Great North Air Ambulance

Last updated

Great North Air Ambulance
Founded1991 [1]
FounderGrahame Pickering [2]
Type
Air Ambulance, Charitable organisation
Registration no.Reg charity no: 1092204
Location
Area served
North Yorkshire, the North-East, Cumbria and Scottish borders.
Chief Executive Officer
David Stockton [4]
Chair of the board
Brian Jobling [5]
Aircraft operated
 Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin N2 & N3
Revenue (2022)
£8.4 million [6]
Staff (2022)
101 [6]
Volunteers (2022)
49 [6]
Website www.greatnorthairambulance.co.uk

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. [7]

Contents

Current operations

Urlay Nook site Former Works, Urlay Nook - geograph.org.uk - 6088460.jpg
Urlay Nook site

GNAAS operates three Dauphin helicopters from its two bases at Langwathby, near Penrith in Cumbria, and Urlay Nook, near Eaglescliffe in County Durham. [3] Between July and December 2021, the service had an average of 85 helicopter call-outs per month. [8]

A helicopter landing in response to a call-out in Patterdale. Air ambulance at Patterdale - geograph.org.uk - 1736959.jpg
A helicopter landing in response to a call-out in Patterdale.

In hours of darkness, when the helicopters do not fly, North East Ambulance Service funds a Medical Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT), [9] which is staffed by a doctor and paramedic team from GNAAS. [10] The MERIT service extended in November 2018 to cover Thursday to Sunday nights, which were previously covered on an on-call basis. [11] The service uses Volvo XC90 vehicles. [12]

In 2014–2015, GNAAS had operating costs of £4.6 million and an income of £6.2 million. [13] In 2021–2022, the operating costs were £6.6 million against an income of £8.4 million, which included a total of £380,000 from government contracts and grants. [6]

In 2020, GNAAS began trials in using jet suits to get from landed helicopters on call-outs to casualties in locations difficult to access. [14] The simulation exercise showed a casualty, whose position it would take 25 minutes to reach on foot, could be reached in a jet suit in 90 seconds.

Current helicopters [15]
RegistrationModelYear builtYear entered serviceNicknameBase location
G-NHAE [16] AS-365N-3 Dauphin 220072021Pride of Cumbria II Langwathby
G-NHAD [17] AS-365N-3+ Dauphin20152020Guardian of the North II Urlay Nook
G-NHAC [18] AS-365N-2 Dauphin 219962010None Urlay Nook

History

G-GNAA on a call-out in 2008. Great North Air Ambulance G-GNAA.jpg
G-GNAA on a call-out in 2008.

The air ambulance service began in 1994 with the leased Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter G-NAAS. [19] MBB Bo 105 helicopters were operated from 2003, and an MD 902 from 2006. 2006 also saw the introduction of the first Dauphin helicopter, G-HEMS. In 2010, the charity consolidated around a fleet of three Dauphin N2 helicopters, which were the first aircraft it owned. This ended the practice of leasing aircraft, which created financial issues. Two of these three Dauphin N2 helicopters were later replaced by newer Dauphin N3 helicopters G-NHAD and G-NHAE between 2019 and 2020. This was done to mitigate the risk involved with flying older aircraft. [12]

Former helicopters (incomplete)
RegistrationModelYear builtYear entered serviceYear left serviceNicknameBase location
G-NAASAS-355F-1 Twin Squirrel198219942003Blyth Northumberland
G-PASHAS-355F-1 Ecureuil 219812002 Teesside International Airport
G-WYPABo.105DBS-4198920032006
G-WAANBo-105DB19712004
G-GNAAMD-902 Explorer20002006Guardian of the North Teesside International Airport
G-HEMSSA-365N Dauphin19822006The Pride of Cumbria Langwathby
G-NHAAAS-365N-2 Dauphin1991Guardian of the North Teesside International Airport
G-NHABAS-365N-2 Dauphin19912021The Pride of Cumbria Langwathby

In the media

From 8 March 2018, the charity appeared on Channel 4's TV programme Emergency Helicopter Medics, which followed the crews responding and treating emergency patients. [20] Other air ambulances that featured in the show include Thames Valley Air Ambulance and East Anglian Air Ambulance.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CHC Helicopter</span> Helicopter services company

CHC Helicopter is a Texas-based helicopter services company.

<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">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.

<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">Takoradi Airport</span> Military airport in Ghana

Takoradi Airport is an airport in Sekondi-Takoradi, a city and capital of Western Region southern Ghana. It is the fourth busiest airport in Ghana, with 123,930 passengers in 2022.

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">Kent Air Ambulance</span>

The Kent Air Ambulance was an organisation providing emergency medical services through the provision of a helicopter air ambulance covering the county of Kent in South East England. The helicopter was funded by the Kent Air Ambulance Trust, which was a registered charity, raising money from public and private donations in excess of £4m every year between Kent, Sussex and Surrey. In June 2007, the service extended it areas of operation to Surrey and Sussex requiring an additional helicopter. It now operates as Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex.

Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore, formerly Bond Air Services , is an operator of air ambulance, police, and offshore windfarm helicopters in the UK. Babcock operates a mixed fleet of light twin-engine helicopters custom designed to perform specific and specialised tasks. It operates from 17 bases around the UK. It has base maintenance facilities in Staverton and Glasgow.

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

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.

<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.

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

Magpas Air Ambulance is a registered charity that operates a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) dedicated to the seriously ill and injured in the East of England.

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">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.

The Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA), previously the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance, is an organisation providing emergency medical services through the provision of a helicopter-based air ambulance covering the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in the South East England region.

The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) is a registered charity in the UK that runs two emergency air ambulances, the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), and also operates the national Children's Air Ambulance, an emergency transfer service for seriously ill babies and children.

<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">No. 658 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

658 Squadron AAC is an Army Air Corps unit of the British Army that provides dedicated aviation support to the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment for domestic counter terrorism (CT) operations. The squadron is co-located with 22 SAS at Stirling Lines. The press has given the squadron, their helicopters, and the CT response force they enable, the nickname "Blue Thunder". The squadron is part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing.

<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.

References

  1. ↑ "History". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  2. ↑ Conner-Hill, Rachel (25 March 2021). "Great North Air Ambulance founder to leave charity due to ill health". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 "The bases". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  4. ↑ Hartley, Araminta (9 April 2021). "Our new CEO". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  5. ↑ Hartley, Araminta (21 May 2014). "Chairmanship role for tech entrepreneur". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Charity Overview: Great North Air Ambulance Service". Charity Commission for England and Wales . Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Manx Care extends its contract with the Great North Air Ambulance Service". gov.im. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Great North News (PDF) (Winter/Spring 2022 ed.). p. 14. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  9. ↑ "Medical Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT) Communication Briefing" (PDF). NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG). 1 February 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "New all-night response unit proving its MERIT - North East Ambulance Service - NHS Foundation Trust". www.neas.nhs.uk (Press release). 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "Patients benefit from all-night service" (Press release). Great North Air Ambulance. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  12. 1 2 "The Great North Air Ambulance Service Trustees' report and financial statements" (PDF). Charity Commission for England and Wales. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Where your money goes". Great North Air Ambulance. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  14. ↑ Hartley, Araminta (29 September 2020). "The jet suit paramedic". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "The helicopters". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Aircraft Data G-NHAE, 2007 Eurocopter AS-365N-3 Dauphin 2 C/N 6779". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Aircraft Data G-NHAD, 2015 Airbus Helicopters AS-365N-3+ Dauphin C/N 6979". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  18. ↑ "Aircraft Data G-NHAC, 1996 Eurocopter AS-365N-2 Dauphin 2 C/N 6497". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Helicopter history". Great North Air Ambulance Service. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "East Anglian Air Ambulance to star in new TV documentary" (Press release). East Anglian Air Ambulance. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.