Library & Knowledge Service for NHS Ambulance Services in England
NHS Library and Knowledge Services are helping to deliver the best care and treatment possible to patients and our team here at LKS ASE is playing its part.
Making the gathering of information as easy as possible for healthcare professionals, getting the required evidence into practice and giving them the ‘gift of time’ which they can then spend with patients is where Library and Knowledge Services can have both a direct and indirect effect on the care patients receive and a positive impact on NHS services as a whole.
Health Education England (HEE) commissioned a report Library and Knowledge Services Value Proposition: The Gift of Time, identifying key benefits of a library and knowledge service within an NHS organisation and, specifically, the specialist roles embedded within NHS teams.
LKS ASE Support for research - Case study
I requested a literature search on the subject of ambulance clinicians recognising patients approaching the end of life for referral to their primary care providers. LKS ASE identified 53 articles surrounding the subject as little literature on the specific subject exists. Detailed references together with abstracts supplied within 24 hours. The research contributes to a literature review associated with a national cross-sectional survey of paramedics on their experiences, knowledge and attitudes concerning identification of patients approaching the end of life. The search provided a larger body of literature within which to base the study. It will improve final dissemination of study results, benefitting locating the study in existing literature and enabling more detailed discussion. Peter Eaton-Williams, Research Paramedic, SECAmb
LKS ASE Support for students - Case Study
I contacted LKS ASE for a literature search on the preferred site for needle thoracentesis and differences in chest wall thickness. This information was needed to critically analyse a chosen skill performed by paramedics in the prehospital environment for an assignment for a trauma module forming part of the Paramedic Science Top Up BSc.
LKS ASE identified and supplied several papers relating to the preferred first line treatment and studies relating to preferred site and differences in chest wall thickness affecting success rates. The information was received very promptly and formed a big part of my assignment. The library was easy to communicate with and services clearly explained.
The information I received was extremely useful for my assignment and gave me the information to critically analyse throughout my assignment. I will be continuing to use LKS ASE throughout my studies as I have found the service to be excellent and a great addition to my own literature searches in order to produce assignments for my degree. Matthew Harrison, Paramedic, WMAS
LKS ASE Support for national guideline development - Case Study
The JRCALC clinical guidelines are now used by all NHS ambulance service paramedics and a range of other clinicians. The guidelines are accessible through an App which can be rapidly updated with any new guidance. The library service has helped by providing a service where we can request a literature review of available evidence to support a revision or a new guideline in development. A rapid turnaround of this has helped us immensely with guidelines including:
• Acute behavioural disturbance
• Mental health presentation: Crisis, distress and disordered behaviour
• Vascular emergencies
Additionally, there have been occasions where we have requested a paper, to support a query or the further development of a guideline. The turnaround and quality of the correspondence and receipt of papers is always prompt.
Having an expert librarian, and one point of contact to assist us, has saved us a lot of work and time, has improved the rigor and effectiveness of our ongoing guideline work and is invaluable to us.
We are delighted to continue to work in partnership with the LKS to develop evidence-based clinical guidance for UK NHS ambulance service paramedics, to improve patient care for our patients. Dr Alison Walker, Chair-Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee
LKS ASE Support for work based projects - Case Study
The library service is massively important to my work. The area I work in can be very difficult to evidence with internal data, so the information the library provides is essential in being able to provide proof of various concepts.
Doing the research myself would take a long time, not be as efficient, and probably prove lacklustre in response. Being able to provide one source for my query, and then get a result back with rich pickings for research is invaluable.
On this occasion I was after information around personal safety equipment. The reason for this is a large piece of work I am leading that will result in a procurement of equipment and ultimately keep staff safe. The libraries assistance will directly improve the safety of our staff as we go forward with this process. Dan Jones, Local Security Management Specialist (LSMS, Risk Management, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Findings in a recently published international literature review [see p21 of Report for list of referenced materials] showed that for every $1 of funding spent on library and knowledge services a return of $2.4 is received. If applicable to the NHS it suggests that library and knowledge services are already delivering a net economic benefit of £77m per annum. Were HEE’s recommended staff ratio for qualified librarians per member of the NHS workforce achieved, this could increase to £106m per annum.
Read the report https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/library-knowledge-services/value-proposition-gift-time and find out more about NHS Library and Knowledge Services.
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