The UK Childrens Air Ambulance - Info??
nodrama - given "ropes away" is located in Cambridgeshire, it probably refers to the competition that East Anglian Air Ambulance gave themselves when they rejected the no-cost MAGPAS paramedics and decided to spend £££s on others via an organisation called EMS Consultants
see Charities clash over Magpas air ambulance medics - Health - Peterborough Today
and Sloane Helicopters provides an A109 EMS to Magpas
see Charities clash over Magpas air ambulance medics - Health - Peterborough Today
and Sloane Helicopters provides an A109 EMS to Magpas
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire
Age: 57
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Helihub/nodrama;
since you're on to me, and not trying to be too political, the workload for 4 helicopters (soon to be 5) in the East of England simply isn't there. On a good day (bad for some) there may well be only 4 to 6 taskings requiring a medical team. If this was a commercial operation I think I would look at slimming the numbers down. In addition, there are some lovely Sea Kings sitting at RAF Wattisham and around the U.K. that are more than capable of providing a transport platform to any specialist peaditric transfer team to pretty much any place in the U.K. so why would we need another airframe to do this?
Personally I would advocate closer involvement of SAR helicopters with civilian HEMS operations so that instead of air ambulance operations ending when the sun goes down or the weather is below limits, we can provide a 24/7 all weather service. As the SAR service is about to go all civilian (last minute hitch with SAR-H permitting) it makes sense to me to integrate services rather than keep popping out new air ambulances for every specialist group of patients--what next, equestrian air ambulance????
since you're on to me, and not trying to be too political, the workload for 4 helicopters (soon to be 5) in the East of England simply isn't there. On a good day (bad for some) there may well be only 4 to 6 taskings requiring a medical team. If this was a commercial operation I think I would look at slimming the numbers down. In addition, there are some lovely Sea Kings sitting at RAF Wattisham and around the U.K. that are more than capable of providing a transport platform to any specialist peaditric transfer team to pretty much any place in the U.K. so why would we need another airframe to do this?
Personally I would advocate closer involvement of SAR helicopters with civilian HEMS operations so that instead of air ambulance operations ending when the sun goes down or the weather is below limits, we can provide a 24/7 all weather service. As the SAR service is about to go all civilian (last minute hitch with SAR-H permitting) it makes sense to me to integrate services rather than keep popping out new air ambulances for every specialist group of patients--what next, equestrian air ambulance????
Ropes away, where did you get 5 from? As I understand it, the 'Magpas' helicopter was a short-lived PR stunt (one week!) and that Magpas are rapidly running out of cash.
Helihub, don't believe the 'free' Magpas vs '££££' EMS claptrap.
Mods, can we move these last 4 posts into the 'Air Ambulance' thread rather than in here? I'm keen to make sure BeachHutBoy answers the questions posed.
Helihub, don't believe the 'free' Magpas vs '££££' EMS claptrap.
Mods, can we move these last 4 posts into the 'Air Ambulance' thread rather than in here? I'm keen to make sure BeachHutBoy answers the questions posed.
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire
Age: 57
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
206 watch this space, 5 will be the number.
As far as losing the thread, I think not, might have wandered off piste slightly but I believe my comments relate to the children's air ambulance issue posed.
As far as losing the thread, I think not, might have wandered off piste slightly but I believe my comments relate to the children's air ambulance issue posed.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: north pole
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'or the weather is below limits' 
I didn't know the SAR mk1 eyeball was any differant to a civvy one? What can a SAR aircraft offer apart from more space? It rarely shuts down incase it wont start again and still takes the best part of 15 minutes before it gets going......
I didn't know the SAR mk1 eyeball was any differant to a civvy one? What can a SAR aircraft offer apart from more space? It rarely shuts down incase it wont start again and still takes the best part of 15 minutes before it gets going......
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Retired to Bisley from the small African nation
Age: 67
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What does a SAR helo offer (apart from more space)
Assuming you mean a SAR Sea King (there are more modern ac in the UK SAR fleet)
NVG
Rule 5 inapplicable
Icing clearance (limited I grant you, but better than nothing, and see comment above about more modern ac).
Full two pilot IFR capability
zero/zero IFR clearance offshore (useful for landfalls to coastal airfields too)
24/7 availability
spare aircraft at each location
national centralised co-ordination
240 nm radius of action, range around 500 nm
Independent intercom system for medical team (Now I'm fishing, maybe Air Ambulances have that too)
spare seats for relatives far enough out of the way that they don't get hysterical at awkward moments
The entire resources of the MoD on call without consideration of cost (fishing quite hard)
Coffee boiler
Free chocolate
Crab, but no Sven (OK now I'm really fishing)
Or were you fishing, winchman?
Sven
still seeking employment
NVG
Rule 5 inapplicable
Icing clearance (limited I grant you, but better than nothing, and see comment above about more modern ac).
Full two pilot IFR capability
zero/zero IFR clearance offshore (useful for landfalls to coastal airfields too)
24/7 availability
spare aircraft at each location
national centralised co-ordination
240 nm radius of action, range around 500 nm
Independent intercom system for medical team (Now I'm fishing, maybe Air Ambulances have that too)
spare seats for relatives far enough out of the way that they don't get hysterical at awkward moments
The entire resources of the MoD on call without consideration of cost (fishing quite hard)
Coffee boiler
Free chocolate
Crab, but no Sven (OK now I'm really fishing)
Or were you fishing, winchman?
Sven
still seeking employment
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Retired to Bisley from the small African nation
Age: 67
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Getting back to topic
Even at MoDs hideous contracted-out rates for a Sea King, you could do a hell of a lot of inter-hospital transfers of children for the sort of money this charity is postulating to spend on a very limited asset. And most of the time (outside of dark and hideous weather) a conventional Air Ambulance, or even a straightforward charter helicopter, could do it for a lot less than that and would no doubt be delighted to have their mission costs met by another organisation, or just the extra business at standard rates in a recession. Why not just support the existing providers?
Sven
still seeking employment
Even at MoDs hideous contracted-out rates for a Sea King, you could do a hell of a lot of inter-hospital transfers of children for the sort of money this charity is postulating to spend on a very limited asset. And most of the time (outside of dark and hideous weather) a conventional Air Ambulance, or even a straightforward charter helicopter, could do it for a lot less than that and would no doubt be delighted to have their mission costs met by another organisation, or just the extra business at standard rates in a recession. Why not just support the existing providers?
Sven
still seeking employment
I didn't mean to take the urine but thought i'd throw in the duty forum hand grenade to see who would bite...... No Crab tonight???
Finally after brushing it under the carpet and claiming that there was nothing wrong with the operation the Charity Commission has issued a report on the Children's Air Ambulance that just about covers most of the many gripes that were received...
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/..._ambulance.pdf
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/..._ambulance.pdf
Last edited by PANews; 9th Feb 2011 at 10:58. Reason: Adding URL
They're back...
Further reading...
From the Droitwich Spa Advertiser:
From the Droitwich Spa Advertiser:
FAMILIES, schools and groups in Droitwich are being encouraged to hold a teddy bears picnic this summer to help launch England’s first ever air ambulance for children.
The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) hopes to put the first paediatric service in the air to help transfer seriously sick children, from newborn to 16-year-olds, to specialist children’s hospitals across the country.
Young people across the region are usually covered by Birmingham, which is one of the main centres for intensive care for children.
However, many children across the country need to travel to other hospitals further away and are currently transferred by road ambulance, which provides an excellent and vital service but can take unnecessary hours of travel.
The Teddy Bears Picnics Project has been launched to help raise both awareness and funds for the service in a bid to ensure it launches this year.
People who want to get involved can download the pack from the CAA website to register their event.
Nicola Howkins, TCAA chief executive, said: “This is a great opportunity to really engage with children and communities in a fun way and for a great cause.
“We want to launch our first helicopter later this year with the longer aim of having three aircraft in the air providing 24-hour emergency transfers 365 days a year.”
For more information or to arrange a picnic visit tcaa.org.uk or call 01803 313778.
The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) hopes to put the first paediatric service in the air to help transfer seriously sick children, from newborn to 16-year-olds, to specialist children’s hospitals across the country.
Young people across the region are usually covered by Birmingham, which is one of the main centres for intensive care for children.
However, many children across the country need to travel to other hospitals further away and are currently transferred by road ambulance, which provides an excellent and vital service but can take unnecessary hours of travel.
The Teddy Bears Picnics Project has been launched to help raise both awareness and funds for the service in a bid to ensure it launches this year.
People who want to get involved can download the pack from the CAA website to register their event.
Nicola Howkins, TCAA chief executive, said: “This is a great opportunity to really engage with children and communities in a fun way and for a great cause.
“We want to launch our first helicopter later this year with the longer aim of having three aircraft in the air providing 24-hour emergency transfers 365 days a year.”
For more information or to arrange a picnic visit tcaa.org.uk or call 01803 313778.
We want to launch our first helicopter later this year with the longer aim of having three aircraft in the air providing 24-hour emergency transfers 365 days a year
Formation air ambulance team? Extended fuel tanks perhaps?
I misread it first time round, thought it said:
I misread it first time round, thought it said:
We want to launch our first helicopter later this year with the longer aim of having three aircraft in the air providing 24-hour emergency picnics for children 365 days a year
They're back - with back-up
I'm surprised no-one else has highlighted this yet:
"Published on Friday 9 December 2011 10:47
An air ambulance service helping to save the lives of seriously ill children across the country is set to take flight next year thanks to a new partnership with the owner of the Derbyshire Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
The Children's Air Ambulance charity will provide a national bespoke service from 2012 after being taken over by The Air Ambulance Service.
The umbrella organisation's takeover will enable the charity to carry out a transfer service transporting ill children to hospitals quickly to receive life-saving treatments.
Nicola Howkins, from the Children's Air Ambulance, said: "We are delighted to be joining forces and taking this wonderful opportunity to achieve our long-held operational goals."
Alongside the charity, The Air Ambulance Service also runs the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and its sister service, Derbyshire Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance(DLRAA).
Both services are among the busiest in the country answering more than 220 life-saving missions each month.
Andy Williamson, WNAA CEO, said: "As the busiest air ambulance in the country, we know how important it is for patients to receive the highest standards of specialist medical care. There are hundreds of critically ill children every year who need the advanced care and time critical transfers to specialist children's hospital units.
"Getting a child to a specialist care centre by land can involve long and frequently medically challenging travel times putting a child at risk while causing untold stress to the family.
"In taking over The Children's Air Ambulance we will not only be able to make this air transfer service an operational reality but also increase survival by helping to reduce travel times and move specialist NHS clinical teams with the child quickly."
The Children's Air Ambulance, which was registered as a charity in 2005, will operate from Coventry Airport, the WNAA base. For more information on the Children's Air Ambulance, visit www.childrensairambulance.co.uk."
...made for an interesting excuse to go back through this thread. Still, with the busiest Air Ambo organisation in the country on board, what could possibly go rwong? P'raps they've finally found something a 169 can be useful for..
"Published on Friday 9 December 2011 10:47
An air ambulance service helping to save the lives of seriously ill children across the country is set to take flight next year thanks to a new partnership with the owner of the Derbyshire Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA).
The Children's Air Ambulance charity will provide a national bespoke service from 2012 after being taken over by The Air Ambulance Service.
The umbrella organisation's takeover will enable the charity to carry out a transfer service transporting ill children to hospitals quickly to receive life-saving treatments.
Nicola Howkins, from the Children's Air Ambulance, said: "We are delighted to be joining forces and taking this wonderful opportunity to achieve our long-held operational goals."
Alongside the charity, The Air Ambulance Service also runs the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and its sister service, Derbyshire Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance(DLRAA).
Both services are among the busiest in the country answering more than 220 life-saving missions each month.
Andy Williamson, WNAA CEO, said: "As the busiest air ambulance in the country, we know how important it is for patients to receive the highest standards of specialist medical care. There are hundreds of critically ill children every year who need the advanced care and time critical transfers to specialist children's hospital units.
"Getting a child to a specialist care centre by land can involve long and frequently medically challenging travel times putting a child at risk while causing untold stress to the family.
"In taking over The Children's Air Ambulance we will not only be able to make this air transfer service an operational reality but also increase survival by helping to reduce travel times and move specialist NHS clinical teams with the child quickly."
The Children's Air Ambulance, which was registered as a charity in 2005, will operate from Coventry Airport, the WNAA base. For more information on the Children's Air Ambulance, visit www.childrensairambulance.co.uk."
...made for an interesting excuse to go back through this thread. Still, with the busiest Air Ambo organisation in the country on board, what could possibly go rwong? P'raps they've finally found something a 169 can be useful for..
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
6 Posts
Translated by Jayteeto........ There is no need for a specialist Childrens Air Ambulance. The task will be completed using existing aircraft???????
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Age: 70
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even if the charity fund-raising side is not an issue, the time delay and cost of positioning a specialist helicopter operation such as this is a real threat to the success of such an operation. In a completely different operational area, it is why fractional ownership of helicopters is never likely to succeed.
Both services are among the busiest in the country answering more than 220 life-saving missions each month.
....and watch out local air ambo charities; here's a new 'national' air ambulance that can fund raise anywhere in the UK. (no doubt using that emotive childrens title to good effect!)
Curious too how WNAA and DLRAA could drop their regional monikers.
'The Air Ambulance Service' ...............What a good way to tap into the generosity of local people.....anywhere!