Dr Ian Gibson, a volunteer member of BASICS Essex Accident Rescue Service (BEARS) was called out by East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust at 01.37 hours on 27th December 2011 to a patient who was suffering chest pain in Witham.
On arrival at the scene Dr Gibson, along with the ambulance crew, assessed the patient and started to manage their symptoms. They took an ECG and found that they were having a heart attack. Dr Gibson provided initial treatment by giving the patient some medications before administering pain relief.
After the treatment the patient remianed unstable so due to the presenting condition Dr Gibson went with the ambulance crew to Basildon Hospital Cardiac Care Centre. On arrival at the regional centre the patient experienced a cardiac arrest. With prompt treatment from Dr Gibson, the ambulance crew and the team at the Cardiac Care Centre they re gained a pulse. The patient was taken straight to the cardiac suite where they under went some investigations which found a blocked vessel in their heart. This was removed and treated by the Cardiac Care Centre.
BEARS is a new charity in Essex formed from the merger of North East Essex Doctors Emergency Service (NEEDES) and Mid Essex Doctors Immediate Care scheme (MEDICS). The scheme is called out by The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust to patients that need an enhanced level of care following serious injury or illness. All the members are volunteer Doctors and Paramedics who have undergone additional training in Immediate Medical Care. Each member is equipped purely through donations at a cost of between £20-25,000.
For further information on BEARS please contact Paul Gates, BEARS Chair on 07971 955689 or bearsmedics@gmail.com.