Synopsis: Emergency medical (Ambulance) services (EMS) respond to calls and arrive at scene before the critically ill patients deteriorate to the point of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Early identification and interventions for these patients may prevent deterioration and this could be an important factor in reducing mortality and morbidity and therefore improving patient survival. What if any is the role of early warning scores when managing this cohort of patients

Biography: With twenty-nine years’ experience within a national ambulance, I have fulfilled a number of key roles from an operational paramedic through to my current strategic leadership role. Currently within the Scottish Ambulance Service, I operated as Lead Consultant Paramedic the most senior paramedic in the service having most recently been professional advisor at Scottish Government for EMS in Zambia and Programme Director for Clinical Services Transformation. I hold an MSc in Leadership from Ashridge Generation Q programme, Executive Diploma in Management from the Chartered Management Institute, a Certificate in Business Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management Australia and a Graduate Certificate in Implementing Clinical Governance from Caledonian University, as well as a Diploma in Immediate Medical Care from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. Currently I am a PhD student at Monash University, Department of Community Health and Paramedic Practice, a visiting professor at Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, as well as undergoing recruitment selection for the Royal Axillary Air Force 612 squadron and was also a recipient of the Queens Ambulance Medal in the 2019 New Year’s Honours

Paul Gowens is Lead Consultant Paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service - the most senior paramedic in the service.