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Yorkshire Ambulance Service

We provide accident and emergency services for a population of over 5 million. Every year we convey over 1.1 million patients to and from their hospital appointments. We receive around 14,350 urgent and emergency calls every week.

Updated:
22 February 2016
Location:
Yorkshire and Humber
Sectors:
Health, Care, Hospitals and Hospital Trusts
Local Alliances:
Yorkshire & Humber Dementia Action Alliance, East Riding Dementia Action Alliance

1. Action Plan

1. The National Dementia Declaration lists a number of outcomes that we are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?

 

 

 

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is committed to supporting the improvement of care for people with Dementia.   The Trust will be developing a comprehensive training and awareness campaign throughout 2012 and 2013.

 

Our new and improved, education and training provision will be focused on the patient experience and the provision of adaptive communication skills.  The Trust has already provided staff with an ‘Introductory guide to Dementia’ and an ‘Online educational resource’ that contains a wealth of key documents, video podcasts, patient experiences, web-links and RSS new feeds.

 

 In April 2013, the Trust will provide all Operational Staff with a comprehensive distance learning resource aimed at staff that provide front-line care to patients with Dementia.  All new ambulance staff will undertake Dementia Awareness training as part of a comprehensive induction package aimed at improving the patient experience

 

 

The Trust will undertake patient and carer surveys throughout this period and will act upon any changes in care that are deemed necessary to improve the experience of patients with Dementia.

2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?

 

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust is one of the last regional NHS organisations left within the county.  There is a challenge to ensure that we are able to provide improvements in the skills and knowledge of staff without the need to bring staff away from essential front line operational duties into a classroom environment.

 

 

We have been able to assess whether the skills and knowledge of our staff has improved through the adoption of a new pre-and-post evaluation process.  This evaluation allows our staff to give an honest and open assessment of their knowledge and skills prior to receiving the learning resource pack. Following the completion of the distance learning resource pack, staff will complete a post evaluation process.

 

In April 2013, all staff will receive Dementia Awareness as part of their Mandatory Training.

 

 

2. Actions

  • Training and Awareness campaign

    The Trust has already provided staff with an ‘Introductory guide to Dementia’ and an ‘Online educational resource’ that contains a wealth of key documents, video podcasts, patient experiences, web-links and RSS news feeds.

    Status:
    Delivery

  • Introduction of distance learning resource

    In April 2013, the Trust will provide all Operational Staff with a comprehensive distance learning resource aimed at staff that provide front-line care to patients with Dementia.  All new ambulance staff will undertake Dementia Awareness training as part of a comprehensive induction package aimed at improving the patient experience.

    This distance learning pack has been specifically designed for frontline staff and has so far, been well received. This learning resource includes:

    An introduction to dementia.Does the patient need to travel to A&E and the impact this might have on a patient with dementia.Adaptive communication skills/Patient assessment criteria.Pain, distress and behaviours.The patient experience.Links to further resources.

    Status:
    Delivered

  • Patient and carer surveys

    To be carried out throughout training and awareness programme

    Status:

  • Dementia Friendly Ambulance Procurement

    As part of the Trust’s commitment to providing inclusive services, the colours and contrasts within vehicle interior should comply with the latest research on the importance of design for people who have reduced sight and/or reduced cognitive function.

    This includes:

    Seating should be a contrasting colour to that of the floor, ideally having piping around each edge of the seat to clearly define the edges and seat cushions.Steps should have a contrasting strip along the front edge.Flooring should be a matte finish and not shiny.Contrasting colours are required for grab/hand rails (usually a bright colour).

    YAS became the first NHS ambulance service in the country to procure new ambulances with a dementia-friendly specification

    Status:
    Delivered
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