Vrooming good time at Isle of Man TT
SIX of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s paramedics and technicians have returned from the Isle of Man where they have been supporting the world-famous TT motorsport festival.
Every May and June, the world’s greatest road racers gather on the Isle of Man to test themselves against the 37.73 mile ‘Mountain Course’ carved out of the island’s public roads.
The festival attracts more than 40,000 visitors annually – and when the Isle of Man Ambulance Service made an appeal for mutual aid, the Welsh Ambulance Service answered.
Six clinicians flew over to support, including Paramedics Kieran McClelland (Wrexham), Catherine Davies (Rhyl) and Alistair Hammond (Cardigan), Emergency Medical Technician Ann-Marie Ridley (Porthmadog) and Advanced Paramedic Practitioner Richard Orrill (Caerphilly).
The team were led across the three-week period by Jon Cross, Duty Operations Manager in Wrexham.
Jon said: “It was an experience like no other, and all of us are very grateful to have had the opportunity.
“The TT event itself was covered by the Manx Roadracing Medical Services, so our role was about supporting the ‘business as usual’ activity on the island.
“As you would expect with an influx of tourists, it meant we were very busy – lots of trauma jobs with more vehicles on the island’s roads but also your day-to-day medical jobs, like chest pain and cardiac arrest.
“This was a brilliant opportunity not only to observe how another ambulance service does things, but also to hone our clinical skills in a completely different environment.
“The Isle of Man Ambulance Service gave us Patient Group Direction (PGD) training, which meant we were able to administer certain drugs to some patients without a prescription – it means patients have safe and speedy access to the medicines they need.
“We’re very grateful to the Isle of Man Ambulance Service for extending such a warm welcome.”
Kieran said: “It was a privilege to represent WAST in the Isle of Man for the TT.
“We were upskilled with a range of clinical equipment, like the LUCAS mechanical CPR device, enhanced analgesics, point of care testing and surgical airway skills, not available to us in WAST.
“The experience has had a constructive impact on my clinical role as a paramedic as we were all exposed to a broad range of both complex medical and traumatic incidents.
“This has impacted my practice hugely for future development and the provision of platinum standard care to the public at home in Wales.”
Ann-Marie added: “As a lover of motorbikes, getting to go to the TT was a dream come true, and getting to see all of the professional riders was amazing.
“It was a real eye-opener into how the service in Isle of Man worked compared to us here in Wales, and a great experience in major trauma, as well as the day-to-day stuff.
“Hopefully we get to go again, but if anybody else gets the opportunity next year, grab it with both hands.”
Clare Langshaw, the Trust’s Head of Service for Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response, said: “Mutual aid arrangements like this not only enable us to deliver services across geographic boundaries but it’s also a wonderful opportunity for individuals to develop their skills and get a whole new perspective on things.
“It helps to strengthen relationships with our partner agencies, as well as introduce us to new people and new ideas.
“We’re proud and grateful to these six colleagues for flying the flag for Wales in such a professional way.”
Will Bellamy, Head of Isle of Man Ambulance Service, added: “I’m very grateful to the six colleagues from WAST who answered our call for support during the TT period, and it was a pleasure to welcome them to the Island and into my team for the fortnight alongside another colleague from Guernsey.
“TT 2022 was the busiest on record for our service by quite some way, and the contribution they made in providing urgent care and support to our residents and visitors was invaluable.”