North West Air Ambulance: West Cumbria

[Pitchin]

See below extract from NWAA facebook

Lynda Brislin North West Air Ambulance confirms that its emergency medical services were deployed alongside helicopters from the Great North Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the search and rescue services in support of the North West Ambulance Service and the major incident response in West Cumbria.

North West Air Ambulance Head of Clinical Operations Paul West said: “All of our paramedics were deployed to the scene and remained operational during this major incident. It is vital in situations such as these that we operate alongside our land ambulance colleagues and other emergency services to ensure the best possible patient outcome. Recognition must also go to the other air ambulances and the RAF for the part we all play in major incidents of this nature. “

A colleague of mine who was a pilot at the scene noted that this was obviously the best bit of helicopter cammo as they weren't at the scene. Their (NWAA) carefully worded script avoids this admission nor did they activate their second helicopter.

As for the bit about their paramedics lets be clear, the NWAA does not employ any paramedics on the contrary they are seconded from the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust and when not on air ambo duty would in fact be operating as normal road crew anyway. It seems to me quite sad that NWAA should stoop to indicate their involvement when clearly as an organisation they could not respond. := :=

[jayteeto]

Removed lots of ranting, sorry, however:
The paramedics are seconded, but so what????? They are permanently on the aircraft and certainly consider themselves to be NWAA paramedics. They would not 'otherwise be on road duties'. Get your facts right boyo!!
We are supposed to be colleagues not enemies. You really should hang your head in shame for such a low blow.:mad:

[BodyprojectLiverpool]

I'm the Chair of the company North West Air Ambulance so let me comment on this.

First and foremost we are a clinical service provider and we work as a partner of the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). Our paramedics are the best and deserve full support for the amazing work they do. The helicopter is an asset and compliments land vehicles but what I am primarily interested in is clinical provision. As pointed out all our available paramedics deployed to Cumbria as part of the major incident response and were deployed alongside land ambulance colleagues, the search and rescue community and two of our sister air ambulance organisations (Great North and Yorkshire). There were also community first responders, local medics, Mountain rescue teams, private sector medical personnel - all deployed.

We operate two aircraft but availability at any one time depends on a variety of factors and in this instance we had to deploy our crews with the RAF but that in no way impacted the response. The statement was not carefully crafted to avoid saying this. The availability of the assets is something we carefully plan and I believe we did all that was possible in contributing to the emergency response. NWAA then continued its work as my colleague points out undertaking at least four further missions the day after to transfer patients to specialist units.

They did a great job and deserve our thanks and praise. In terms of their employer - yes they are employed by NWAS but are seconded and are part of our team and hold the specialist HEMS skills. We believe it is best we work as one with NWAS in terms of clinical governance and that our guys are employed by an NHS trust - it gives them the best employment prospects and career progression. It works well.

In terms of our service - we cover a region contiguous with NWAS. GNAA also cover into the north Lakes area. This makes sense as Cumbria and its environs relates well to the complimentary capabilities our aircraft gives to land vehicles. Air Ambulances are charities and rely on the vast majority of funding from public donation and it makes no sense for charities to compete. In fact the Charity Commission would look very closely at such behaviour. I believe that the alliance of NWAA, GNAA and YAA alongside SARs in terms of the role of aircraft and this incident worked well.

Finally can I extend my thanks to all the personnel who worked on this incident and my thoughts to all of the people of West Cumbria at this time.

[EjectEject]

Pitchin - Boy oh boy, as your first post - lets slag off the good people who did their best on a grim day for the UK.

I am not connected with HEMS at all, so my views are not tainted in any way. So, personally, if I need them at any time, I don't care if they arrive on a Penny Farthing, as long as they get there or contribute where ever they can at whatever location.

You clearly don't appear to have any understanding of the staffing origins of HEMS crews. Again, I don't care if they are volunteers, paid or on secondment from the military, which some are, they will do their best no matter what their background.

Your motive - well, leaves me wondering. I guess you must have an axe to grind somewhere. There are times to say things and there are times to realise that everyone on such grim days, would have done their best, no matter how small a part they played.

Jayteeto - no need to edit your post - you were on the money.

I hope no one else gives you the time of day after this post.

Just think - if you ever need their services and they arrive either by land, sea or air, they wont stop and will try to save you until they can do no more.

You should be ashamed.

[Lala Steady]

It seems that clarification is required - you have to read between the lines to discover that neither of the 2 NWAA aircraft were available - is that correct Bodyproject?

Those making donations to your charity might ask why.

I am sure all the paramedics did a sterling job in difficult conditions but 0 out of 2 aircraft isn't good.

[BodyprojectLiverpool]

My name is Nick Taylor by the way and perhaps other posters on here might want to declare themselves rather than their pseudonyms.

North West Air Ambulance is in contract with Bond Aviation and operates one aircraft (EC135 - G-NWAA) from Blackpool. This aircraft is contracted for a seven day a week service. We introduced a second aircraft EC135 G-SPHU based at the City of Manchester Airport to give greater capacity and capability to all five counties within the NWAS catchment. (please note G-SPHU is now stood down from NWAA for the next three weeks and a replacement aircraft is operating as we await delivery of a new EC135). The second aircraft is contracted for a five day a week service based purely on our capacity to raise the funding required.

The second aircraft was not in use last Wednesday. Our on duty aircraft was on a mission when the call came flying into the Royal Preston Hospital. On arrival at RPH there was a fault and we took immediate action to divert a pilot to Manchester to bring the second aircraft into service - however the RAF were able to very quickly pick up our medical crew and thus we used an RAF aircraft to attend. In the meantime our colleagues from the Great North Air Ambulance and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance also attended the scene. The day after we sited G-NWAA in Cumbria and carried four patients related to the major incidents to specialist hospitals for urgent treatment. Our second aircraft carried out a further four missions that day.

I, as the Chair and a director of the company, am satisfied that the team did all they could to provide clinical care as per our charitable objectives. Those contributing to this forum should know full well how aircraft operate and that there are times when flying cannot happen. The CEO and her team are conducting a full review with our contracted aviation operator and will deal with the outcomes as appropriate.

NWAA is a fantastic charity that provides 'care from the air' and operates professionally and in line with its charity objects. We don't hide anything as can be seen by my open communication here and I am happy to account to our donors and beneficiaries. We will never compromise safety and neither will our aircraft operators.

Finally, there is some questions about the motivations of some of the people posting. Perhaps they will post their real names and their interests but I will make clear medical charities should work together in support of the public we serve. My view is that in the events of major incidents that all resources are needed. HEMS Air Ambulances played their part last week complimentary to our land ambulance colleagues and the other emergency assets deployed. They deserve thanks for what they did. If you want to support or follow our work then North West Air Ambulance › Home (http://www.nwaa.net) or we post most of our missions on twitter @NWAirAmbulance

[Senior Pilot]

Nick,

Thank you for your full and frank explanation of the events last week. There is a footnote always showing on these pages:

As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent. In fact the press may use it, or the unscrupulous, or sciolists*, to elicit certain reactions.

perhaps other posters on here might want to declare themselves rather than their pseudonyms

The anonymity of all PPRuNers is guaranteed. Some choose to use their names, but those who don't will not be outed: that is one of the conditions that we all agreed to when signing up to PPRuNe.

Although registered for quite some time, Pitchin has chosen in his first post to troll and then sign out a minute later, not to return. I think that shows his intent more than any comment from me :=

[DrinkGirls]

Lala Steady. The NWAA second aircraft does not fly tuesdays and wednesdays at the moment, but as money becomes available, I believe they plan to go 7 days. The other one wouldn't start on a hospital HLS. Those making donations may ask, and the answer is that aircraft, like any machinery, can break down. I believe that the pilot was blue-lighted to manchester to pick up the other aircraft and got NWAA back on line very quickly. Bodyproject says that in the meantime, the paramedics deployed with the RAF. That sounds to me like really good crisis management during a stressful time for emergency services. What Jayteeto says is correct, you should be patting each other on the back, not stabbing in the back. I think that NWAA are contracted with Bond Air Services who will either fix the aircraft or get a replacement in place within a day. A day is pretty good, considering some northern based charity aircraft were off line for months. I have searched and read NWAAs press releases, they tend to mention when nearby units were involved in jobs. Can't you all swallow your pride and acknowledge each other?

[capt tosspot]

Well said Nick. As we know if you only have one or two aircraft in your outfit - whether police or air ambo unit, there are those times when you are down due to scheduled servicing, sods law or bits breaking. Again, its one of those things that the big jobs pop up at exactly that moment.

I have experience of having no ac available out of three, its the nature of the business we are in.

The big plus point for me is the fact that NWAA did manage it really well and got their crews shipped in despite their problems. So from me (a Cumbrian) to the crews and management 'well done guys' :D