Issue - items at meetings - South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SECamb): Update

Presentation by Geraint Davies, SECamb Director of Business Development, on planned developments at the trust (presentation slides circulated separately)

40.1    This item was introduced by Geraint Davies, Director of Business Development, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb); and by Geoff Catling, SECamb Director of Technical Services and Logistics.

40.2    In response to a question from Cllr Barnett on cleaning of ambulances, Mr Catling told members that there was a rigorous daily cleaning regime, backed up by monthly swab tests. The trust was confident that this cleaning regime was robust, as all swab tests were negative.

40.3    In answer to a query from Cllr Randall about the use of paramedic motorcycles, the committee was informed that only one motorcycle was currently in use in the Brighton & Hove area, and this only during the summer months. In general, motorcycles were seen as too dangerous for paramedic staff to use, and were being phased out.

40.4    In response to a question from Cllr Harmer-Strange as to why SECamb’s ‘make ready’ initiative had been introduced in the East of the trust’s operational area, Mr Davies told members that this decision had been dictated by logistical concerns: SECamb owned suitable sites for large depots in the East of its patch, but not in the West.

40.5    In response to a question from Cllr Harmer-Strange regarding the potential for co-location with other emergency services, Mr Catling told the committee that such co-locations were always considered as an option if they made sense in terms of patient safety. However, it was relatively rare that such a co-location did make sense. There was generally more value in co-locating ambulance services with health centres, and SECamb had been involved in very successful projects of this type in Lancing and Whitstable.

40.6    Mr Davies extended an invitation to HOSC members to come and see one of SECamb’s operational ‘make ready’ depots, and trusted that members would support the trust in obtaining the best possible site for a Brighton depot, perhaps ideally at Patcham Court Farm.

40.7    The Chairman thanked Mr Davies and Mr Catling for their contributions.