Our partnership with South Central Ambulance Service

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All our clinicians undergo emergency driver training prior to becoming operational. This includes a series of assessed drives with the SCAS Driver Training Department, and ongoing annual check-tests for training updates and ongoing quality assurance.

SCAS's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has a directive detailing when BASICS clinicians should be deployed to assist with an incident.

These are are the same triggers as for air ambulance/HEMS assistance, and a wider remit, as BASICS doctors provide fixed area coverage, meaning clinical crews know who to expect and what skills they can bring to the incident.

When an incident is identified by the EOC call handlers and dispatchers, a group wide SMS is sent to inform BASICS responders of the incident location, with a following message detailing the type or nature of the incident. The nearest available responder will then make thier way to the scene to assist any crews in attendance or mobile to scene.   
 

BASICS form part of the clinical team looking after patients in the prehospital phase of thier care. This involves recieving a handover from the lead SCAS clinician, forming a management and extrication plan for the patient, and co-ordinating the plan. It may be that the patient requires an 'assist' where BASICS provides assistance and then leaves the patient with the SCAS crew for ongoing care and transfer to hospital, or 'escort', going with the patient to an appropriate Emergency Department because of how unwell they are, or the need for a doctor to accompany the patient.

BASICS Clinicians are often involved in the 'hot' debriefs that occur for SCAS crews and other emergency service personnel, to help better understand the patient journey, provide input into the enhanced care provided as well as providing emotional support to crews who often attend traumatic and distressing incidents. SCAS has a strong Trauma Risk Incident Management (TRIM) service in place for all clinicians working for them whether NHS, private provider or BASICS.

All our clinicians hold Honorary Contracts with SCAS, providing indemnity cover. This also provides us with secure communications via the NHS email system and an online system for case review and being contacted by SCAS clinicians.

BASICS Clinicians work for the NHS in local hospitals including:

• John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford
• Milton Keynes University Hospital
• Wexham Park Hospital, Slough

Being local residents within the Thames Valley means that BASICS clinicians foster strong working relationships with ambulance stations, their crews and officers, meaning that feedback, local station training and education all form part of the 'value-added' that BASICS clinicians provide - all without any additional NHS funding.