
Teddington RNLI praised by London Ambulance Service for outstanding patient care
Volunteers at Teddington RNLI, one of four lifeboat stations on the River Thames, have been praised by London Ambulance Service for their outstanding teamwork and patient care during a recent incident.
The Excellence Report* sent to the station from a member of staff within the Ambulance Service, came after a shout which involved multiple agencies, including the RNLI, in looking after the welfare of a casualty on the river.
Gary Merritt, a paramedic with the London Ambulance Service said in his report: ‘During one particular shout, the volunteer crew displayed empathy, patience and discretion and managed to find ways to assist the other emergency services by completing any task that would be of help. The team accomplished all of this within a prevailing atmosphere of calm, dignified professionalism. Thank you for all you do to care for our patients’.
As a river-based lifeboat station, the volunteer crew based at Teddington RNLI are regularly tasked by HM Coastguard to deal with people in danger in and around the River Thames and as a result they often work alongside the London Ambulance Service and other emergency services.
Jon Chapman, a volunteer helm at Teddington lifeboat station said the crew were delighted and grateful to receive an Excellence Report from one of the RNLI’s key partner agencies:
‘The shout in question was a difficult one, but its successful outcome was made possible by every single volunteer, whatever their role, who responded to the pager on that occasion.
The lifeboat was launched swiftly and efficiently, the casualty recovered to safety with speed and professionalism and London Ambulance Service supported comprehensively in its initial aftercare of the casualty. To receive this recognition from LAS is a wonderful tribute to the commitment, dedication and compassion of our volunteers’.
Teddington Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) Matt Allchurch, added: ‘I am proud of the collaboration between the emergency services and our volunteer lifeboat crew who are always treated professionally by those they work alongside to ensure the safety of those in trouble in and around the water’.
Note for Editors:
*The Excellence Reporting system is not NHS wide. It is a London Ambulance designed and administered system that allows excellence to be recognised and recorded when it is witnessed.
Teddington RNLI operates two inshore D-class lifeboats which have launched 102 times so far this year.
RNLI Media Contacts:
Gianna Saccomani, Lifeboat Press Officer, Teddington Lifeboat Station (07798) 905515 [email protected]
Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, London and the South East (07785) 296252 [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.