Emergency medical cover boosted for thousands in rural communities

LIFE-SAVING emergency cover for thousands of people is being provided in a groundbreaking scheme to bolster vital medical services across rural parts of North Yorkshire. Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has recruited a highly-skilled emergency care practitioner who will be based in Pickering to respond to 999 calls and provide support to healthcare professionals.

Mark Northcote, an emergency care practitioner for eight years, will take on the new role in Pickering to serve a population of more than 7,000.

He said: “This is an innovative project that provides an alternative way for clinical staff to use their professional skills for the benefit of the commun-ity.”

Based at Pickering Medical Centre, he will respond to emergencies but will also provide other medical support in the Pickering area, dealing with minor injuries, assisting GPs and nurses at the surgery and carrying out home visits.

The scheme, launched at the beginning of August, is part of ambulance service’s commitment to improving the quality of patient care, responding to the needs of local communities and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.

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