Historic first for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance

1^st April 2019

Air Ambulance available around the clock for first time

Over the weekend of March 29^th and 30^th Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) was operational throughout the night on a Friday and Saturday for the first time in its twenty-one year history.

Using EHAAT’s helicopters during daylight and Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) during the hours of darkness, the Charity’s Critical Care Teams were available continuously from 7am on Friday through until 9pm on Sunday.

Until now the service has been operational seven days a week from 7am to 9pm, with an RRV being used on Friday and Saturday evening until 2am. These vehicles carry the same life-saving equipment as the helicopters.

Over Friday, Saturday and Sunday EHAAT’s Pre-hospital Care Doctors and Critical Care Paramedics were tasked to attend 27 incidents across Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

These included serious Road Traffic Collisions, medical emergencies and traumatic falls. The teams provided pre-hospital emergency anaesthetic to a patient who was then transferred to a Major Trauma Centre.

Stuart Elms, Clinical Director at EHAAT, said: “This important development has come after many months of preparation, including the recruitment of sufficient Pre-hospital Care Doctors and Critical Care Paramedics to cover the extra hours.

“It is a key step as we work towards providing a full 24/7 operation, which will start later this year. Extending our hours will mean that we can attend critically ill and injured patients across the region regardless of the time of day or night.”

-ENDS-

Photograph: EHAAT helicopter and RRV

Recording: The attached recording is of Stuart Elms, Clinical Director of EHAAT talking about the first 24 hour shifts.

For more information please contact Gavin Sherriff, PR Officer, on 0345 2417 690.

Notes to Editor:

• Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.
• The service is provided free of charge but, unlike NHS emergency services, the Charity receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery. It costs in excess of £750,000 every month to keep the service operational and cover all charitable costs, and this would not be possible without the generosity and goodwill of people and businesses of Essex, Hertfordshire and beyond.
• Each of the Charity’s HEMS teams consist of a Pilot, a Co-pilot, a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and a Critical Care Paramedic.
• These teams, made up of highly-skilled individuals, tended to 1,491 patients in 2018 and are the backbone of your local life-saving Charity.
• The fleet, consisting of two Air Ambulances, and four Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs - cars) operates seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. After sunset, the Critical Care Team continues to provide the service using Rapid Response Vehicles.
• In addition, a Rapid Response Vehicle is operational on a Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until 2am with a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic.