New CRDO in post

The West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust have been chosen to trial a new role that will be funded by the British Heart Foundation for two years, the position will be known as a Community Resuscitation Development Officer with a view to expanding the role to other trusts.

Andy Whittington, a paramedic based at Solihull, has been selected to represent the foundation, and given the task to drive the development of a co-ordinated community response to achieve improved outcome from cardiac arrest and life threatening emergencies. He will empower, educate, train and support local communities in heart health initiatives to further strengthen the first two links of the chain of survival within the borough of Birmingham and Black Country, so that the community will be able to help itself.

He is going to be working with the regional resuscitation managers within the trust to develop a strategy plan to increase the volume of ROSC’s and thus improve the outcome from people suffering a cardiac arrest in the pre-hospital setting.

Increasing the affiliated membership to the Heartstart UK Schools scheme will encouraging the subject of Emergency Life Support Skills back into the local curriculum for all school age children and using the BHF’s appropriate visual aids and lessons planned from the age of 6 upwards will achieve this.

Affiliation of new Heartstart UK public schemes within the locality will be encouraged to facilitate an opportunity for any member of that local community to have access to the ELS training, also giving an opportunity for Community First Responder volunteers to become qualified trainers which will help further their own careers and development.

The officer will also be working with cardiac rehabilitation centres based at local hospitals to offer training to patients with heart disease and their families and friends, to educate and train them to recognise the signs and symptoms of a cardiac event, and thereby empowering them to commence the life saving skills required to buy time until the ambulance arrives.

He will also be working on various local initiatives aimed at the diverse communities specific to each area identified as a ‘hot spot’ of high incidence from cardiac arrest and coronary heart disease whilst also working with the other blue light services to increase the teamwork where there skills are shared and good practice passed on.

Andy stated ‘I am passionate about this role; I know through simple measures it can achieve great results for patient outcome as well as the personal development of the students confidence and competence when faced with such a traumatic scenario. The enthusiasm from the community is infectious and I know the benefit to the community will be widespread.’