Pre-Hospital Care Podcast

This special edition of the PHCP podcast for International Paramedic Day explores the diverse and evolving landscape of the paramedic field. Our hosts delve into the growth of roles, changes in triage systems, community engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, technological advancements, mental health support, and future predictions. This comprehensive discussion aims to highlight the essentia...

In this conversation, we will examine and explore the anatomy of work that a Sydney HEMS Registrar sees within their time at one of the most progressive and dynamic Air Ambulance services in the southern hemisphere. We dig into the day-to-day life, the clinical governance, the case mix and indeed the debrief that occurs within the Sydney HEMS team. We also examine some of the most significant chal...

This week we are talking with Dr. Brian Burns about the range of Pre-hospital cases seen in NSW Australia. In the episode, we will explore the prevalence of trauma versus acute medical pathology, the types and patterns of injury encountered, the range and efficacy of interventions in pre-hospital care delivered and the utility of each. We will also examine the challenges of cases that are unique t...

Join me as I speak with Rob Pupelis, CEO of Spectros Medical Devices, about the latest advancements in tissue oximetry and the future of this medical technology. Rob is a leader in the development of non-invasive sensing and remote monitoring in healthcare, with a focus on shedding light on tissue health and diseases related to vascular performance. During our discussion, we cover a range of topic...

In this conversation, the author of Designing for Healthcare: The human-centred Approach, Craig Joseph joins us to discuss design processes, workflows, operations, and technologies around the person-to-person interaction which fundamentally lies at the heart of healthcare and human factors. Craig states that currently chronic disease management, medical bankruptcy, and equitable outcomes are just...

In this conversation, we will examine the percentage and growth of females in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM). We also examine the diversity within the UK context and how this has slowly but surely grown and affected the workforce for the better within pre-hospital care. We also discuss the hierarchy of competence, barriers to entry and some of the covert and overt challenges that women hav...

In this episode, I will be speaking with Ani Naqvi. Ani is an Executive Transformation Expert and Mentor who guides leaders towards productivity, self-care, and finding purpose. Her remarkable experiences, including surviving the 2004 tsunami, have shaped her holistic approach to personal and professional growth. Ani's remarkable personal experiences of battling cancer, and surviving a tsunami...

In this conversation, we will examine the utility and innovation of virtual reality training as a tool for paramedic practice. We will examine the engagement with VR technology, which areas of education it can support, the reflections from students, Virtual Reality versus reality in an academic sense, the assessment process online and much more. To do this I’m speaking with Sam Willis. Sam is a se...

In this episode, we have the privilege of interviewing Jack Mannings, the Spinal Injury Association (SIA) support coordinator for London. Jack shares his authentic story of having a spinal cord transection at C5 from a road traffic incident that left him tetraplegic. He speaks from his experience both pre and post-injury, shedding light on his rehabilitation journey and involvement in the SIA netw...

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 abou...

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...

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...

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, tech...

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 strengt...

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 e...

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 a...

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 fi...

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 Col...

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 fitnes...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Robbie Maiden, a lifeboat coxswain, as he shares his journey from being embedded in a culture from a young age to becoming a leader in the austere lifeboat setting. With no formal leadership training, Robbie has developed his skills through experiential learning and personal growth. Robbie has held the position of coxswain for 27 years but has life boati...

In this conversation we discuss the future of pre-hospital maternity care with three leading consultant midwives from UK NHS ambulance services. Dawn Kerslake, Stephanie Heys, and Camella Main are experts in their field and will provide valuable insights into this critical area of pre-hospital care. During the podcast we explore the education and training of paramedics in maternal care, current go...

In this conversation, we will examine human performance, some of the fundamental components of performance, models of performance, and how we train versus how we perform. We will also examine the importance of psychological safety, and the interplay between performance, standards, and behaviour. We also speak around the concept of culture as an enabler for performance. To do this I have Tom Hurst...

In this conversation, we will unpack the International Journal of Paramedicine and the original vision for the journal. We will also look at the reach of the journal and the different sections of the journal yet to launch. We also examine the interaction with the journal as it looks to create discussion and research ideas and how people can get involved in the journal team amongst much more. To do...

In this episode we are speaking with London HEMS Paramedic Keiren Rodwell. We dig into Keiren's background from working as a paramedic student in New South Wales, to working for the London Ambulance Service LAS in north east London. Keiren joined London Ambulance Service straight out of university in February 2018. We speak about the death of two of Keiren’s extended family whilst protecting t...

In this conversation we will examine the current state of play within UK military medicine, the demographics of modern military capability; that of deployable role 1, 2 and 3 hospitals within the field. We will also examine the lessons learnt from recent conflicts and how they might inform the military medicine of the future. We look at analogues of comparison from the last major British involveme...