E-zec PTLO recognised in Shropshire Awards

A Patient Transport Liaison Officer (PTLO) based at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is celebrating after being shortlisted in a prestigious regional award which recognises local hospital heroes.

Steve Lovell, PTLO at E-zec Shropshire was nominated for Partner of the Year in the SaTH (Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals) Trust Awards for his commitment to the industry, and his innovative developments to streamlining a more efficient and effective service.

Andrea Bayes, Renal Manager at E-zec Shropshire, said: “We were incredibly proud to learn that Steve Lovell was nominated in the SaTH Trust Awards, and we’d like to wish him a huge congratulations. He was recognised due to his dedication to improving the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) and aiming to make it a positive and seamless process for hospitals and service users.”

Steve previously worked as an Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) for three years prior to undertaking his new role as PTLO, which he’s had for approximately three and a half years. E-zec took over the Shropshire contract in October 2021, and for the past 12 months, he’s been supporting the business with developing and enhancing NEPTS.

“Earlier this year we launched a new initiative at both the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), Telford, to enhance the administrative accuracy and team efficiency, along with additional staff training”, Andrea continued. “And Steve was absolutely the driving force behind this brand-new programme – since our initial meetings back in July, he’s shown nothing but positive determination and motivation. While all involved have been integral to the success, it’s without doubt that Steve’s hard work and commitment made it possible.

“This is the first time that any NEPTS provider in Shropshire has been nominated for a SaTH Trust Award, and while it spotlights Steve’s successes and personal development, it also demonstrates some of the fantastic work that E-zec are providing within the community.” 

Individuals in the local area were invited to nominate their hospital heroes as part of the annual SaTH Trust Awards. And for the second year running, readers of the Shropshire Star were asked to identify individuals or collectives that have provided exceptional care and service and exceeded all expectations of their role within the NHS / healthcare setting.

The virtual awards ceremony was held on Thursday 17th November.

Steve added: “It was such an honour to have been recognised in this way, and I’m incredibly grateful for all who nominated me. While I wasn’t crowned the overall winner of this category, I feel incredibly privileged to have had my work commended – and to have been the first from any NEPTS provider is hugely significant, because it really highlights the importance of what we do in the community.”  

Lifetime Achievement Award for E-zec Volunteer Driver

Volunteer Driver wins Lifetime Achievement award

A Suffolk-based volunteer has been presented with a community award after dedicating years of his life to supporting his local town. 

Glenn Barker, aged 70, from Bury was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement accolade at the Bury Free Press Community Awards recently, after being nominated and recognised for his contribution as a Volunteer Car Service (VCS) driver for E-zec in Suffolk.

Glenn said: “I’m still a little overwhelmed after receiving this award – I can’t believe it. I absolutely love what I do, and have been a VCS driver for E-zec since the inception of the Suffolk/Waveney contract back in 2019. Before this, I was a VCS driver for the East of England Ambulance Service for 10 years.

“About 16 years ago, I suffered a cardiac arrest. After a spell in hospital and eight weeks in rehabilitation, my only means of accessibility was through hospital transport. I was so incredibly grateful for this service, which allowed me to remain a sense of independence. So, I made it my mission to return to full health, and become part of this incredible initiative at E-zec”.

The Lifetime Achievement award recognises those who have, over a lifetime, made significant positive contributions to Bury, striving to make it a better place for those within it. Glenn was nominated due to going above and beyond – he’s driven over 900,000 miles, and has been known to personally contact service users the day before transport is arranged to ease anxieties and boost familiarity.

“The most rewarding part of the job is the people that you meet,” Glenn continued. “In my time, I’ve come across some wonderful individuals, and being able to play just a small part of the journey – in what is typically a daunting or scary time of their life – is an absolute pleasure. For example, I’ve taken young adults who’ve had kidney transplants to post-op care, and have tried to relieve some stress and anxiety for service users attending oncology appointments. 

“I’m incredibly humbled – thank you to those who nominated me. And to anyone considering becoming a VCS driver – do it! It truly is the most rewarding job in the world.”

Darron Burns, Regional Manager at E-zec Suffolk added: “On behalf of the entire E-zec team, we’d like to wish Glenn huge congratulations for this fantastic recognition. We’re incredibly lucky to have a wonderful team of VCS drivers on the ground, supporting our communities and playing an integral role in the business”.

Congratulations and very well done Glenn! We truly appreciate you!

A Very Special Delivery

ACA Josh delivers baby in car park

A newly recruited Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) was pushed to new limits with an unusual initiation during his first official week working at E-zec.

Having only been out on the road for a matter of days, ACA Joshua Hender was posed with the stressful challenge of assisting a mother in the very final stages of labour – in the hospital car park.

E-zec may provide specialist non-emergency, bariatric, and high-dependency medical transport to patients but now we can add immediate maternity assistance to the list…

Speaking after the eventful shift Josh said: “I was sat with my ambulance partner, Andy, outside Ipswich Hospital waiting for instructions on our next job. Suddenly, a car pulled up in front of us, with a man frantically running out and shouting for help.

“We jumped out of the cab, and once we realised what was happening, Andy and the dad fled into the building to get maternity assistance. I started talking to the mother in labour, helping her to keep calm, but quickly realised that the baby was coming. Now.

“Within a matter of minutes, the baby was in my arms. I wrapped the newborn in a coat and placed her onto the mother’s chest, until the maternity team came to take over. It certainly was a very exciting first Friday shift, and a day I’ll never forget.”

Prior to working at E-zec, Joshua was a semi-professional goalkeeper for Ipswich Town, and so is no stranger to making fast-paced decisions, and making that crucial save – albeit, never before a baby.

Suffolk-based Supervisor Carl Cheadle said: “This is such an incredible story and portrays just what a valuable role our colleagues play in supporting our communities as a whole. We’re extremely proud of Joshua for his quick thinking and supporting the mother during what must have been an incredibly scary time for all.

“He truly immersed himself into the role and has demonstrated what it means to go above and beyond – a crucial part of being an ACA. And, being an ex-semi-professional footballer, mum and baby were certainly both in very safe hands! Well done to all involved, and huge congratulations to the parents, who have informed us they are all doing well.”

Suffolk-based ACA Josh delivered a baby on his third shift for E-zec