Hertfordshire 4x4 Response deployed

[Tony Ferrari]

With effect from Friday 24th July Hertfordshire 4x4 Response has been deployed on behalf of the Hertfordshire NHS Primary Care Trusts to deliver anti-viral medicines to patients unable to nominate flu friends.



On Friday 24th between five members, we delivered eight courses of medicines around the county.



To date on Saturday 25th one member has been deployed to carry out a single delivery.



As we are not deploying in adverse conditions merely providing transport we have risk assessed the situation and decided to deploy single vehicles to make best use of resources.



Up to date information can be viewed at http://hertfordshire4x4response.net/callouts.html

[Chris C]

Well done Tony good job!!!

[Tony Ferrari]

Just finished the weekend with 16 deliveries completed to date.

[mark avo]

Just got back from todays run, think Tony may be a bit too busy to post as he seems to be wearing quite a few hats at the moment. The ACP was like a 4x4R meeting, with another 20 odd deliveries going off to all ends of the county.

[Tony Ferrari]

27 Runs in total today. That's 43 in total with another two ready for tomorrow :shock:



The plan is for PCT staff to take over deliveries any day soon, with ourselves remaining as a fall back option. About time too!



Big thanks you to all involved, so far...



Andy (x2), Colin (x2), Dave (x3), David (x1), Jim (x5), Mark (x8), Nick (x2), Paul (x2), Rich (x10), Richard (x2) and Trevor (x3)



And before anyone says that doesn't add up.... I've done three myself ;)

[John Potts]

Are the PCT paying fuel costs for this?

[mark avo]

Yes.

[Teresa Herefordshire]

Glad to hear it. All very well volunteering your time, but not your fuel costs as well. :shock:



Good publicity for the group. Well done all!



Do you actually have to hand over the drugs or do you post them through the letter box?

[mark avo]

I've been happily handing them over, no point in panicing the punters. I did think about gloves,facemasks & a paper suit but they'd ruin my image.



Mind you, as soon as I get back to the car it's out with the (PCT Provided) hand gel & have a good rinse, including the biro used to sign for the delivery, & everything else I've touched since they opened the door. I think I've already been exposed as the mrs & kid had it a while back but better to be safe....

[Patrick Molloy]

congratulations to everybody - most impressive :D

well done

[Teresa Herefordshire]

I did think about gloves,facemasks & a paper suit but they'd ruin my image.







Spoilsport - just think of the fun you could have. :twisted: Put a loud hailer on the roof of the car, tell everyone to stand clear and throw them into the garden! ;) Just a thought ...

[Dave_M0YAA]

http://www.biotestofcleveland.com/images/bio-suit1.gif



Hi, i've brought your drugs. Problem? No problem, what makes you think there is a problem?

[mark avo]

I did think about gloves,facemasks & a paper suit but they'd ruin my image.







Spoilsport - just think of the fun you could have. :twisted: Put a loud hailer on the roof of the car, tell everyone to stand clear and throw them into the garden! ;) Just a thought ...





I actually already have the load hailer fitted. Maybe I'll give it a go if Tony doesnt see this post 1st & cut my wires!



One chap on this mornings run did ask how come I didnt catch it, what with visiting all the sick people.



Right, that's me done for today... 4 hours & 100+ miles for 5 deilveries! I never realised the county was so spread out :o

[ne jones]

Excellent use of the groups volunteers and it deserves some food publicity.



Has there been anything in or on the local news re the groups involvement?



Nath

[mark avo]

Excellent use of the groups volunteers and it deserves some food publicity.



Has there been anything in or on the local news re the groups involvement?



Nath



Now he's talking my langauge... Free bacon rolls for all the drivers ;)



But seriously, Not that I know of as yet, but as Tony is the National PR officer he may well make some news later. Problem is he has a broom in every orifice at the moment & may well not have room for any more.

[BobWessex]

Excellent use of the groups volunteers and it deserves some food publicity.



Has there been anything in or on the local news re the groups involvement?



Nath

Probably not a good idea at the moment. If some members of the public get the idea that 4x4 Response vehicles/members have access to Tamiflu there may be some unfortunate consequences.



When delivering water in Gloucestershire we had several intances of people trying to help themselves.



After the event yes well worth a write-up

[ne jones]

Thats a fair point Bob. But what a world we live in when we have to think about those possible consequences for self sacrificing volunteers :(

[Tony Ferrari]

Why would you want to mug a 4x4 Response driver for Tamiflu when the NHS is giving it away for free?



And all the stories about selling it on eBay for huge profits seem to be just that... stories :roll:



The NHS counterfraud service do constantly search the web and it seems the few trying to flog it are usually pedalling counterfeit anti-virals anyway (there's a few prosecutions in the process already).



We have now done over 80 deliveries without the slightest bit of trouble (and we are now well beyond the 1 to 4 day incubation period without any drivers showing signs of flu).



As for publicity, that will come later as what we (with my PCT hat on now) don't want to promote at the moment is the idea that you don't have to go and get it yourself but a nice man in a 4x4 will deliver it to your door if you pretend to be a billy no mates.



For that reason we are telling people they may have wait 24 hours, which could be the next day before getting a delivery. Amazing how many then seem to suddenly remember that there are four family members and three mates sitting in the other room and all happen to have cars :D



So despite my bosses deciding to introduce a system using staff to deliver on Tuesday and Wednesday but not getting it organised until today, we were out delivering again today when the system failed!



However I have pointed out that as a small group we can’t sustain it much longer especially as several members are on holiday at the moment and the suggestion has been made that they might “enhance” the mileage rate as an incentive for us to keep going.



The other idea that came up today from one of the Directors, was that we use taxis instead. When it was pointed out that your average taxi driver was hardly likely to want to deliver, they suggested it could be posted through the door. One big failing in that…. OK for Tamiflu but Relenza comes in boxes too big to fit through a letter box :D



And I’d hate to think of the cost! We have already spent my flu budget five times over :shock:

[Pete Hallett]

I work for south western ambulance service and have been in contact with many people who have confirmed swine flu over the last few months and i havent had so much as a sniffle. So long as you take the appropriate precations and use the PPE you would be very unlucky to catch it.

;) ;)

[nick cox]

Or do eight or so years within the NHS and you get a free 'been exposed to most things' immune system which seems to help. ;) ;)



Same thing with NHS food, once you have been exposed to it for long enough your stomach will digest most things :D :D

[mark avo]

When delivering water in Gloucestershire we had several intances of people trying to help themselves.







Somehow I doubt the Russian Drugs Mafia will want to turn me over for 5 doses of Tamiflu & a 1/2 used bottle of hand wash, but if they do, they're welcome to it.



As for the letterbox thing, I mentioned it to my Mrs last night - Her 1st comment - "What if a kid picks it up & eats the lot". If she picks that up straight away, it makes me a bit worried about some of the so called proffessionals who havent!

[BobWessex]

Hi Mark,



The problem is, as I'm sure that Tony has told you, we are getting different information from various departments.



Re the publicity we have been advised NOT to publicise the deliveries, whilst it is available to all without any difficulty there won't be any issues but problems may well arise in the autumn when people are told "you've had your tamiflu".



Of course there is the other unrelated issue, does Tamiflu actually help? Quite a few who have taken it especially children have suffered from side-effects.



This (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8176552.stm) is mildly interesting, apparently 110,000 cases of Flu were diagnosed but 150,000 people were issued Tamiflu.

[mark avo]

The biggest problem with publicising deliveries is that every one will want it delivered.



Some of the deliveries I've made have been unbelievable. One house even had staff but apparently no one could pick it up :evil:

To be fair, some have been looking genuinely ill, but not all by any stretch!



The documented list of side effects on the FAQ sheets that go with the deliveries would be enough to put me off.

[BobWessex]

The biggest problem with publicising deliveries is that every one will want it delivered.

Absolutely, it's amazing how many people can't find a "friend" these days.



People who really are alone will probably not even phone in, I'm thinking here of the elderly & vulnerble.

[Tony Ferrari]

We took a call on Thursday from someone who couldn't possibly get anyone to collect for her.



Then when she got to the end of the details, suddenly said "but I don't want it delivered to my address because I'm staying at a friends"



Needless to say she was very quickly taken off the list.

[John Potts]

We took a call on Thursday from someone who couldn't possibly get anyone to collect for her.



Then when she got to the end of the details, suddenly said "but I don't want it delivered to my address because I'm staying at a friends"



Needless to say she was very quickly taken off the list.



Truly incredible how feeble some people can be :shock:



What was her reaction to that then?

[Pete Hallett]

I cant say im surprised, you should see what some people call 999 for and then act surprised when they are told that they are NOT acutely unwell and we are not taking them to hospital ;) ;) ;)

[BobWessex]

One house even had staff but apparently no one could pick it up :evil:

We took a call on Thursday from someone who couldn't possibly get anyone to collect for her.

Then when she got to the end of the details, suddenly said "but I don't want it delivered to my address because I'm staying at a friends"



To be honest that is my fear -- that we (the whole voluntary sector) will be ABused in cases where we shouldn't be, and that those in genuine need will be missed.



I bumped into my opposite number from the local Freewheelers group (bloodbikes) the other night. They've done a couple of drops, but how necessary these were is debatable.

[Tony Ferrari]

Should have been our last day today (not entirely sure as I'm 200 miles away at the Emergency Planning College).



PCT has agreed a deal with our usual courier company to provide a man and a van every day at a very reasonable flat rate (not much more than it is going to cost in mileage rate for an average day of us doing it).



Prices for the weekend look a bit on the high side as it's a cost per run. So there may be a request for us to assist at weekends in the future but we will wait and see.



A big thank you to all the Hertfordshire Drivers who have helped out, it has been much appreciated at the PCT.

[mark avo]

Spoke to Judith yesterday when collecting my drug run & she confirmed it would be the very last run.



Mind you, I spoke to Tony just 2 weeks ago & asked him what the chances were of us being needed, he said they were very slim. Some 100 odd deliveries later, remind me not to take his betting odds too seriously :lol:



As for the courier being expensive at the weekends.... I feel we are not there to cut costs. If we are to be used just because we are cheaper then I dont think that's right - UNLESS there is a hidden benefit to the group somewhere?



On a posetive note, the supposed last deilvery was to a proper sick person with no means of transport & obviously alone who was very polite & most greatful.

[Tony Ferrari]

Good news is that we are not required at weekends and as Mark says there was the danger of us being used just because we would be cheaper. Thankfully that doesn't seem to have been a factor in the final decision.



So we are back on standby just in case and I'm finally back on patch :D

[Tony Ferrari]

Received a very nice letter from the Chief Executive of the PCTs today:

[Teresa Herefordshire]

Well done Hertfordshire! Glad they appreciate you! :D

[robin-baldwin]

Well done lads. It's always nice to know that you're appreciated.