Heartbeat: Emergency cardiology care shared with paramedics

September 7, 2018

Paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) attended a special training event to learn about our current cardiology protocols and local pathways of care for patients with cardiac emergencies.

It’s the fourth in a series of sessions that have been organised by Dr Rajai Ahmad, Consultant Cardiologist and his interventional cardiology colleagues and emergency department (ED) colleagues were also invited to the event.

The half day course featured presentations from Dr Russell Davis, Consultant Cardiologist and speciality lead, who reviewed the range of cardiology services offered by our organisation and Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Dr Jawad Khan on ‘ECG interpretation for first responders.

Doctors Leong Lee, Vinoda Sharma and Derek Connolly, Consultant Interventional Cardiologists, then reviewed the optimal management and role of ECG interpretation in the triage of patients with the full range of ‘acute coronary syndromes’.

Before the event, Dr Ahmad told Heartbeat: “This is one in a number of training events that we hold for paramedics from WMAS and, on this occasion, extended to include our ED colleagues where we look at how we best deal with patients admitted to the Trust suffering from cardiac emergencies.

“We share our protocols and pathways for managing those patients and also how to use the ECG to optimise their care. It’s all about bringing the right patients to the right place at the right time.

“We need to do this on a regular basis due to staff changeover, so that those people who are new to our organisation or WMAS are able to benefit as well as keep up with changes in practice.”

Around 40 people attended the course, held at the Education Centre, at Sandwell Hospital. Dr Ahmad added: “Around two thirds of the attendees were from WMAS and previous feedback shows that they find this learning invaluable.”

Dr Derek Connolly, who spoke about ‘out-of-hospital’ cardiac arrests, was joined by patient Malcolm Robinson who described his own experience.

The 69-year-old had been walking down a Birmingham street with his wife when he collapsed. Fortunately a passer-by, who happened to be an off-duty nurse performed CPR on him.

Paramedics, who had arrived at the scene, took him to City Hospital, and he underwent successful Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with an excellent outcome.

Since then Malcolm has started free CPR courses which he is delivering around the Sutton Coldfield area. He is also hoping to hold a session at Sandwell Hospital.