I think we can all agree, this year has been challenging for everyone.

But did you know-

Ambulances and patients are held outside both Derriford and TrillIsk Hospital almost every single day as both hospitals are full to the brim?

Whilst being held outside the hospital, Paramedics, Technicians and Emergency Care Assistants need to remain with the patients, often for over 10 hours per shift. 

During this time our teams can’t take a break & frequently lead to them working 14-16hours a day, and miss valuable time with their families. 

Patients often wait 12hrs+ for an ambulance at the moment, and unfortunately many have died awaiting an ambulance that has been delayed by a system that is failing to provide a safe service to its patients.

Our staff not only have to provide emergency life saving care with these pressures, but they often find themselves apologising for the delays and consoling the families of those who have lost someone or who have come to harm awaiting an ambulance. 

The physical and mental fatigue this causes increases the risk of suicide, self harm and mental illness within our team and leads to many days in sickness and a huge deterioration in work life balance. 

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Charity funds staying well initiatives to support our staff in ways such as:

• Counselling and emergency intervention for those in crisis
• Staying well activities and engagement outside of the working environment
• Provides improved facilities and  furnishings to our stations
• Financial support for those struggling to pay basic bills in times of unexpected hardship 

As such, as part of the National “Outrun an Ambulance” campaign where the Ambulance Service charities ask people to run the distance of a single ambulance’s mileage in a shift, I will be running the combined milage of the three stations of which I manage- 314miles (Torpoint 118 miles, Liskeard 98 and Saltash 98 miles) between now and 1st April. 

The current unprecedented pressures are leaving our teams and their families in Cornwall broken, tired and in need of support, 

So please, if you can pledge a little, it would mean the world.

Thanks for the support, and I will be tracking my progress on Strava and leaving updates for you on Facebook! 

Anyone who fancies trying to outrun, out cycle, out swim or out-scoot, please see the following link and set up yourself! 

https://www.outrunanambulance.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR0YIsMO4aHsylczTM5SYpWYR5InV99sQcDLE7ExtywWvaInpi5UmNX74Co

All the best and a Happy New Year

Simon