Read the original article here
September 6, 2018
The West Midlands region of the UK is to be the country’s first multi-city 5G test bed, seeing how high speed connectivity could be rolled out and testing a number of applications and services at scale including two with connected vehicles and join a driverless car trial.
The Urban Connected Communities Project, part of the Government’s 5G Testbed and Trials Program, will develop a large-scale, 5G pilot across the region, with hubs in Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton.
As part of the trial the West Midlands Combined Authority will partner with Jaguar Land Rover to facilitate real world testing of driverless cars while the pilot will also try “Connected Ambulances”, allowing meaning paramedic crews at an incident could access specialist advice while they are at the scene, eg video conferencing with consultants or other clinical specialists. Live streaming of patient data from ambulance en route to hospital would help inform the immediate care patients receive on arrival.
The scheme is also planning tests of live streaming of CCTV footage from public transport buses, which is designed to enable immediate action against anti-social behavior. “Intelligent cameras” using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify incidents could provide the opportunity for far greater coverage than is possible at present.
Minister for Digital, Margot James said, “5G has the potential to dramatically transform the way we go about our daily lives, and we want the citizens of the UK to be amongst the first to experience all the opportunities and benefits this new technology will bring. The West Midlands Testbed, which is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, will be instrumental in helping us realize this ambition.”
Three NHS workers die suddenly while working for same ‘toxic’ ambulance trust. Could 5G be related?
Alan Selby Mirror Sun, 24 Nov 2019 02:23 UTC
Former health minister and local MP Norman Lamb, who is standing down at this election, has called for an independent investigation into the deaths.
Ambulance dispatcher Luke Wright and paramedics Christopher Gill and Richard Grimes all died suddenly after a whistleblower raised concerns about psychological abuse
An ambulance service where three staff have died of suspected suicide in two weeks has been accused of a toxic culture.
Ambulance dispatcher Luke Wright, 24, and paramedics Christopher Gill and Richard Grimes were found dead between November 11 and November 21.
Shortly before their deaths a whistleblower wrote to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s boss complaining about psychological abuse.
Former health minister and local Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb, who also received the letter, is calling for an independent investigation into the deaths.
He said: “For three people working on the front line to lose their lives within such a short space of time is deeply shocking.
“It does raise a question as to whether there needs to be a thorough internal investigation.
“I am conscious that people have complained about a toxic culture in this trust. I’ve been appalled by some of the behaviors that I’ve seen in the organization.”
Dad-of-one Luke was in Norwich while Chris was from Welwyn Garden City, Herts, and Richard in Luton, Beds.
Luke’s brother Daniel, who also works for the service, said: “We need to highlight that it is OK not to be OK. People need to talk to get help.”
The whistleblower’s letter, uncovered by the Ambulance News Desk site, claimed that bullying behavior was undermining staff confidence.
It said: “If this situation continues the risk of suicide and increase risk to patients will result in reputational damage to the NHS and potential loss of life.”
Dr Tom Davis, medical director of the service, said: “We will not be commenting on the unfortunate and tragic loss of our colleagues recently as we need to be sympathetic
“But we encourage staff to seek support when they need it and to speak up if they are suffering with mental health.”
Comment: This is a rather fishy story, to say the least! Three suicides in 11 days, all from the same workplace. In the report from the BBC, they quote Daniel, brother of the victim Luke Wright, as saying:
Daniel said his brother “constantly had a smile on his face. He was caring and loved his job and was amazing. He was always helping people.”
Does that sound like someone on the verge of suicide?
There’s an interesting connection made by Jack Kruse. From June 24 of this year, Smart Cities World reported:
5G testbed demonstrates the ambulance of the future, today
The West Midlands 5G testbed joined with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and BT to demonstrate a remote-controlled ultrasound scan over a public 5G network.
WM5G, the UK’s first region-wide 5G test bed designed to accelerate 5G deployment, is working with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) and BT to showcase how 5G can transform healthcare and the emergency services.
The organisations recently combined to undertake the UK’s first demonstration of a remote-controlled ultrasound scan over a public 5G network.
…
The demonstration was hosted by the Medical Devices Testing and Evaluation Centre (MD-TEC) in UHB’s prestigious simulation lab located in the Institute of Translational Medicine. The showcase brings the concept of a 5G connected ambulance to life and provides new technologies to frontline staff to create a facility for patients to be diagnosed and triaged in the most appropriate settings. It enables remote diagnostics performed by paramedics who are supported by clinicians based in the hospital.
…
The images are relayed over a high-bandwidth 5G connection, so the clinician is able to view both the ultrasound examination performed by the paramedic and keep an eye on the overall scene inside the ambulance. The superfast speeds of 5G ensure sharper and more reliable imagery for the clinician than could previously be achieved.
Could the recent activation of 5G in the ambulances have something to do with these three mysterious deaths? YouTuber Jack Striker noted birds were dropping dead outside of Coventry Hospital after 5G was activated there:
Lichaam En Energie In Balans
November 25 at 8:46 AM ·
Ambulance staff already DEAD.
6 ambulances of East England Ambulance Service were equipped with 5G by the local company there — this was proudly announced and publicized. Fast forward to today, in 11 days, 3 staff members of East England Ambulance Service die of a sudden death.
UK – A month ago, in October, there were already reports that birds fell down from the sky outside the Coventry hospital, after 5G antennas were turned on to enable the Smart Ambulance 5G wireless system in Coventry.
See link: https://www.facebook.com/Francesalexandrina/posts/2704854299560059
Now there are reports that 3 staff members of East England Ambulance Service died in the last 11 days. This is very saddening and leaves us with no adequate words for the families of those staff members. For the watchful, there were also news articles saying that six ambulances of the same service had been equipped with cutting edge trial-5G technology enabling remote-access, via wireless real-time communication.
Wouldn’ t it be a rational and humble approach to investigate seriously and honestly if there is any relationship between the activation of 5G and the tragic events? We read an article from the hertfordshire mercury (see link) and unfortunately it does not mention he fact that 5G was launched recently
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-50522214
East of England Ambulance: Call to ‘seek help’ after death
By Nikki Fox
BBC Look East health correspondent 22 November 2019
The brother of an ambulance worker who took his own life is urging other staff to get help if they are struggling.
Luke Wright, 24, who worked in Norwich, is one of three members of the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) who have died in the past 11 days.
His brother Daniel, who also works for the EEAS, said: “We need to highlight that it is OK not to be OK. People need to talk to people to get help.”
The EEAS has told its staff to reach out and that help is available.
Daniel said his brother “constantly had a smile on his face. He was caring and loved his job and was amazing. He was always helping people”.
“With regards to any public sector work there are pressures and strains, but you expect the pressures. I would say if you are feeling pressures, in the police, fire or ambulance services, you should talk to your managers and the your colleagues,” he said.
“They can help you. I have had so many messages of support.”
Sam Older, regional organiser for Unison, which represents ambulance drivers, said: “While we don’t want to speculate on the causes of these deaths, we recognise how important it is for staff to receive the mental health support they need at work, particularly in such a stressful and potentially traumatic job in the ambulance service.
“Unison is pushing the trust to do more to look after the health and well-being of its staff, as a result of which employees now have access to a dedicated helpline with dedicated trauma therapists, and we will do everything we can to look after our members.”
Dr Tom Davis, EEAS medical director, said: “We are extremely sad about the deaths recently of three of our colleagues.
“The trust takes any concerns about the health and well-being of its staff extremely seriously and will always offer support to those staff who may require any help.”
The EEAS has 4,000 staff across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and into Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/three-ambulance-workers-dead-amid-claims-of-bullying- zwcwfwm7j
Three dead amid claims of bullying at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust November 25 2019, 12:01am, The Times
A whistleblower had warned the head of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust of the possibility of suicides
An NHS ambulance trust is facing calls for an investigation after the suspected suicides of three workers who died shortly after a whistleblower made claims to bosses of psychological abuse within the service.
Luke Wright, an ambulance dispatcher, and Christopher Gill and Richard Grimes, both paramedics, were found dead over the course of a fortnight between November 11 and November 21.
Shortly before their deaths, a whistleblower had written to the boss of East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust complaining about bullying and warning of suicides if nothing was done.
Norman Lamb, the Liberal Democrat health spokesman and MP for North Norfolk before the election was called, also received the letter and is calling for an independent investigation into the deaths.
His former seat is covered by East of England Ambulance Service and he has had concerns about its management style.
“For three people working on the front line to lose their lives within such a short space of time is deeply shocking,” he said. “It does raise a question as to whether there needs to be a thorough internal investigation.
“I am conscious that people have complained about a toxic culture in this trust. I’ve been appalled by some of the behaviours that I’ve seen in the organisation.”
Mr Wright, a 24-year-old father of one, lived in Norwich, Mr Gill was from Welwyn Garden City and Mr Grimes from Luton.
Mr Wright’s brother, Daniel, who also works for the ambulance service, said: “We need to highlight that it is OK not to be OK. People need to talk to get help.”
The whistleblower’s letter, which was uncovered by the Ambulance News Desk website, claimed that bullying behaviour was undermining staff confidence.
It said: “If this situation continues, the risk of suicide and increased risk to patients will result in reputational damage to the NHS and potential loss of life.”
Tom Davis, medical director of the service, said: “We will not be commenting on the unfortunate and tragic loss of our colleagues recently as we need to be sympathetic. But we encourage staff to seek support when they need it and to speak up if they are suffering with mental health.”