Sheppey crossing collision team to receive national award
Thursday, 01 May, 2014
The ambulance response to Kent’s largest ever road traffic collision will be recognised nationally at this year’s Ambulance Service Institute (ASI) Awards.
The prestigious annual awards, which take place at the House of Lords on Thursday May 8, will see members of staff from South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) and the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance represent their colleagues who were involved responding to the A249 Sheppey Crossing incident which took place on 5 September last year and involved in excess of 100 vehicles.
The representatives will receive the Special Incident Award for 2014.
All those involved in the incident were also recognised recently at SECAmb’s own annual awards where they received the Team of the Year award.
The incident required significant teamwork between SECAmb’s Emergency Operations Centre staff and those sent to the scene. As the Trust’s major incident plans were put in place, SECAmb sent more than 30 vehicles, its Hazardous Area Response Team and assigned the air ambulance to attend the incident.
Clinicians worked with fellow emergency services to treat the most seriously injured patients first. While 35 people were treated and then taken to hospital by SECAmb crews, a further approximately 200 people were able to be assessed, treated and discharged at the scene without the need for hospital treatment, led by SECAmb’s Paramedic Practitioners.
SECAmb Senior Operations Manager for Kent Chris Stamp said: “The sheer size of this incident made it extremely challenging for everyone involved. However, we have well-rehearsed plans in place to manage such emergencies and these were put in place very quickly.
“We are honoured to be receiving this national award which highlights the important role everyone involved in this incident played from the moment the first call was received by our control room team. Everyone involved should be extremely proud of the excellent service they provided on the day. I’d also like to thank our fellow emergency services for the excellent teamwork and support which is always vital but even more so with an incident of this scale.”
