Emergency Care Forum
Representing RCN members working in emergency care
We represent RCN members who work in emergency care. Our priorities are to promote appropriate staffing and expertise and facilitate discussion around best practice and innovations in care.
Resources
Events
Read more about upcoming emergency care nursing conferences, workshops and study days hosted by the RCN.
Join the Emergency Care Forum Facebook group
RCN Facebook groups are a place where you can get involved in honest and open discussions on the issues that affect you and your field of practice.
Volunteer of the Year for Health Care awards in South East Wales
Charity of the Year
- Jacks Appeal ABUHB (Public Access Defibrillator charity)
- Jacks parents: Grant Thomas (1st from Left) and June Thomas (Front row, 2nd from Right)
- With Phil Hill (Clinical Director), colleagues from ABUHB Clinical Stores Department, Taylour Electrical and Save a Life Cymru (NHS Wales Executive – Cardiovascular Network).
Healthcare Volunteer of the Year
- Phil Hill – Jacks Appeal ABUHB (Committee member RCN ECF and RCN Gwent Branch member)
Seconded from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), Phil joined Cardiff Met as a Doctoral researcher, funded by Save a Life Cymru. He also volunteers as a Clinical director for the Jacks Appeal ABUHB Defibrillator charity and is also a committee member for the RCN Emergency Care Forum. Phil and Jacks Appeal ABUHB have both received a South East Wales Health care award.
It is estimated that 19 people per day suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Wales every day and only 1 or 2 of those are likely to survive. This is not the same as a heart attack and does not just affect the middle aged, as an estimated 12 children/young people a week die from OHCA. Following the sudden death of their 15-year-old son, Jack in February 2012, his parents set up Jacks Appeal. The aim from the start was to try and reduce the death toll from OHCA in Gwent. It started with a defibrillators in schools programme supported by the AB Health board in memory of Jack. A 'Jacks Law' petition was submitted to the Welsh Government to lobby for defibrillators to become mandatory in all public places.
The appeal then developed into establishing public access defibrillation sites (PADs), supplying externally mounted cabinets so the defibrillators could be accessed 24 hours a day. This was also supported by the Welsh Ambulance Service piloting Defibs in Nursing homes. The Thomas’ just want to prevent what happened to Jack happening to any other family. Multiple lives have been saved with Jacks’ equipment but even when someone dies, the loved ones are often comforted that a Defib was available, having given them a better chance than without one.
The current total raised so far is nearly £290,000 and the appeal is now supplying and donating equipment outside Gwent to West, North to Mid-Wales and even as far as Scotland. The appeal will continue collaborating with Save a Life Cymru to help deliver the Welsh Government’s 'OHCA plan for Wales'.
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