“This month we ran an accredited four day moving and handling trainers’ course at West Midlands Ambulance Trust. The picture shows participants from West Midlands Ambulance Trust, two paramedic lecturers from the University of West Scotland and a Training Officer from DHL ambulance service London. So how did we get such an eclectic group together? Back in 2003 Solutions were contracted by West Midlands Ambulance to roll out a massive training programme to all front line ambulance staff in conflict resolution. With a team of four trainers this was done over a period of several months. The outcome being a reduction in incidents of staff being abused or assaulted. During that roll out a participant mentioned to his friend the Health & Safety Manager at Central Trains how effective the training had been so Central Trains contracted Solutions to design a bespoke conflict resolution course for the rail sector. This was done including filming several scenarios for railway staff to assess and manage. Again, another major roll out which a year post training reduced incidents from 262 to 470 in one year. Word spread so we went on to provide this training to several other train companies including Greater Anglia and C2C. Whilst delivering this Wessex trains contracted us for moving and handling passengers with disabilities. As Central Trains were owned by National Express the bus and coach division also engaged Solutions for conflict resolution training. Then in 2011 the newly formed London Overground train company contracted Solutions to deliver most of the induction programme to their large numbers of new staff including train drivers, station staff and revenue protection staff at this brand new train company. A team of five delivered first aid, fire safety, customer service, disability awareness, conflict resolution and equality and diversity to all new recruits. All the conflict resolution courses included how to use non pain compliant techniques to break away from grips and grabs. Meanwhile the numbers of ambulance sector customers grew rapidly, and West Midlands Ambulance engaged Solutions also to deliver moving and handling train the trainer courses. DHL learned of this and engaged us to also train their trainers in moving and handling. At the same time the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland ambulance services similarly engaged Solutions. It was during one such course where a N Ireland ambulance tutor asked why nobody had made an ambulance carry sheet that included a foot pocket so casualties could be safely carried in a sitting position so if they had breathing problems they could remain sitting up, This was in 2004. We approached a UK manufacturer who made one for trial. In the year of 2025 over 300 were sold to various organisations across the country along with other pieces of kit for moving and handling.
In 2020 the Scottish Universities started to deliver degree level paramedic training which previously had been done in house by the Scottish Ambulance Service. One programme lead at a Scottish University having previously worked at West Midlands Ambulance. Solutions then by tender bid to support all Scottish Universities to deliver both conflict resolution and moving and handling training to prepare their students for their placements. Having won that bid we now support Stirling University, Glasgow Caledonian, Queen Margaret’s, the University of West Scotland and Robert Gordon University by either training their paramedic lecturers or directly training first year students in conflict resolution and moving and handling. What this shows is that recommendations are a very powerful tool”
