Behind the scenes: Dan Phillips, Area Clinical Lead

Last week we introduced our ‘behind the scenes’ feature, where we showcase a person or team from across the Trust  to tell you a bit more about who they are and what they do. This week we’re welcoming Area Clinical Lead Dan Phillips to the floor…

So, tell us a bit about yourself.

I’ve been with the ambulance service since 2003, joining on a student paramedic pathway with the University of Hertfordshire and finally graduating as a paramedic in 2006. For my first few years on the road I worked out of Ipswich station, I have some amazing memories from my time there.

Back in 2010, I took on a Trust-wide role as the stroke and TIA lead – it’s a clinical area I’m passionate about and I really enjoyed developing and implementing the stroke and TIA pathways that we’re still using for our patients today. I’m also a specialist committee member with NICE in relation to the stroke quality standards.

I then spent some time in Essex as a clinical general manager, and over the last year I’ve been working as the clinical lead on a variety of projects before taking up this role as area clinical lead for Essex.

Clinically I’m a developing critical care paramedic and still respond regularly. I volunteer with our Magpas air ambulance colleagues and SARS (one of our BASICS charities). I currently sit on the National Ambulance Emergency and Urgent Care Group, which is linked to the Urgent and Emergency Care Keogh review, which is going to change everything!

You’ve been in your new role for a few months now – what are you enjoying the most?

Working with clinicians and managers to drive improvements in clinical care and standards; and also working with colleagues when things don’t go as they should to identify the learning and making sure we take actions to stop similar things happening in the future. Putting learning at the centre of what we do is really important.

What do you think is the biggest clinical challenge facing the Trust at the moment?

Call demand; but instead of trying to reduce the number of calls we get, I think we need to deal with them more appropriately. Massively increasing ‘hear and treat’ and enhanced triage will really help with that, and the good news is the Trust has already taken some positive steps in bolstering this area. We also still need more paramedics, which is why our ongoing recruitment drive is so important. The development of specialist and advanced practitioner roles is vital. We haven’t always got this right in the past and we must now. The NHS as a whole needs our unique skill set as professional ambulance clinicians to meet the challenges of the next decade and beyond.

What kind of things should people get in touch with you about?

Anything clinical! That can be anything from concerns about patient safety or clinical care to just talking through a complex case you might have attended. I’m also happy to help with any CPD and development queries – just get in touch at daniel.phillips@eastamb.nhs.uk, 07971059148. 

Published 15th December, 2015