CARE stands for Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency Team
Prior to 1989 there was no additional clinical response to ambulance technicians and paramedics in the West Midlands.
December 1989 saw national ambulance strikes which continued until March 1990. Replacement services were provided by the military and police to the best of their ability.
Keith Porter witnessed three clinical challenges within two days of strike commencement:
An RTC victim with inadequate airway care from Northfield
A lady falling getting off a coach at Digbeth Coach Station who sustained a neck injury and with mishandling developed neurological symptoms
A potentially hypotensive patient worsening due to poor external haemorrhage control
Concerns raised by Keith Porter to West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Officer, Mr Barry Johns. Mobile medical team set up with immediate effect at Birmingham Accident Hospital
Based out of BAH switchboard the team was tasked to trauma and acute medical emergencies, frequently cardiac arrests
The team was voluntary, using doctors and nursing from consultants to registrars to nursing sisters and staff nurses
Approaching 800 calls undertaken with vehicles and equipment provided by West Midlands Ambulance Service Mobile Officers including:
Ken Chapman
Peter Charman
Bob Mudd
John Hodgson
24 hour service
Case analysis revealed uplifted care in:
20% medical cases
10% trauma cases
West Midlands Accident Resuscitation (CARE) Team established after a layoff of six months
2 November 1990 – first shift
Keith Porter – doctor
Maggie Horner – nurse
Started on Friday and Saturday nights from 6pm-2am
Delivered advanced clinical care including airway care, chest needle and tube thoracotomies, intravenous access, advanced pain relief, increased therapeutic capability (medical drugs)
Many doctors on the team progressed to Air Ambulance in the West Midlands and elsewhere in the country
Team continues to function providing advanced care and providing a training platform targeted at doctors, nurses and the military to standard of the Royal College of Surgeons Diploma in Immediate Medical Care (DipIMC)
Continues to function on a voluntary capacity now providing weekday shifts and whilst the vehicle and HQ is at Bournbrook fire station the functional base when on shift is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Additional role includes patient transfer avoidance
Where possible keeping patients out of ED and admission
