New ambulance ambassadors

More communities will be learning about patient care in the ambulance service thanks to a new cohort of special volunteers.The latest group in the Ambulance Ambassador scheme will provide talks and presentations in their areas about the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) and the work that goes on.

Last year, the Trust 's Patient and Public Involvement Team set up the scheme to help educate the public around how the Trust is performing, as well as listen to feedback and community views.

The nine new recruits were trained at EEAST's HQ in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, on Wednesday (30th April) and given guidance on how to give presentations, how to set up and organise talks, and how to answer questions about the service.

One volunteer is Thelma Nickerson, who is already a Trust User Group member: “It was a very informative and enjoyable day. I feel really spurred on to talk about the ambulance service to my neighbours and friends.

“I started to volunteer with the ambulance service after the crews who attended my husband did everything they could to save his life. Unfortunately they couldn’t save him but the service was so marvellous I have been involved ever since.”

Victoria Maillardet, who heads the involvement team, added: "We're trying to increase engagement with communities and by recruiting ambulance ambassadors to go out and ‘talk’ about the trust, it really does help promote things we are doing well, but also means we can listen to valuable feedback."

If you would like a visit from an ambulance ambassador, contact victoria.maillardet@eastamb.nhs.uk.Meanwhile on Friday, Victoria joined community engagement colleauges in Bury to show visitors new and adapted ambulances: http://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/news