The week lead up to the Olympics has seen one of our ambulances and two of our crew at a local community event in Wythenshawe.
Wythenshawe Games held at Wythenshawe Park put on a fantastic week of free events, stalls and sports for all the family to get involved in. Our medics were on standby to provide medical cover to all the visitors young and old ensuring everyone was kept safe.
During the week Manchester Medical Services went a step beyond the rest and the crew opened the doors of the ambulance to allow children and adults to see what we carry, how we use the equipment and even the lucky few switched the emergency warning system on. Many visitors to the ambulance had their own stories to tell our crew however most hadn’t seen inside an ambulance before. Mums, Dads, Grandparents and even great grandparents alike all joined in the fun asking lots of questions.
The crew were more than happy to show the multitude of emergency equipment on board and even do a few casual blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation health checks for those that requested them allowing our skills to be put into practise whilst explaining what each and every number stood for and what could affect it. One of our crew saw and tested the strong correlation between a pulse rate before and after a can of coke making it clear to see “we are what we eat”.
Whilst on board the children were encouraged to develop their knowledge whilst our crew explained the human body in a way children would understand, one example we used was an upside down tree for the trachea, bronchi and alveoli and also the effect of oxygen in the body whilst each child found out their own oxygen saturation using our on board ProPac and Lifepack 12.
All the visitors left happy, informed and with one of our company stickers on their chest, some even returning for a second and third look around.
Look out for us at your local events, your more than welcome to come and say hello and see what we do!
Words & Pictures: Joshua Masheder
Before summer commenced we found a gap in our services.
 Solo One @ CRUK Southport We found that a pre-booked event in Cheshire required the same resource on the same day as an event in Southport. We also discovered that some events required two of the same resource.
The problem we had was Solo One really was Solo ONE.
This spurred us on, firstly doubling our qualified cycle responder unit (CRU) from 6 staff to 12 by running a full weekend of training from classroom based “first person on scene” to practical aspects including repairs to bikes, using the equipment and generally getting to know the specialised adapted bike and its limitations. The weekend concluded with a trip to Heaton Park on a busy Sunday afternoon ready to put into practise what had been learnt with the trainer putting the staff through their paces from slow rides acting as back markers to training blue light emergency responses in crowded areas.
 Solo Two @ CRUK Sefton 2012 Seeing our CRU team double meant that Solo One needed a colleague and the purchase of Solo Two – a Specilized Rockhopper 2012 frame with full lighting and sound system along with a rear mounted specifically designed Openhouse Ambulance Pannier.
Solo Two was an instant hit with our staff who found that the specially designed bike not only met their needs but was a much smoother and enjoyable ride. The public reaction to the bikes has only been positive with the majority of the public having never seen one in action, they are surprised at how heavy a fully kitted bike is and also how much equipment can be carried.
Both bikes have already been put to the test this summer on some of our community events, charity walks, triathlons and stadia contracts with both of them having been dispatched to several emergency and non-emergency jobs.
Having the bikes in our fleet allows us to reach not only down small muddy pathways and fields, in pedestrian only areas and in high crowd densities but also with  a much reduced response time allowing us to be the difference in some cases.
If you are interested in using our highly trained Cycle Response Unit please contact us on: 08452694832
Words Josh Masheder
Pictures Various contributors
Last week two of our staff undertook an accredited EDI level 3 Blue Light advanced driver course. Daniel Murphy and Josh Masheder had recently passed either an IAM or RoSPA Advanced Driver training which meant they could proceed onto the new course available for emergency services staff.
 Ambulance 414 on roadside The course meant both Dan and Josh developed new driving skills making them safer, smoother and more considerate drivers before they could even press the 999 button.
Once the instructor was happy with the standard, a perfect advanced emergency drive was performed setting the benchmark. The emergency drive took the advanced skills of Information, Position, Speed, Gear and Acceleration alongside the golden rule of Stopping in the distance you see to be clear to the next level.
Dan started the training by heading along a planned route through Manchester city centre towards our base from Salford in the 4×4 Honda CRV (CS RV11) exploring several of Manchester’s roads and conditions (Rain, Rain and more Rain) on the way, Josh returned along the route which incorporated the busy well known Deansgate, the M602 and the area around the Etihad Stadium.
Day two saw the pair take the emergency driver training in 212 our Renault Master fully equipped ambulance starting late afternoon along Oxford Road, in the City Centre and then later out towards Partington, Altringham and around the M60 incorporating a night drive allowing both Dan and Josh to experience the “strobeing” effect on signs, street furniture and the change in driving of oncoming vehicles.
Day 3 saw another early start polishing off the skills each had developed in 414 the Vauxhall Movano full A&E emergency ambulance. It was clear from the lack of development points and questions the instructor asked the drivers that they had taken on board the training and were able to confidently and safely make planned decisions to make progress through the different traffic, road and weather conditions thrown at them.
 “This must be the first course in over a year that there hasn’t been a near miss” was just one of the positive closing remarks made by Ian the fully qualified Police Driver Instructor in the weeks debriefing – making it clear to us that our drivers are a cut above the rest.
Both Dan and Josh are now added to the growing team of blue light drivers who are qualified to transfer emergency patients.
Manchester Medical Services have once again provided medical cover to the North West 2012 race for life events.
 Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s flagship event, with over 240 events taking place across the UK many of which occur in the North West, MMS have been contracted to cover over twenty of the events utilising many of our recourses from A&E Ambulances to our Quad bike and many staff levels from basic first aid to Paramedics.
Manchester Medical Services have for many years supplied cover to Cancer Research UKs events including their Manchester based walking marathon called SHINE, this event (both the full and half marathons) will start and finish at Old Trafford Football Stadium and will take in some of Manchester’s most well-known sights.
We are proud to be able to supply cover to this very worthwhile cause and for mor information you can visit their website here: CRUK
As Manchester Medical Services are becoming increasingly busy with their Patient Transfer Services (PTS) work we’ve made another investment and brought a purpose built Ambulance minibus onto our fleet.
 MMS Newest vehicle - CS121 The vehicle based on a LDV Maxus minibus boasts seven rear seats and with these being attached to the floor tracking these can be moved to any suitable configuration plus a wheelchair lift and tracking clamps this means this new vehicle, call sign 121, can accommodate seven seated patients plus one wheelchair or many other permutations of this.
The vehicle is currently being prepared with communication equipment and will shortly receive our livery but has already shown it’s worth this week coming to the aid of several patients on a frantically busy day for both MMS and our NHS end users.
Keep your eyes peeled for our newest vehicle at local hospitals, hospices and care homes as it will no doubt become a familiar site over the coming weeks, months and indeed years.
Dave Mylett (operations director) said.
“Whilst MMS have many vehicles from push cycles to full size A&E ambulances the one area we were lacking in was mass patient transfer capabilities. The purchase of this newest fleet asset now addresses this gap and gives our customers the best possible solution. Should they require multiple patients moving in one journey we can now accommodate this however we retain the ability to transfer acutely ill or recumbent patients in our existing fleet of stretcher capable vehicles”
 Manchester Medical Services Ltd. has ‘adopted’ St Joseph’s R C Primary School in Ramsbottom to train pupils in Emergency Life Support Skills.
The service is a member of the Independent Ambulance Association which is supporting the campaign calling for young people to be taught ELS skills in school after footballer Fabrice Muamba received CPR when he collapsed during a match.
IAA member companies are regulated by the Government’s Care Quality Commission on the same basis as are their counterparts in the NHS.
The companies, which operate across England, transport millions of patients each year to and from their homes to hospital, support NHS A&E departments during peak periods, provide medical cover at events, and provide specialist intensive care services for seriously ill children as well as bariatric and repatriation patients.
Phil Warren of Manchester Medical Services Ltd. said: “Like all members of the Association we employ highly qualified people in emergency life support skills and we already offering first aid and CPR training to adults in our local community. By supporting this campaign, we now look forward to taking our training skills into the classroom.”
James Graves Head teacher of St Joseph’s said: “We are deeply appreciative by the offer of our local private ambulance service to provide ELS training for our pupils. The collapse of the young footballer has touched everyone and highlighted the need for people, young and old, to be able to offer speedy help if ever the need arises.”
More and more event organisers are turning to Manchester Medical Services at the outset of their event planning it has become apparent.
Early in its formation MMS founded its reputation on being able to supply high quality staff and equipment sometimes on very short or absolutely no notice at all when event suppliers had been let down by other well known event medical suppliers due to either lack of staff or over-commitment of their resources.
However since 2009 we have seen a s hift away from these last minute bookings and now see customers seeking our advice and medical expertise months in advance and even when faced by competition, that sometimes can come in cheaper, MMS can win the day on reputation alone.
So if you would like to become one of our ever growing list of extremely satisfied customer just drop us a line today.
Remember guaranteed expert medical cover is just a phone call way…
 Our medics may not be seen but we were definitely there! What would you do if the medical cover you booked and confirmed failed to show up?
This was the dilemma faced by a recent rock festival taking place in city centre Manchester
With over 4,000 tickets sold and the allocated time for the medical cover to start having passed frantic phones calls were made to Manchester Medical Services 24hr on call managers seeking help, these calls came from security officials and health & safety managers who had worked with MMS in the past and who knew we could be counted on to help out at the last minute (despite their previous warnings not to use the medical provider who’d already let the event down going unheeded: ED)
As the morning developed the picture became clearer, a nationwide charitable medical provider had been engaged to provide the required cover at the festival but without warning had failed to show, calls to their on-call manger had gone unanswered and the organisers event looked to be on the verge of being cancelled however as luck would have it Manchester Medical Services staff were completing one of their regular training courses and just so happened to have fully trained and equipped teams ready to go. They were despatched post haste to the event and arrived in time to provide cover for the organisers and the public in attendance to ensure a great night was had by all involved.
This is sadly an occurrence we have seen repeated time and again and in conversation with our colleagues from other independent ambulance providers not just limited to Manchester or the North West with Friday night being a regular time for the on call phones to ring with tails of last minute cancellations from better known, charitable providers.
Once Manchester Medical Services has agreed to cover an event then our 100% event attendance record is on the line so we ensure that your event, no matter how big or small, is covered to the very best of our considerable abilities.
The moral here is if you pay nothing for your cover you may receive nothing for your cover (as was the case recently: ED) and yes Manchester Medical Services are not free but we set our prices at an industry level and the price of cover guaranteed to attend and regulated by the Care Quality Commission as well as being founder members of the Independent Ambulance Association (IAA) means your money will be well spent…
 Nick Clegg encouraging first aid knowledge in schools. Pic courtesy British Heart Foundation. Join the campaign to get every young person knowing how to save a life before they leave school. After all, having Emergency Life Support (ELS) skills should be as important as learning to read and write.
The British Heart Foundation is seeking more signatures so sign the petition and spread the word. And don’t forget, we rely on your generous donations to help train young people in life-saving skills.
MMS, one of the leading independent ambulance service providers, has been approved as a Founder Member of the Independent Ambulance Association (IAA), a trade body formed to represent independent, regulated ambulance services in England.
 The IAA is the first not-for-profit trade association for regulated independent ambulance services in England IAA Membership gives Manchester Medical Services (MMS) credibility and confirms our emergence as a leading supplier of ambulance and emergency medical services to hospitals and other care institutions, event managers and film and TV producers.
The Independent Ambulance Association has rigorous member vetting and conduct procedures: CQC registration is the first essential requirement but does not guarantee any company automatic acceptance into continuous membership of the IAA. MMS undertook its own tough internal audit before applying.
MMS is also registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), something that has been mandatory from 1st of April 2011, when the CQC has expanded its responsibility to include all private ambulance services and remote medical providers.
Contributor: Phil Warren. What would you do if you found your friend trapped upside down on a fire escape? Or found a fellow biker lay face down over a fallen tree? Or, perhaps, found your running partner halfway down an embankment against a tree, knee-deep in mud?
Some of these things may never cross the mind of the person in the street but, for Manchester Medical Services’s medics, these were just a few of the scenarios they faced on a recent training day.
 Bolton Mountain Rescue Team extricate a casualty, courtesy http://www.boltonmrt.org.uk Spending the day split between our operational base in Droylsden, Manchester, working through the intricacies of full spinal immobilisation — utilising equipment from collars to longboard and from fracture packs to webbing straps — the team then ventured into the wilds of Heaton Park (where many of our events take place). They were offered an opportunity to experience worse-case scenarios.
Teams also took part in mental challenges covering topics such as effective communication and leadership skills, to scene management and influencing abilities, all delivered by experienced trainers and senior staff members. Other topics included familiarisation of the contents of one of our many front-line emergency ambulances. The challenge including unpacking the whole vehicle and seeing who, if anyone, could come up with a more practical stowage and layout of the equipment.
All in all a fantastically-received day by all staff who, despite the mud, rain and hail, were happy with their accomplishments, ranging from basic first aid all the way to extricating an unconscious casualty on a longboard across treacherous terrain!
Contributor Gyles Denn: MMS’s Extreme Medics service was put to good use by a film/TV company back in February and, when I say good use, I really mean very unusual.
For obvious reasons I won’t mention who the company was nor what was being filmed. You’ll just have to keep watching the silver screen, I guess; however here goes the story.
 Extreme Medic Gyles makes a superb underwater car exit as a rehearsal for the stuntman Josh Masheder and I were asked to provide emergency medical cover for a preshoot day, a rehearsal that involved an upturned car in a river. I went as part of our Extreme Medics service, dry suited-up and ready for a day splashing in the water whilst Josh was my trusty banksman and ‘dry’ medic.
The day was fascinating with trial shots determining the exact position of the car, the best way to take the shots…the usual preshoot filming and testing. MMS’s Extreme Medics service means that I was properly equipped with diving gear which proved to be a great asset to the film production team. I could assist with various tasks in the wet environment and in low temperatures — opening/closing doors on the car, rocking the car to check for movement — all whilst keeping the team totally safe and stood by if any minor mishap occurred.
 Gyles does a recce on the submerged car on the TV preshoot day The eventual scene was to take place at night so we waited until the sky grew dark and the nocturnal fun could begin. This was the time for the Extreme Medics service to really shine: to understand how the shots would work, there needed to be someone actually exiting the car — cue Gyles, fully-equipped and experienced — as I stepped into the breach and made my debut as a stuntman/medic, kicking my way out of a partially-submerged car and staggering past the camera.
The result: thanks to our efforts, the film crew were able to get what they actually needed and are fully-prepared for when the real shooting takes place. I got to have my debut as a stuntman and unashamedly had an absolutely great time. Call me weird but I actually enjoy partially-submerged, confined, dark, cold, wet spaces: well who wouldn’t? [He's weird: Ed.]
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and old ensuring everyone was kept safe.
