Pre-Hospital Care Podcast

• Navigating Collective Trauma: NHS Ambulance Teams in the COVID-19 Crisis with Jo Mildenhall

  Today, we explore the collective experience of trauma among NHS ambulance personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that tested the resilience and identity of clinicians like never before. In the episode, we’ll uncover the inspirations behind this research, examining how social identity processes provide a profound lens to understand how ambulance teams navigate trauma. Our guest will walk us through their methodology, highlighting the value of a longitudinal qualitative approach and the unique hurdles of conducting research during a global crisis.Jo guides us through her methodology, highlighting the importance of longitudinal qualitative approaches and the challenges of conducting research amid a global crisis. We unpack how group membership shaped emotional and behavioural responses during the pandemic, revealing the cultural forces at play within NHS ambulance services and how these dynamics contributed to collective resilience.We also explore the long-term psychological impact of the pandemic, comparing individual and team-based coping strategies, and discuss what this tells us about building solidarity under extreme strain.Finally, Jo shares practical, evidence-based strategies for leaders in emergency services to foster resilience, mitigate trauma, and apply these learnings to other high-stakes professions.Dr. Jo Mildenhall is a paramedic with over 20 years of experience in operational and leadership roles within ambulance services. She holds a master’s degree in Occupational Trauma Psychology from the University of Nottingham and earned her Doctorate from the University of York, focusing on trauma experienced by NHS ambulance staff during the pandemic. Jo is the National Paramedic Mental Health & Wellbeing Lead for the College of Paramedics and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2019 to study paramedic mental health initiatives in Australasia. You can access Jo's research here: https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/35774/

  --------  

  42:04
• The Last Year of Life. Palliative and End of Life Care: Episode 2

  In our previous episode, we explored the meaning and importance of end-of-life care, particularly during the final 12 months of life. We discovered how difficult it is to predict this timeline, especially for ambulance clinicians who often see patients at critical points without a full picture of their medical history.In this episode, we take a closer look at what that final year can involve, focusing on the pre-hospital setting. We’ll explore the unique challenges ambulance clinicians face in making rapid, high-stakes decisions, and how existing documentation—such as care plans or advance directives—can provide valuable guidance in those moments.We'll also discuss the role of shared decision-making and how ambulance services can help balance specialist and generalist palliative care needs. Alongside this, we’ll highlight how the NHS Long Term Plan and other key initiatives aim to improve care coordination and ensure more consistent, compassionate care.Lastly, we’ll examine the barriers to effective advance care planning. These range from cultural sensitivities to systemic and logistical obstacles. Throughout, we’ll consider how we can better support ambulance clinicians to deliver thoughtful, person-centred care during some of life’s most vulnerable and uncertain moments. Please find links to the SPICT Tool that is mentioned in the episode: https://www.spict.org.uk/#:~:text=Supportive%20%26%20Palliative%20Care%20Indicators%20Tool,is%20a%20plain%20language%20version.

  --------  

  45:06
• Embedding Lasting Change within Ambulance Services with Carl Betts

  In this episode, we dive into a critical challenge: how to embed meaningful, lasting change within ambulance services. With increasing demand, stretched resources, and ongoing operational pressures, creating improvements that truly stick is no easy task.To unpack this, I’m joined by Carl Betts, an expert in quality improvement, leadership, and change management within the ambulance sector. Carl has been instrumental in transforming clinical practices, enhancing patient care, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement at Yorkshire Ambulance Service and beyond. Aspects we cover in the episode include:🔹 The challenges of implementing change in high-pressure environments🔹 Engaging frontline staff to drive meaningful improvements.🔹 Moving beyond short-term fixes to create sustainable change.🔹 Overcoming resistance to change and managing change fatigue.🔹 The role of innovation and technology in shaping the future of pre-hospital care.

  --------  

  35:59
• Tactical Medicine Unfiltered: High-Threat Care with Stephen Wood. Part 1

  Welcome back to the Pre-Hospital Care Podcast. In this episode, I’m joined by Stephen Wood, emergency nurse practitioner, educator, and host of Tac Medic Whiskey: The Tactical Medicine Podcast. Steve brings a wealth of experience from pre-hospital care, the emergency department, and the tactical environment, and he’s become a prominent voice in the evolving landscape of high-threat medicine. His podcast dives deep into the challenges and innovations of tactical pre-hospital care, blending clinical insight with real-world operational experience.In our conversation, we explore everything from the use of TXA and calcium chloride in trauma to the nuanced decisions between needle decompression and finger thoracostomy. We’ll talk about the importance of team cohesion, the mental toll of working in high-stress environments, and how to build resilience in the field. We also examine emerging technologies, training innovations, and what the future might hold for tactical medics across the globe. Whether you're on the frontline, training the next generation, or just curious about the realities of medicine in hostile or austere environments, this episode offers invaluable insights from an educator and Nurse Practitioner, Steve Wood. You can find the Tac Medic Whiskey Podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/tac-medic-whiskey-the-tactical-medicine-podcast/id1777426233** This podcast is for information purposes only and should not replace clinical guidelines or your local service policies. **This podcast is sponsored by PAX.⁠Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovatively designed product range, please click here:⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

  --------  

  53:18
• Shaping the Future of Pre-Hospital Care: A Conversation with John Martin

  In today’s episode, we’re honoured to be joined by John Martin, a trailblazer whose career is a testament to innovation, leadership, and an unwavering dedication to patient care.John’s journey began at just 18 in a microbiology lab, but his passion for healthcare quickly led him to the world of emergency medicine. Today, he serves as the Chief Executive of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT). With a wealth of experience across ambulance, acute, and community healthcare settings, John has also been the President of the College of Paramedics, advocating for the advancement of the paramedic profession. As a Visiting Professor in Paramedic Science, he’s helping shape the future of paramedic education and training.In this episode, we’ll dive into John’s leadership transition from London Ambulance Service to SWASFT, the biggest challenges facing pre-hospital care, and the role of technology in modernising emergency response. We’ll also touch on the importance of mental health, interdisciplinary collaboration, and John’s forward-thinking vision for the future of paramedic practice. A link that John mentions in the interview to the Harvard Business School Negotiation Mastery course can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/2f8pdbkcThis podcast is sponsored by PAX.⁠Whatever kind of challenge you have to face - with PAX backpacks you are well-prepared. Whether on water, on land or in the air - PAX's versatile, flexible backpacks are perfectly suitable for your requirements and can be used in the most demanding of environments. Equally, PAX bags are built for comfort and rapid access to deliver the right gear at the right time to the right patient. To see more of their innovatively designed product range, please click here:⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠

  --------  

  1:00:00

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Pre-Hospital Care Podcast