Left to Right, Cllr Jackie Oakes, Chair of the O&S Task and Finish Group, Richard Peters, Community Specialist Paramedic and Cllr Barbara Ashworth, Portfolio Holder for Health
Published October 13, 2016 at 12:56
Following the work of Rossendale Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group on the North West Ambulance service the Council is delighted to announce a new Community Specialist Paramedic role for Rossendale.
Richard Peters assumes the role as the new Community Specialist Paramedic (CSP) for the Rossendale area.
Richard joined the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust as a trainee technician in 1991 and qualified as a Paramedic in 1993. Whilst Richard has spent much of his operational service within the Rossendale and East Lancashire areas, he has also undertaken a number of different roles within the wider Trust, from aircrew with the North West Air Ambulance through to training and supervisory roles.
Prior to commencing the CSP role, Richard practiced as an Advanced Paramedic within the East Lancashire area, where he was involved in the development of a number of community and pathway initiatives, this makes him a fantastic resource to benefit Rossendale.
Throughout the North West there are currently twelve CSPs. CSPs are qualified paramedics employed by North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust who are based within the community in specific areas. The primary role of a CSP is to reduce avoidable hospital admission and promote independent living by working within the local communities and alongside healthcare colleagues, to identify people with health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable.
The Council is working hard on various projects to support our local communities by identifying best pathways of help which reducing the demand on other parts of the NHS, this role will go some significant way to supporting this.
The CSPs are also despatched to any 999 emergency calls in their area, if they are the nearest available Trust response.
Richard will be based within Rossendale’s Primary Health Care Centre on Bacup Road, in Rawtenstall and he will be a huge benefit for whole of Rossendale.
Richard said:
“I’m delighted to be the new CSP for Rossendale, as the scope of the position provides an opportunity to work collaboratively with NHS colleagues within Rossendale and surrounding areas. I have recently worked on several new initiatives and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to be based within the community, working with multi-disciplinary teams, commissioners and providers in order to enhance patient outcomes and quality of care for local residents”.
Councillor Oakes, Chair of the Rossendale Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group said
“The Council is delighted at the appointment of a Community Specialist Paramedic for Rossendale. We have discussed the need for a Community Paramedic on a number of occasions with North West Ambulance and are pleased with the outcome. It is a great result for the O&S Task and Finish Group.”
The review was undertaken following concerns raised at a presentation by NWAS to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in November 2014. The main purpose of the task group was to review the performance targets for Rossendale which was at the time below target.
During the review the group heard about the new Community Specialist Paramedics which were being established across NWAS and the group made a recommendation to support a CSP for Rossendale.