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Welcome to SWASFT

February 2020

M5 Birth Mum Thanks Ambulance Service

13 February 2020

A mum who gave birth on a motorway has been reunited with the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) staff who helped her.

Jayne Rowland, 36, was on her way to hospital when she went into the final stages of labour in roadworks on the M5 in Somerset.

Her partner Joshua Mogg, 29, called 999 minutes before baby Harry was born in their car on the southbound carriageway near junction 24.

To listen to their 999 call, click here.

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Paramedics and police arrived to find the family stopped on the inside lane of the motorway because there was no hard shoulder.

Jayne, Joshua and Harry made a special visit from their home in Street to Taunton Ambulance Station on Thursday 13 February to thank the responders in person.

Jayne said: “I’d had discomfort for around three weeks, and didn’t feel anything different when I woke up that day. But the pain got worse and worse in the car, so I asked Josh to pull over.

“Everything seemed to happen very quickly. The call handler talked it through with us, and then the paramedics and police arrived. They all made such a difference. We’re so thankful.

The incident happened on 1 November when Jayne and Josh were travelling to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton for her to be induced at 9.30am.

But Harry was born in the front passenger seat of the car at 7.57am, just 30 minutes after they left home. He weighed 7lb 8oz at birth, and is brother to eight-year-old Benjamin. Harry’s birth certificate has his place of birth recorded as ‘M5’.

Jayne, who works as a teaching assistant, said: “I just wanted to get to the hospital safely and on time. It wasn’t until afterwards that I realised how much danger we were in, because there was nowhere safe to stop in the roadworks.”

Jayne praised a lorry driver who shielded them from traffic by stopping and putting his hazard warning lights on.

She also expressed thanks to the Avon and Somerset Police officers who returned their car and personal possessions from the scene to them.

Joshua, who works as a tree surgeon, said: “Jayne was my priority. So I was first trying to get her to hospital as quickly and safely as possible. Then I just had to get out of the car and get on with it.

“Delivering my baby son on a motorway is probably the best thing I’ve done in my life. I feel it’s given me a stronger bond with Harry.”

Call handler Jonathan Leaton talked Josh and Jayne through the unusual delivery.

Jonathan said: “They both did incredibly well throughout the entire call. They remained calm and followed every instruction which ensured the best possible outcome.”

Operations Officer Dan Wilsher was first on scene, before he was joined by Paramedic Simon White and Student Paramedic Alexandra Luxton.

Dan said: “It was a rather unusual incident to attend. I remember being very aware of the safety aspect, as Josh and Jayne’s car was in a live traffic lane. When I approached the passenger door, I saw a tiny little face wrapped in blankets looking back at me. We made sure baby Harry was warm and well and that Jayne was comfortable before taking them both to the maternity unit at Musgrove. It’s certainly an incident I won’t forget!”

Governor Elections

As you will be aware the Trust has been undergoing Staff Governor Elections and we would like to thank everyone who took the time participate in this rounds of elections.

We are pleased to announce we have received the election results from Civica Election Services as of Friday 21 February 2020 and your Trust staff Governors are as follow:

 

Staff Governor for A&E West

Sarah Lennard

Staff Governor for A&E North

Mark Love

Staff Governor for A&E East

David Shephard

Staff Governor for Administration and Support Services

Neil Hunt

  

To learn more about the Council of Governors and how they can help you, please visit https://www.swast.nhs.uk/welcome/foundation-trust/council-of-governors or you can contact your Governor via Governors@swast.nhs.uk.

South Western Ambulance Service announces appointment of new CEO

19 February 2020

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is delighted to announce the appointment of our new Chief Executive Officer.

Will Warrender will take up the role following the announcement that our current CEO, Ken Wenman will be retiring at the end of June.

Will, who has had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy, has been appointed following a rigorous selection process, involving members of the Board, Executive team and a panel made up of our people representing all areas of the organisation along with union representatives and Governors. 

Will's suitability for the role was supported by each group, with his natural leadership style and his engaging and authentic manner evident throughout the process. His determination to make a difference in the role was infectious. Will demonstrated his ability to be truly effective by quickly assimilating information about our patients, our people, the ambulance sector, the South West health economy as well as our wide range of other stakeholders.

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Tony Fox, Chair of the South Western Ambulance Service said “We are very excited that Will is joining us, bringing a wealth of leadership experience in complex and challenging environments. His personal values are a great alignment with those of the Trust and we know that he will be an inclusive and compassionate leader, able to take the Trust forward as we continue our drive to be an outstanding organisation in all that we do.”

Will Warrender said “I am very excited to be joining South Western Ambulance Service. As part of the application process, I met many of the caring and dedicated people who work in the Trust, the committed and insightful leadership team and many health service stakeholders.

I am delighted to be able to continue my career in public service and feel there is no better organisation than SWASFT in which to transfer my skills to deliver exceptional patient care, delivered by exceptional people. I am incredibly proud and excited to join the team.”

South Western Ambulance Charity logo

South Western Ambulance Charity

The South Western Ambulance Charity, founded in 1995, uses gifted monies to benefit those in our communities who use our service and to improve the welfare of the staff and volunteers of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. 

Our charitable support covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire including Bristol and Swindon.

If you would like to show your appreciation for the care that you or your loved one has received from us in the form of a charitable donation please visit our online giving website: Donate to South Western Ambulance Charity | Give as you Live Donate