New Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care Office Bearers
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The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (FPHC) is a diverse community of healthcare professionals ranging from first aiders and paramedics to doctors and first responders. The Faculty is committed to promoting high standards of pre-hospital care through education, research, and teaching.
On Tuesday 9 November, the Faculty welcomed new Office Bearers to the Executive Team in their virtual Annual General Meeting. Past Chair Professor David Lockey and past Honorary Treasurer Mr Richard Steyn demitted from their posts, with closing reports delivered by both during the meeting. The College thanks Professor Lockey and Mr Steyn for their commitment and dedication to the Faculty during their term and wishes them both all the very best in their future endeavours.
Looking to the future of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, Dr Pam Hardy, has taken up the post as Chair, having previously held posts over a number of years as medical co-vice chair and as elected representative on the Executive Committee and other groups. A founder member of FPHC, Pam will be the first woman in its 25 years to take the post as Chair.
She is a graduate of Sheffield University and Lead Consultant in Emergency Care at Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin. She also currently works as a Retrieval Consultant for the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (North) covering the Islands and Highlands of Scotland in both a primary and secondary retrieval role. Dr Hardy has also represented FPHC and RCPCH on the Intercollegiate Board for Training in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine since its inception in 2009.
As the face of pre-hospital emergency medicine changes, the Faculty's aims remain as to set and maintain clinical standards for all practitioners in this evolving specialty through education, research, and teaching. Commenting on her goals for the Faculty during her Tenure, Dr Hardy said:
I am foremost a passionate and committed pre-hospital provider, continuing to work in a primary response role as well as part of a critical care retrieval team covering the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
I am keen to build on all the excellent work that has been done by those before me and my vison continues to be to contribute to the future of pre-hospital care, by promoting a seamless continuum of care which delivers evidence and consensus-based interventions for people before they reach hospital and values providers at every level.
Unlike many of my predecessors, I am not an academic, which feels a little daunting! But I hope that I can be a role model to others being in this position as simply a pre-hospital provider with some longevity of experience. I will also be the first woman in the 25 years of the FPHC to be appointed as Chair.
Also, on the agenda for Dr Hardy is to continue to grow the Faculty’s membership at all levels, with a particular focus on forging new International relationships. The College’s 2022 Chennai Conference will present a fantastic opportunity for this, with the Faculty hosting various sessions throughout the event. Dr Hardy places emphasis on “harnessing the strengths of members to lead our research agenda and clinical policy, reviewing evidence to produce high-quality consensus and joint position statements”.
Stepping up as Elected Doctor Co-Vice Chair is Dr Andy Pountney, a Consultant in Emergency Medicine in Yorkshire. He is also Vice-chair of BASICS (British Association for Immediate Care) bringing great opportunity for the two organisations to work more closely together. He is Chair of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care’s Yorkshire Regional Group and Medical Governance Lead and Medical Incident Commander for Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Dr Pountney therefore brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Faculty.
Taking over as Honorary Treasurer is Dr Peter Holden, Senior Partner in a rural teaching and training general practice associated with the University of Nottingham and Strategic Medical Advisor for East Midlands Ambulance Service. Dr Holden provides remote supervision whilst also being a trained major incident commander with real experience of major incidents including the Tavistock Square bus bombing, Hillsborough Football Stadium disaster and the rising tide incident-Pandemic Influenza in 2009. Dr Holden is also a Founder Member of the Faculty and has been involved in pre-hospital care since 1983, making him an asset to the team.
President of the College Professor Michael Griffin OBE extended his welcome to the new Office Bearers, saying:
On behalf the College, I would like to congratulate Dr Hardy, Dr Pountney and Dr Holden on their appointments to the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care’s Executive Team. As this branch of healthcare grows, and we see a greater need for support of these practitioners, their additions will no doubt each play a valuable role within the Faculty and the College overall.
Find out more about the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care and view more information on the Faculty’s Executive Team here.
Chair of the FPHC, Dr Pam Hardy. Vice Chair, Andy Pountney. Honorary Treasurer, Dr Peter Holden
