Specialist nurses appointed at Welsh Ambulance Service to enhance remote care

The Welsh Ambulance Service has appointed four specialist clinicians to support nurses and paramedics delivering remote care across the country.

The new team will aim to build clinical knowledge and confidence in remote consultations, with the goal of enabling more patients to receive appropriate care closer to home.

A paediatric registered nurse by profession, Jade Smallman has been appointed as the organisation’s new specialist clinical lead for paediatrics – responsible for planning and delivering changes that will ‘improve the remote care offer’ for babies, children and young people.

Meanwhile, learning disability nurse Amy Davies is the newly-appointed specialist clinician remote care for learning disability – in charge of developing and implementing strategies to ensure that people with learning disabilities accessing 999 and NHS 111 Wales services receive ‘fair, person-centred and effective care’.

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The Welsh Ambulance Service has also appointed physiotherapist Tom Fallon as specialist clinical lead on respiratory care and midwife Bethan Jones as specialist clinician remote care for maternity.

Each new specialist will lead their area of expertise across both 999 and NHS 111 Wales services.

Liam Williams, executive director of quality and nursing, said: ‘Remote care is a cornerstone of how we’re transforming ambulance services in Wales.

‘This is about using our clinicians’ expertise in smarter ways – building their knowledge and confidence to consider alternatives that improve patient outcomes and maintain independence at home, in the community and through different health board services.’

The appointments are part of the service’s shift towards providing more care remotely rather than through traditional transport to hospital.

The specialists will also work with health board partners to develop patient pathways and contribute to public health initiatives aimed at reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.

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Ms Smallman said she was pleased to be bringing a ‘paediatric perspective’ to the team.

‘Like my speciality colleagues in respiratory, maternity and learning disability, I hope my contribution adds to the depth of expertise within remote clinical decision making,’ she said.

‘My aim is to lead, support, collaborate, and learn across services working together to improve the outcomes, experience and equity for babies, children, young people and their families calling us from across Wales.’

Meanwhile Ms Davies said she was ‘passionate about improving the experiences and outcomes of people with learning disabilities when they come into contact with our services’.

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‘Everyone deserves care that recognises their individual needs, communication preferences and rights,’ she added.

‘My focus will be on ensuring that our clinicians have the tools, knowledge and confidence to deliver high-quality, compassionate care wherever and however people access us.’