Cornwall's ambulance service has received national recognition in a vote by healthcare workers.
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust was given the Shared Learning Award by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice). Following a presentation to more than 1,000 healthcare professionals at the annual Nice conference, the audience voted to award the prestigious prize that recognises best practice in the implementation of clinical guidance.
It recognised the trust for the publication of an new set of clinical guidelines, which involved wide-ranging reviews to replace 450 documents with 24 concise new publications. These were distributed to all staff, including those who joined as part of the acquisition of the Great Western
Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
The trust's deputy clinical director Adrian South stated: "The project is a great example of how bringing together the resources and expertise of both organisations will lead to patient benefits. Patients from across the South West will not only receive the same level of care irrespective of where they live from day one, but that level of care has been enhanced across the board."
Frontline paramedic Jim Beaumont added: "Where patients do not require admission to hospital the guidelines provide clinicians with the evidence base and confidence to support their decision making. It's great to see the best of both organisations in a practical handbook for staff which is quick to access, easy to read and above all paramedic friendly."
