SW, yes, well in touch thank you. I think your understanding of current AA practices is a little out of date.
The 'framework' document published last year left AA charities with little wiggle room. The charity with which I'm well acquainted have decided that it's necessary to make the extra investment in doctors, even though the NHS funding for paramedics does not cover A&E-trained doctors.
The point of trained air ambulance doctors is well understood: some charities (not the one I know well) toyed with take well-meaning but potentially overwhelmed local GP's for a joy ride and I agree with you: they were potentially more of a liability than an effecive patient benefit.
There is no doubt: air ambulances of any type of operation could not operate without fully-trained paramedics and their role must not be ignored, but as part of a doctor/paramedic team, their effectiveness is much greater. They
say so themselves.
And believe me, the number of operations that will have trained doctors on board will continue increase dramatically over the next few months and years - trustee liability will dictate that as much as patient care considerations. "Swoop and scoop" is soon to be replaced with "stay and play".....