BBC Ambulance documentary 'a great advert' for West Midlands service - with 360-degree VIDEO
A hard-hitting documentary laying bare the inspirational and life-saving actions of West Midlands Ambulance Service has been described as a 'great advert' by organisation chiefs.
The hour-long feature was screened by the BBC on Thursday providing an in-depth 'behind the sirens insight' through the eyes of paramedics operating in the Black Country and Staffordshire.
It cast the spotlight on all aspects of the service and highlighted that the decisions and actions of those on the frontline of the health service and the support staff in the control room, can literally make the difference between life and death.
Scroll around to watch this 360-degree mini-documentary from the programme makers:
During the episode paramedics Natalie Greaves and Natalie Calow helped deliver a baby boy in Stourbridge on March 10 making the crucial choice for the birth to take place in the home even though the expectant mother was considered high risk.
For Ms Greaves it was particularly poignant after having gone through complications during the birth of her daughter Jessica, now 15, who is severely disabled having been deprived of oxygen during the delivery.
The documentary also aired graphic footage from the following evening of 75-year-old grandfather Terry Billingham from Rowley Regis who slipped into cardiac arrest and was tended to on his living room floor while his distraught wife looked on.
Murray MacGregor, communications director at WMAS, said: “To finally see a programme like this come to fruition after nine months of hard work, not only from those who feature but every single member of staff and manager who has helped to make this programme possible, is a great feeling. I truly hope everyone enjoys watching it. We think it’s a great advert for the Trust and the fantastic staff that work here.”
Chief executive Anthony Marsh added: “The thing that comes over from these programmes is the incredible professionalism of our staff as they deal with the challenges that they are presented with, never knowing what the next call might bring.
“I am proud that we have been able to show the diverse nature of our workforce and how we interact with people from every area and community of the West Midlands.
“Those watching will get a chance to experience the challenges of dealing with everything from cardiac arrests and violent attacks, the second by second decisions our staff face, for example deciding whether to move a woman in advanced labour, through to the desperation of lonely elderly patients who have no-one else to turn to.
"You will also see how those decisions affects our staff as they deal with each case. Sometimes it isn’t easy viewing, but throughout the actions of our staff are exceptional and I am so very proud of them."
