The “make ready” facility allows highly trained paramedics
to respond to 999 calls at the start of their shift. They can
focus their attention on providing high standards of patient
care, rather than devoting part of their time to the routine
tasks of cleaning and restocking vehicles. The make ready
team carry out a broad range of duties, including: cleaning
the vehicle’s exterior and deep cleaning the interior;
checking the vehicle’s inventory; testing medical
appliances; replenishing medical consumables and gasses;
ensuring goods are stored correctly; checking the vehicle
serviceability, and replace any vehicle that becomes
unserviceable during a shift. They also ensure equipment is
stored in accordance with “standard location” protocols,
which means that operational staff can find equipment in
an emergency situation, whatever the make or model of
the vehicle they are driving.
The Trust worked closely with Staff Side partners to ensure
that change was successfully managed. Six months into
the pilot scheme in Alfreton, Derbyshire, staff made it clear
that they would not wish to return to the former system.
The main benefit for front-line staff is that they no longer
need to devote time to carrying out routine checks of their
vehicle. They have less down time and there is a
consequent increase in their availability to respond to
emergency calls. The additional 20 minutes of time
available provides a significant window of opportunity to
help in EMAS’ pursuit of providing the best possible service
to the public.
The “make ready” service has taken away many risk
factors, and that means EMAS is providing its clinical staff
with emergency vehicles ready for action. From a patient
perspective, they have improved their service to increase
life saving capacity. Plans are now well advanced to
introduce “make ready” in Leicestershire and a feasibility
exercise is underway to establish the approach into
Northamptonshire.
For more information on this project, please contact:
phil.morris@emas.nhs.uk
