Mil-Tech

Military medics take to the skies with air ambulance services

Did you know… a small group of military doctors and nurses flies regularly with Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) across the UK, volunteering their expertise in vital areas?

In 1987 the first air ambulance commenced operation in Cornwall. The following year London HEMS began operation and was soon followed by Kent in 1989.

Over the following 20 years the air ambulance community expanded to its current position where there are more than 20 helicopter air ambulances nationwide being run by 16 charities.

In the North East, Lt Col Jeremy Henning RAMC has worked with the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) since 2004 and featured in a BBC North documentary on the service.

Based in Middleborough’s James Cook Hospital and attached to MDHU Northallerton, Jeremy said: “For too long trauma care has been a Cinderella speciality. Experience tells us that it can take up to 40 minutes to get these patients into hospital.

“Therefore the well-known golden hour exists in the pre-hospital environment. This is where doctors must intervene if we are to save lives.”

The life-saving work of the Medical Emergency Response Teams in Afghanistan has been directly informed by the work of GNAAS and other HEMS services around the UK.
“Operational experience gained in the harsh conditions of Afghanistan has also directly benefited UK patients,” he said.

In the London area, Major Tom Konig RAMC and his Army colleague Lt Col Rhys Thomas RAMC, who is one of five consultants running the trauma unit of the Royal London Hospital, are both closely involved with the HEMS service.

“Bringing back hard-won skills learnt from the exemplary trauma service provided to our troops in Afghanistan is very important.” says Rhys, a Consultant Anaesthetist.

“We have been able to give this feedback on important critical care skills to trauma colleagues in the NHS and this helps to improve overall standards of care,” he said.

HEMS benefits from the expertise of specialists from all the armed forces who fly regularly as members of the crew. Hampshire and IOW Air Ambulance, operational since 2007, benefits from the services of Naval officers with coronary and surgery skills.

And In the South West, it’s a member of the RAF, a consultant anaesthetist who works in intensive care, bringing his expertise to the service.

If you would like to learn more about Helicopter Emergency Medical Services a good place to start is the UK HEMS website.

One Response to “Military medics take to the skies with air ambulance services”

1. air ambulance Says:
   May 26th, 2009 at 6:55 am

   Yeah, air ambulance are really useful for all, I want to make a list of best ones.

Leave a Reply