Why the Emergency Services Show?
Mel Cortez
Tactical Healthcare Expert | Bridging the Gap between Clinical and Security | Always Innovating to Reduce Workplace Violence | Security is not the absence of threat, but presence of connection.
On location with VICTOR: Tackling Violence and Transforming Crisis Response
Day one of The Emergency Services Show was incredible. So many people asked me why I was there, I decided I should cover some of the reasons why.
As a passionate advocate for healthcare innovation, the 2024 Emergency Services Show in Birmingham gives the team at VICTOR | Violence Intervention and Crisis Threat Operational Response the opportunity to reveal their ground-breaking crisis response program. As violence rates against healthcare workers, particularly ambulance and clinical staff in Accident & Emergency (A&E), continue to rise, solutions like VICTOR have never been more critical.
I am always looking for innovative solutions to violence reduction for my colleagues and I know that VICTOR has the potential to facilitate a global reach. Why do I say that? Because the operations behind it are so well planned and established that I was able to speak passionately and informatively about it to the very few nay sayers we met.
The concern is who will pay and how will it be adopted, when the real the concern should be the reality of the situation and why VICTOR is doing to meet a very urgent need.
The Reality: Violence Against Healthcare Workers
Recent statistics reveal a sharp increase in assaults on ambulance staff and A&E clinicians across the UK. In 2023, ambulance crew assaults rose by 34%, with over 1,700 attacks reported in just one year. NHS staff in A&E face similarly alarming levels of violence, contributing to staff burnout, retention challenges, and disrupted patient care. As the strain on these essential services mounts, a new approach is needed to better protect those on the front lines.
Yesterday I talked to several young officers that have been spending 14 hour shift at the bedside of patients trying to assist A&E staff in the management of a patient. While some officers believe this is an NHS problem and others believe it falls under policing, one thing is clear after talking to people at the show; Right Care Right Person is confusing and not all departments are treating it the same.
领英推荐
This lack of standardization is something we are all to familiar with in the United States and one that VICTOR's visionary CEO David Boswell has dedicated time, resources and staff to address.
The Vision: VICTOR's Impact on Mental Health Crisis Response
Enter VICTOR, a self-funded program developed to alleviate pressure on overburdened police forces by supporting the adoption of the "Right Care, Right Person" approach. Police in the UK respond to tens of thousands of mental health crisis calls every year, often diverting them from critical policing tasks. VICTOR aims to shift these calls to specialized teams, helping to streamline operations and reduce the burden on police services.
This shift could have a significant financial impact on the UK's public safety system. By enabling police to focus on core duties and allowing healthcare professionals to manage mental health crises more efficiently, VICTOR has the potential to save millions in resources and operational costs, while enhancing response times and reducing violence rates in critical care settings. If adopted at scale, this innovative program could dramatically improve staff retention in both police and healthcare sectors, fostering a safer and more supportive working environment for professionals.
I will be on the ground again today, if you are there you should come say and tell me what you think about VICTOR, the vehicle and the crew. I believe that the things we are hearing from vendors, officers, medics, fire and all others there are important to understand where the gaps in RCRP exist. As a strong supporter of VICTOR, I am eager to hear from those on the front lines about how this program could revolutionize mental health incident response and improve workplace safety for healthcare and emergency workers alike.
If you’re attending the show, don’t miss your chance to connect VICTOR at the VICTOR stand (5/M250). Whether you're interested in learning more about VICTOR, discussing the latest healthcare innovations, or sharing your thoughts on the future of crisis response, I am eager to chat and hear your insights!
This could be the change we need to make healthcare and emergency services safer for everyone. See you on the showroom floor!