision-making outside traditional settings- Developing and maintaining community-based care pathways- The cultural and professional mindset shift needed to provide care differently- Actual challenges in implementation, scalability, and interdisciplinary teamworkThis episode offers a practical and grounded look at how emergency care can be rethought, providing timely, expert intervention closer to home while ensuring safety, quality, and patient-centred outcomes. Read more about CEM here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31857371/⁠This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

This three-part series from the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast explores the evolving and critical role of ambulance clinicians in palliative and end-of-life care, from first principles through to the final hours of life.In Part 1, we introduce key concepts of palliative and end-of-life care alongside a dedicated specialist team. We examine the differences between generalist and specialist palliative care, the challenges of identifying patients in their last year of life, and the service gaps and educational barriers within prehospital settings. Tools like SPICT, referral pathways, advanced care planning, and the importance of simulation training and national collaboration are all discussed.Part 2 takes a closer look at the final year of life in the prehospital setting. We explore the rapid, high-stakes decisions ambulance clinicians must make, often without a full medical history, and how documentation, such as advance directives, can guide care. We also examine shared decision-making, the NHS Long Term Plan, and the cultural, systemic, and logistical barriers that complicate effective advance care planning.Part 3 focuses on the final days and hours. Paramedics are often the first to recognise active dying, navigating symptoms like terminal agitation, carer breakdown, and family distress. We discuss anticipatory medications, breaking bad news using frameworks such as Ask-Tell-Ask, and the vital emotional support clinicians provide. The series closes by reflecting on cultural diversity, from language barriers to religious rituals, reminding us that compassionate, person-centred care must be inclusive and adaptable for every patient and family.If you want to catch up on the Palliative Care Series on the PHCP, you can listen to the full collection below. Across these three episodes, we explore the evolving role of ambulance clinicians in end-of-life care, the challenges of identifying patients in their last year of life, and the complexities of delivering compassionate, patient-centred care in the pre-hospital environment. This also includes a fourth episode on Palliative Care Case Studies. Listen to all episodes here:Episode 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/palliative-and-end-of-life-care-in-pre-hospital/id1441215901?i=1000710805396Episode 2: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-last-year-of-life-palliative-and-end-of/id1441215901?i=1000714113716Episode 3: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-dying-patient-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-part-3/id1441215901?i=1000718217210Episode 4: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/palliative-care-case-studies-with-the-palliative-and/id1441215901?i=1000727796192This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at https://www.pax-bags.com/

For many clinicians, the traditional pathways of healthcare offer purpose and stability, but they can also feel restrictive, misaligned with evolving identities, or incompatible with a life that values adventure, education, and time outside conventional systems. Changing direction within or adjacent to healthcare is rarely a single leap; more often, it is a series of deliberate steps shaped by curiosity, burnout, growth, and a desire for sustainability.In this conversation, Laura Hall and Kelly Wright bring their lived experiences to bear on that reality. Laura is currently a pre- and post-op nurse in a small Colorado town, a wilderness medicine instructor, and a trail-running coach who has built a career around adaptability, education, and performance in demanding environments. Kelly is a flight nurse and endurance athlete whose professional journey reflects both the physical toll and the profound privilege of high-acuity care. Together, they are the voices behind High Adventure Healthcare, a platform dedicated to honest discussion, education, and redefining what a healthcare career can look like.This episode explores what it really means to change course, without abandoning hard-earned skills or identity. It is a grounded, practical discussion about fear, flexibility, reinvention, and how clinicians can build careers that support both longevity and life beyond the uniform. You can check out the fantastic Substack blog page here: https://highadventurehealthcare.substack.com/This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠