HOT OFF THE PRESS: Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance commits to full night flying capability Night-time flying takes air ambulance into new era! Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVACAA) has today announced its commitment to full night-time flying. Together with partner Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA), the charity will extend its relationship with Bond Air Services Ltd, upgrading to a new helicopter with full night flying capability. The announcement is a major step for TVACAA as it continues to lead the way in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and deliver gold standard patient care. It was the first air ambulance in the UK to carry an I-Stat (portable blood analyser) machine on board and the second to carry blood. Earlier this year it reached its 15,000th mission. TVACAA operates at 90% doctor-led crews and is working towards reaching 100%. As TVACAA’s service continues to evolve, it is demonstrating a real impact on patient outcomes. Figures from John Radcliffe, TVACAA’s designated Major Trauma Centre, show that a growing number of trauma patients have been transported by the air ambulance (35 in the last three months compared to 21 the previous quarter). The helicopter currently responds mostly to patients injured by road traffic incidents or for significant falls. TVACAA and HIOWAA combined cover the whole of the SCAS region, as well as The Isle of Wight, have a unique partnership, working together as part of their commitment to saving lives. Significantly, this announcement is made at the start of National Air Ambulance Week, a week in which local air ambulance charities get together to promote their work undertaken on a local and national level throughout the year. The TVACAA is 100% donation funded and night flying has been introduced as a result of the generosity and commitment of the communities it serves. Mark McGeown, Chief Executive, TVACAA adds, “Night flying takes HEMS to the next level and TVACAA truly into a new era in our nearly 15-year long history. This is a major achievement for our service- it is through the hard work of our dedicated team that we have been able to achieve this. We’re thrilled to be further enhancing the interoperability and cooperation between TVACAA and HIOWAA – all for the good of the people who live in the counties we serve.”
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 18:59:15 +0000
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