North West Air Ambulance

Last updated

North West Air Ambulance
Founded19 May 1999 [1]
Type Charitable organisation
Registration no.1075641 [2]
Location
Area served
Chief Executive Officer
Heather Arrowsmith [3]
Aircraft operated
Eurocopter EC135 [4]
Slogan
Flying to save lives
Revenue (2023)
£14.2 million [5]
Staff (2023)
95 [5]
Volunteers (2023)
685 [5]
Website www.nwairambulance.org.uk OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
England location map.svg
The charity's two operational bases in the North West

North West Air Ambulance is the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) that covers the North West England region, consisting of the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. [6]

Contents

History

The charity has existed since 1999. [6] [1] It was established with a single aircraft based at Blackpool Airport and has since upgraded to three Eurocopter EC135 aircraft: one based at Blackpool Airport and the other two at Manchester Barton Aerodrome.

The charity is not funded by the government (apart from grants) or by the NHS, instead it raises funds via its 11 charity shops, [6] fundraising events, gifts in wills, the lottery, personal challenges undertaken by individuals [7] [8] In the year ending March 2022, the charity raised £11.2 million, including £66,000 from government grants. [2] It spent £11.6M, of which £6.9M was used to provide the air ambulance service. [2] In the year ending March 2023, its revenue was £14.2 million with no government grants. It spent £12.7M, of which £7.7M was used to provide the air ambulance service. [5]

The charity covers an area of over 5,500 square miles (14,000 km2) and over 8 million people. [9] Between 1999 and 2022, the charity responded to 24,500 call-outs. [9] In 2022, an average call-out cost £3500, with more specialised interventions costing more. [9]

Fleet

Helicopters

The service uses three Eurocopter EC135 aircraft [6] operated by Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore, [10] which have top speeds of over 150 mph (240 km/h), and fly during daylight hours 365 days a year. The helicopters do not attend HEMS missions at night. Due to the critical medical nature of HEMS missions, the NWAA fleet has special permissions from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly in worse weather conditions than other aircraft. In the winter months, a helicopter can fly to the scene of an incident towards the end of the day in daylight, but depart the scene or hospital after darkness has fallen to return to base. [4] The NWAA helicopter fleet include:

Although the aircraft have their allocated counties, they will often cross into each other's areas should operational needs require it. The average response time is 10 minutes from take-off to landing at the scene of an accident. Most areas in North West can be reached within 25 minutes. [4]

Cars

As the helicopters can only fly in daylight, in February 2018, a £65,000 BMW X5 (X5 Xdrive25d Se Auto) road vehicle was added to the fleet. [13] This has been given the name "Air Ambulance Response Unit" (or 'RU' for short). As a rapid response vehicle, it enables doctors and paramedics to carry out some of their work during the hours of darkness (6pm–2am), [14] poor weather or when an aircraft requires maintenance. [15]

In 2019–20, researchers from Lancaster University Management School constructed and validated a predictive simulation model to consider the prospective performance of a single air ambulance vs. a single rapid response vehicle during the hours of darkness. Subsequent trials validated the study findings. [16] In April 2022, another BMW (X5 Xdrive30d Xline Auto) SUV was donated by Beaverbrooks to become a Critical Care Vehicle, [17] and in November 2022, a BMW 530D Xdrive Se Mhev Auto (Electric Diesel) has been added and became the "night car", while the 2018 X5, being less stable at high speed (95mph), has since been used for fundraising events.

Operations

Medical interventions

One of the air ambulances attending an incident in snowy weather conditions. North West Air Ambulance - Cumbria Longsleddale.jpg
One of the air ambulances attending an incident in snowy weather conditions.
G-NWAA and G-NWEM helicopters at Manchester Barton Aerodrome (23 June 2024). G-NWAA and G-NWEM at Barton Aerodrome 2024-06-23.jpg
G-NWAA and G-NWEM helicopters at Manchester Barton Aerodrome (23 June 2024).

The medical interventions provided at the scene are of a hospital standard, and were historically only done in critical care settings, [18] including blood transfusion, [9] emergency anaesthetics, Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI; 136 performed in the financial year 2021-22, and 125 in the year before) [19] [20] and chest surgery to make the critically injured patient stable enough to be transported to hospital. [21] They have provided interventions such as thoracostomy (chest incission to remove excess fluid or air) and ultrasound to check for internal bleeding. [22]

Crew

The 48-strong team [23] of critical care paramedics who provide the patient care for incidents attended by NWAA are provided on two year secondments by the North West Ambulance Service. The medics are extensively trained in areas such as helicopter safety, navigation and aviation law as well as advanced medical procedures beyond those performed by their land based colleagues. In addition to the paramedics, on one helicopter from Manchester Barton base (Helimed 72) there is a pre-hospital emergency medicine trained doctor. [6] [12]

The pilots, along with the helicopters themselves are provided by emergency helicopter specialist Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore. [24]

Blood

All three aircraft carry blood on board for life-saving blood transfers at the scene of an accident. [25] The blood is delivered to the helicopter bases at Barton and Blackpool on motorbikes by another charity, Greater Manchester Blood Bikes. [26] NWAA is one of ten charities taking part in a two-year trial (starting 15 December 2022) of carrying whole blood (group O Rh negative − compatible with anyone) instead of red blood cells which were carried by UK Air Ambulances since 2012. [27] The advantage lies in the blood containing platelets which help blood to clot. [28]

Helicopter dispatch

Control of the aircraft was initially the responsibility of the emergency medical dispatchers working in local North West Ambulance Service control rooms. However, in February 2008, a central Air Desk at Ambulance Control in Broughton, Preston was introduced which prioritised requests for the air ambulance in an attempt to increase efficiency. [29]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great North Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is a registered charity and air ambulance based in the United Kingdom. It operates a dedicated helicopter emergency service for the North of England with three aircraft. It serves North Yorkshire, the North-East, Cumbria, the Scottish borders and the Isle of Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Airport & Manchester Heliport</span> Airport near Manchester, England

Barton Aerodrome is an airport in Barton-upon-Irwell, Greater Manchester, England, 5 nautical miles west of Manchester. Formerly known as City Airport and City Airport Manchester, It is known by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as Manchester/Barton and rebranded as Manchester Barton Aerodrome on 3rd April 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London's Air Ambulance Charity</span> English charity air ambulance

London's Air Ambulance Charity is a registered charity that operates a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) dedicated to responding to serious trauma emergencies in and around London. Using a helicopter from 08:00 to sunset and rapid response vehicles by night, the service performs advanced medical interventions at the scene of the incident in life-threatening, time-critical situations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Columbia Ambulance Service</span> Ambulance service in British Columbia, Canada

The British Columbia Ambulance Service (BCAS) is an ambulance service that provides emergency medical response for the province of British Columbia, Canada. BCAS is one of the largest providers of emergency medical services in North America. The fleet consists of more than 500 ground ambulances operating from 183 stations across the province along with 80 support vehicles. Additionally, BCAS provides inter-facility patient transfer services in circumstances where a patient needs to be moved between health care facilities for treatment. BCAS also operates a medical evacuation program that utilizes both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Ambulance Service</span> Scotlands public ambulance services

The Scottish Ambulance Service is part of NHS Scotland, which serves all of Scotland's population. The Scottish Ambulance Service is governed by a special health board and is funded directly by the Health and Social Care Directorates of the Scottish Government.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is a dedicated helicopter emergency air ambulance for the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It was established in October 2000, and currently operates two Airbus H145 aircraft. It is an independent charity that relies solely on the donations of individuals and organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devon Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) is a charity providing emergency medical services through the provision of two helicopter-based air ambulances and two critical care cars, which cover the county of Devon in South West England. The helicopters and cars are owned and operated by the charity, which raises money from public donations and its charity shops around £11.9 million every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornwall Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

The Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust is a charity that provides a dedicated helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The service also has two critical care cars that operate when the helicopter is unable to fly. Together they attend about 1,100 incidents per year. As of December 2018, the helicopter service had flown over 28,000 missions since 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a registered charity, which uses a helicopter to provide an air ambulance service to the English counties of Dorset and Somerset. The air ambulance came into service in March 2000, following the success of similar schemes, such as Devon Air Ambulance and Cornwall Air Ambulance. The air ambulance headquarters are at Wellington in Somerset, but the helicopter is based at Henstridge Airfield in Somerset.

Air ambulance services in the United Kingdom provide emergency medical functions, patient transport between specialist centres, or medical repatriation. Services are provided by a mixture of organisations, operating either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. All emergency air ambulance helicopters in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are operated by charities, while Scotland has one charity service in addition to its two NHS-funded helicopters. Fixed-wing air ambulances, used for patient transport, may be government or privately operated. Air ambulance helicopters are complemented by Coastguard SAR helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midlands Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC), formerly County Air Ambulance, is a charity operating a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. It operates three aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Anglian Air Ambulance</span> English air ambulance charity

The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is an air ambulance providing Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) across the English counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. The appeal to fund the service was launched in the summer of 2000 by top jockey Frankie Dettori, who had been a casualty in a serious plane crash a couple of months earlier. When flying commenced in January 2001, the service was initially available only one day a week. The East Anglian Air Ambulance operates two helicopters, 365 days a year, from its bases at Cambridge Airport and Norwich Airport, covering over 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2) and a population of approximately 3.5 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiltshire Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

Wiltshire Air Ambulance is a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) serving Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas of England. The service was launched in 1990, and since 2015 has been run by Wiltshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust, a registered charity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance</span> English charity air ambulance

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is an air ambulance based across the A15 from RAF Waddington on HEMs Way. The Air Ambulance covers the administrative counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire and the unitary authorities of Nottingham, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire, England. The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance Charitable Trust is a registered charity that receives no government or NHS funding for its daily missions.

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) is a charity air ambulance service providing a free, life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air medical services</span> Use of air vehicles to transport patients

Air medical services are the use of aircraft, including both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to provide various kinds of medical care, especially prehospital, emergency and critical care to patients during aeromedical evacuation and rescue operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wales Air Ambulance</span> Welsh charity air ambulance

The Wales Air Ambulance Charitable Trust, known as Wales Air Ambulance Charity (WAAC) or, is a charity air ambulance service providing a free, life-saving helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured in Wales. It is an independent charity that relies on charitable donations to supply and maintain a fleet of emergency aircraft and rapid response vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance</span> Scottish charity air ambulance

Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) is a registered charity which assists the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) with emergency medical services through the provision of helicopter-based air ambulances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Western Air Ambulance Charity</span> English charity air ambulance

The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is a charity air ambulance service in South West England. It operates for the relief of sickness and injury, with a specialist paramedic in critical care and a critical care doctor, providing response by helicopter or car between the hours of 7:00 am and 1:00 am, 365 days a year. The service covers Bristol, North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, and surrounding areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Ambulance Northern Ireland</span> Irish charity air ambulance

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (AANI) also known as Air Ambulance NI is a registered charity that operates a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) dedicated to responding to serious trauma and medical emergencies in Northern Ireland.

References

  1. 1 2 "About us". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Charity Overview: North West Air Ambulance". Charity Commission for England and Wales . Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  3. "Our Team". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Our Fleet". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "North West Air Ambulance". Charity Commission. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Robinson, Claire (September 2019). Air Ambulance Operations Manual. Yeovil: Haynes Publishing. p. 43. ISBN   9781785212062.
  7. "Ex-Hollyoaks actor's Peru trek challenge for air ambulance". BBC. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  8. "Ways to give". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 McDonough, Tony. "Critical service that has to raise £9.5m every year". Liverpool Business News. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  10. "Babcock agrees contract with North West Air Ambulance Charity". North West Air Ambulance. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "Search the G-INFO aircraft register". Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  12. 1 2 "About Us". North West Air Ambulance. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  13. "Air Ambulance charity now has wheels". 1 February 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  14. "NWAA Night Car". North West Air Ambulance. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  15. "Say hello to Ru!". nwaa.net. North West Air Ambulance. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  16. "Lancaster University Management School uses predictive simulation to investigate healthcare provisions for air ambulance operations". Lanner. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  17. "Beaverbrooks donate Critical Care Vehicle". North West Air Ambulance. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  18. Newton, Susan (8 August 2023). "Teen placed in coma after being thrown from horse and trampled on after first day of new school". Lancs Live. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  19. "What we do". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  20. "NWAA Annual Report 2023" (PDF). North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  21. Carter, Gemma (29 August 2023). "North West Air Ambulance Charity launches campaign to extend lifesaving service". Saddleworth Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  22. Blakey, Ashlie; Powell, Molly (16 February 2024). ""I was not very far from death - but I was saved at the roadside"". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  23. "Our crew". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  24. "Air Ambulance UK - Helicopter Operational Characteristics 2019" (PDF). Association of Air Ambulances. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  25. "Preston dad suffers 60% blood loss in chainsaw accident". BBC. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  26. "Who we work with". North West Air Ambulance. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  27. "Air ambulance first in UK to carry blood". BBC. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  28. "Air Ambulances begin trial transfusing 'whole blood' to potentially improve civilian and military trauma care". NHS Blood and Transplant. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  29. "How is the air ambulance tasked to missions". North West Air Ambulance. 17 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2023.