"No paramedics based at LHR despite it being the size of a small town!"
There is one LAS ambulance based at LHR, in the Fire Station on the perimeter road.
The annoying thing about LHR though is that it's all or nothing. If you call in with a minor medical problem for a passenger, it's either the all singing all dancing blues and two's or bugger all.
Passengers are not even able to use the medical centre in QB as that is for staff only, so the only way the airlines can cover themselves is to call out the Paramedics.
Annoyingly in most cases the Paramedics are not actually required but there is no other alternative, unlike LGW that has the lone medic who will respond and asses the patient before deciding if an Ambulance is necessary. (Although they have a couple of paramedics on mountain bikes on trial in T4 only so things might improve in the future in the CTA)
If the LHR based ambulance is already on a call or has been prioritised to a more urgent call then an off airport ambulance will be dispatched. This can take upto 30 mins to arrive AFTER you have blocked on depending on the distance and time of day the ambulance is coming. It is not uncommon for an ambulance to be dispatched from Hammersmith ambulance station if that is the nearest available.
One last thing, when calling in on company if you have the following info to hand it makes our lives a damn sight easier when calling the ambulance out :-
1. Details of problem in as much detail as poss.
2. Details of any medication already given.
3. Is pax concious and breathing ?.
4. Approx age and Sex of pax.
Those are the most important for the ambulance service, but the following will also help us for Customs and Immigration purposes but isn't as important :-
1. Nationality and Passport Number (if International flt)
2. Name of pax and any people travelling with them
3. Seat Number, then we can access the DCS to get rest of info like bag tag numbers etc. but if downline station is not on DCS then we may need bag tag numbers too if they have them.
Hope that helps when your next i/b to LHR with a med emerg.
