The UK Childrens Air Ambulance - Info??
He earns £119,000/annum. She is the boss of the PR consultancy that the service hired, so she must be on some serious bucks. They also have lavish charity bashes it seems. I wouldn't be surprised to see north of £250,000 for this lot alone.
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A week or so ago I had a donation bag pushed through my door from the Air Ambulance Service (which is the umbrella organisation covering the Childrens Air Ambulance, Derbyshire/Leicester/Rutland Air Ambulance and Warwickshire\Nothamptonshire Air Ambulance).
Presumably they are allowed to do this because they run the Childrens Air Ambulance (which is national) - our local Air Ambulance is the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance.
However, any donations go to the Air Ambulance Service (the small print says "a minimum of £105 will be paid to the Air Ambulance Service for every tonne of clothing collected"). There is nothing claiming that the collections outside of Derbyshire/Leicester/etc. would be dedicated to the Childrens Ambulance Service, for instance.
Presumably they are allowed to do this because they run the Childrens Air Ambulance (which is national) - our local Air Ambulance is the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance.
However, any donations go to the Air Ambulance Service (the small print says "a minimum of £105 will be paid to the Air Ambulance Service for every tonne of clothing collected"). There is nothing claiming that the collections outside of Derbyshire/Leicester/etc. would be dedicated to the Childrens Ambulance Service, for instance.
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My charity recently recruited some staff (not reporting to me directly) and my wife would have been a perfect fit for one of the jobs - would have loved to do it too!
It didn't even cross our mind that she should apply; it would have been simply wrong.
It didn't even cross our mind that she should apply; it would have been simply wrong.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
However, any donations go to the Air Ambulance Service (the small print says "a minimum of £105 will be paid to the Air Ambulance Service for every tonne of clothing collected").
Charities suffer as criminal gangs target lucrative clothing recycling sector - Investigations - The Ecologist
TEXTILE RECYCLING (eg charity shops, recycling centres, charity clothing collections)
Avoid imitations
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A week or so ago I had a donation bag pushed through my door from the Air Ambulance Service (which is the umbrella organisation covering the Childrens Air Ambulance, Derbyshire/Leicester/Rutland Air Ambulance and Warwickshire\Nothamptonshire Air Ambulance).
Presumably they are allowed to do this because they run the Childrens Air Ambulance (which is national) - our local Air Ambulance is the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance.
Presumably they are allowed to do this because they run the Childrens Air Ambulance (which is national) - our local Air Ambulance is the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance.
I'm afraid the envelopes go straight in the bin.
mdovey - you're probably right!
But there's also another good reason to avoid a situation like this; if my wife had got the job and then turned out to be rubbish at it then it would have put her direct manager in a very difficult position...
I certainly think there's no justification for employing your spouse's firm to do work for your Charity. There's the possibility of collusion in setting the price, at the very least.
I suspect that if I had done something like that without my trustees' knowledge then I would be facing a serious "gross misconduct" disciplinary process. Ans if I HAD asked them, I think it would have a very short conversation (mostly about my judgement) and a resounding "no".
But there's also another good reason to avoid a situation like this; if my wife had got the job and then turned out to be rubbish at it then it would have put her direct manager in a very difficult position...
I certainly think there's no justification for employing your spouse's firm to do work for your Charity. There's the possibility of collusion in setting the price, at the very least.
I suspect that if I had done something like that without my trustees' knowledge then I would be facing a serious "gross misconduct" disciplinary process. Ans if I HAD asked them, I think it would have a very short conversation (mostly about my judgement) and a resounding "no".
I have taken the opportunity to pass the link to the longer BBC expose to Simon Le Bon's publicist. Hopefully that will encourage the latter to reconsider his (paid for???) support for Andy Williamson's ego trip.
Captivep, there are many AA charities that are already serving multiple helicopters/operations. Kent/Surrey/Sussex operates two helicopters but is one charity, as is Essex and Herts. Ditto Midlands, Great North, East Anglia etc etc. Not all air ambulance trustees are myopic idiots
Captivep, there are many AA charities that are already serving multiple helicopters/operations. Kent/Surrey/Sussex operates two helicopters but is one charity, as is Essex and Herts. Ditto Midlands, Great North, East Anglia etc etc. Not all air ambulance trustees are myopic idiots
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Mr. Andy Williamson did indeed look shifty when asked about his wife's involvement in the PR company (Loquendi). However, the reporter's lazy research team had clearly not done their work diligently enough. If they had, maybe the reporter would have asked an even better question...like who is Chairman of Loquendi.....
Don't waste your time googling the answer, just take a wild guess.
Don't waste your time googling the answer, just take a wild guess.
From the Loquendi website:
Could always drop in for a five-minute argument - or even the full half-hour (as long as you pay).
2 s
You are always welcome to visit our offices in Milton Keynes and pop in for a coffee.
2 s
206 Jock - I wasn't suggesting that any trustees of Air Ambulance Charities were "myopic idiots" - just that if one take a helicopter view (sorry!) of the national need for these services one would probably take a very different view of the necessary organizational structure.
That having been said, it does appear that the trustees in this case have, to put it mildly, taken a very relaxed view about what is, at best, a very clear case of conflict of interest.
That having been said, it does appear that the trustees in this case have, to put it mildly, taken a very relaxed view about what is, at best, a very clear case of conflict of interest.
Captivep, I fully understand your logic (you may have guessed, I am an AA charity trustee with a one charity/two helicopter operation), but in our many discussions internally and with neighbouring charities at trustee level, we have - thus far - come to the conclusion that local identity is more easily sustained by maintaining local(ish) focus of the operational team. Our overhead bite is carefully assessed on a monthly basis and represents a small proportion of outgoings.
As for TAAS, whilst it would be delightful if Mr.Williamson was undertaking his little 'bit on the side' without the knowledge of his trustees. However, I suspect that he has used his PR skills to good effect, telling them why no other company could possibly do a better job than him.
As for TAAS, whilst it would be delightful if Mr.Williamson was undertaking his little 'bit on the side' without the knowledge of his trustees. However, I suspect that he has used his PR skills to good effect, telling them why no other company could possibly do a better job than him.
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An informative read...
Having read this thread and the earlier one about the dismissal of a CEO of another Air Ambulance service, I recommend the following book for further reading.
"You can't park there" by (Doctor) Tony Bleetman. It gives an account of the setting up of the HEMS unit at Coventry Airport. The book doesn't name WNAAC specifically, but I recognised some of the references in the book and research confirm my feeling that I knew the service to which it referred.
Two things stood out in the book. The real money does not come from ladies shaking tins at the door of supermarkets, indeed they are sometimes a bit of an embarrasment. Corporate donations and sponsoring are the real heart of Air Ambulance funding.
The other is how difficult a paediatric transfer can become in a non dedicated aircraft.
If you can wade through all the bad language in the book, you may learn something about how an Air Ambulance actually works off(!) the ground.
Away from the book, I too am concerned about the "awayday" jamboree or bonding session that was reported earlier in the thread. I have to say that it has affected my donations to WNAAC.
I believe that Coventry was chosen as a base for TCAA for similar reason to the coastal polution treatment aircraft were situated there. Being in the middle of the country they can get anywhere quickly. The difference being the polution guys were heading to specific point to do a job, not going there as a first stage of a three stage journey.
I think TAAS have some questions to answer, Certainly before they get anyomore of my money.
"You can't park there" by (Doctor) Tony Bleetman. It gives an account of the setting up of the HEMS unit at Coventry Airport. The book doesn't name WNAAC specifically, but I recognised some of the references in the book and research confirm my feeling that I knew the service to which it referred.
Two things stood out in the book. The real money does not come from ladies shaking tins at the door of supermarkets, indeed they are sometimes a bit of an embarrasment. Corporate donations and sponsoring are the real heart of Air Ambulance funding.
The other is how difficult a paediatric transfer can become in a non dedicated aircraft.
If you can wade through all the bad language in the book, you may learn something about how an Air Ambulance actually works off(!) the ground.
Away from the book, I too am concerned about the "awayday" jamboree or bonding session that was reported earlier in the thread. I have to say that it has affected my donations to WNAAC.
I believe that Coventry was chosen as a base for TCAA for similar reason to the coastal polution treatment aircraft were situated there. Being in the middle of the country they can get anywhere quickly. The difference being the polution guys were heading to specific point to do a job, not going there as a first stage of a three stage journey.
I think TAAS have some questions to answer, Certainly before they get anyomore of my money.
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The aircraft was recently noted in Battersea Heliport with a pair of fundraising girls in the back, not a casualty. When a more local air ambulance arrived for fuel the crew were quizzed by said fundraisers "Are you guys our competition?" TCAA has also reportedly opened a fundraising shop, within sight of the major London trauma centre where aircraft operate from/to, whilst claiming to be a local operation!!!!
Need I say more?
Need I say more?
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Dawdler
These may be Dr Bleetman's words, not yours, but I find it strange to refer to people who give up their own time to raise funds as 'an embarrasment' (SIC)
Every little helps as they say.
The real money does not come from ladies shaking tins at the door of supermarkets, indeed they are sometimes a bit of an embarrasment.
Every little helps as they say.
Good point Wokkaboy: the volunteers are a very important part of any Air Ambulance charity's resources. Everyone would howl derision if the support of a volunteer was spurned so a 'professional' could provide input for all charity events. It sounds like 'Dr.Bleetman' has been swallowing the bull**** of Williamson who no doubt has his own agenda in this regard (he does in everything else).
As for where the cash comes from, he's also spouting b*****ks. I can safely say that the contributions to the charity I'm involved with from corporates or 'sponsorship' are very welcome but both irregular and only forms a small % of total income. These - together with the 'ladies shaking tins', attendance at events, golf days etc etc - form a very important role, both in the funds they raise and in keeping the charity at the front of people's minds. But the real money comes from something much more basic. If Williamson hasn't figured that out yet, I'm not going to be the one to tell him.
As for where the cash comes from, he's also spouting b*****ks. I can safely say that the contributions to the charity I'm involved with from corporates or 'sponsorship' are very welcome but both irregular and only forms a small % of total income. These - together with the 'ladies shaking tins', attendance at events, golf days etc etc - form a very important role, both in the funds they raise and in keeping the charity at the front of people's minds. But the real money comes from something much more basic. If Williamson hasn't figured that out yet, I'm not going to be the one to tell him.
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Jock and Wokkaboy I was quoting directly from the book. Bleetman was heavily involved in PR at the front end and describes how he attended a function put on by a group where he was at the end going to recieve a cheque on behalf of the charity. To say that he was "disappointed" at being presented with a cheque of "only" £500 is understating his position. He wondered whether it was an efficient use of his time to spend a whole evening being entertained by no doubt well meaning people for such a small amount.
I found the whole book revelatory, not only about how the day to day operation of an air ambulance works, but also the very real skill of the people involved. Before I read the book I little understood the difference between an "scoop and run" air transfer and a fully equipped Hems operation. Bleetman describes carrying out procedures normally left to the operating theatre, being done literally at the side of the road. Not least does he pay tribute to the pilots, putting the aircraft down in places that did not seem possible. Indeed the very titile of the book "You can't park there!" refers to an incident that caused some consternation with the ground officials, where the pilot chose a rather precarious position to land in order to make it easier to transfer the patient.
All that said, during his tenure at Coventry, the Ops Director was suddenly dismissed, because he finally ran the wrong people up the wrong way once too often. Perhaps in order to get the service running it needed a gritty, no-nonsense person lacking in inter-personal skills, but his style grated with people eventually.
I fear the TCAA is seen as a power grab within air ambulance circles.
It should be pointed out for clarity, all of the doctors onboard donated their time and skills freely. The aircrew were paid by the helicopter leasing company.
I found the whole book revelatory, not only about how the day to day operation of an air ambulance works, but also the very real skill of the people involved. Before I read the book I little understood the difference between an "scoop and run" air transfer and a fully equipped Hems operation. Bleetman describes carrying out procedures normally left to the operating theatre, being done literally at the side of the road. Not least does he pay tribute to the pilots, putting the aircraft down in places that did not seem possible. Indeed the very titile of the book "You can't park there!" refers to an incident that caused some consternation with the ground officials, where the pilot chose a rather precarious position to land in order to make it easier to transfer the patient.
All that said, during his tenure at Coventry, the Ops Director was suddenly dismissed, because he finally ran the wrong people up the wrong way once too often. Perhaps in order to get the service running it needed a gritty, no-nonsense person lacking in inter-personal skills, but his style grated with people eventually.
I fear the TCAA is seen as a power grab within air ambulance circles.
These may be Dr Bleetman's words, not yours, but I find it strange to refer to people who give up their own time to raise funds as 'an embarrasment' (SIC)
Every little helps as they say.
Every little helps as they say.
Last edited by Dawdler; 23rd Apr 2013 at 19:05.
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The Children's Air Ambulance has come in to service (see
Children?s Air Ambulance: Critically-ill baby saved thanks to first emergency helicopter for kids - Mirror Online)
It has been a long haul and during that time much has been posted on earlier pages of this forum. In the meantime the work has been going on unabated to provide a bespoke,specifically equipped aircraft.
For those of you who still question the worth of 'The Children's', may I remind you that the 'Sheffield Report' in 1994 doubted the value of HEMS operations. Air Ambulances have come a long way since then.
Time will tell. Perhaps those who doubted will quietly judge the value of the new service over the course of the next year or so. In that time medical and operational evidence will have been gathered and analysed by the Paediatric Intensive Care clinicians and Retrieval teams. Only then can this matter can be discussed with knowledge, not opinion.
Children?s Air Ambulance: Critically-ill baby saved thanks to first emergency helicopter for kids - Mirror Online)
It has been a long haul and during that time much has been posted on earlier pages of this forum. In the meantime the work has been going on unabated to provide a bespoke,specifically equipped aircraft.
For those of you who still question the worth of 'The Children's', may I remind you that the 'Sheffield Report' in 1994 doubted the value of HEMS operations. Air Ambulances have come a long way since then.
Time will tell. Perhaps those who doubted will quietly judge the value of the new service over the course of the next year or so. In that time medical and operational evidence will have been gathered and analysed by the Paediatric Intensive Care clinicians and Retrieval teams. Only then can this matter can be discussed with knowledge, not opinion.
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I personally have not and would not question the worth of such a service. Children's air ambulances in Australia and USA are incredibly successful. The fact remains there are too many questions and doubts about the methodology used to fund this service to the detriment of other air ambulance services which are just as important, and whether use of funds have always been appropriate to this point especially given the time taken to transport the first casualty from when fundraising began. 
Last edited by Hedski; 16th May 2013 at 15:17.
Sorry chaps but this is not a critically ill baby. Period. We do have critically ill children for which air transportation has been shown to be beneficial but I hope they select their cases carefully in future.
As for the Sheffield Report bsbhe38, its findings discussed adult trauma - totally different. The conclusions were supported by the data and have never been disputed. No new data in the UK makes the findings outdated that I know of. Air ambulances responding to adult trauma are very high cost per life saved - this was discussed a few weeks ago on pprune. That doesnt mean they do not allow ambulance trusts meet government targets, nor does it ignore the fact that they may reduce pain and suffering from a long road journey, but the fact that we now have lots of them doesnt in itself indicate their efficacy or health economics.
I look forward to any new data on paediatrics, but please remember we have been flying babies in the UK since 1987. Perhaps we havent had the publicity of TAAS but we have been quietly getting on with it. We have produced national guidelines and published data. It certainly doesnt make financial sense but it does allow scarce neonatal facilities to be better used and to be available to more people.
As for the Sheffield Report bsbhe38, its findings discussed adult trauma - totally different. The conclusions were supported by the data and have never been disputed. No new data in the UK makes the findings outdated that I know of. Air ambulances responding to adult trauma are very high cost per life saved - this was discussed a few weeks ago on pprune. That doesnt mean they do not allow ambulance trusts meet government targets, nor does it ignore the fact that they may reduce pain and suffering from a long road journey, but the fact that we now have lots of them doesnt in itself indicate their efficacy or health economics.
I look forward to any new data on paediatrics, but please remember we have been flying babies in the UK since 1987. Perhaps we havent had the publicity of TAAS but we have been quietly getting on with it. We have produced national guidelines and published data. It certainly doesnt make financial sense but it does allow scarce neonatal facilities to be better used and to be available to more people.
More here: First Patient Transfer | The Air Ambulance Service | TAAS. From the oracle, so to speak (and to be treated with caution)
So - bsbhe38 - assuming that you are close to the operation, a couple of questions from me (I'd guess you would call me a 'detractor', but happy to swallow my words):
- what's the reg of the new aircraft? I assume that TAAS have commissioned a stand-alone aircraft for this service (otherwise the cloud of suspicion may remain that TCAA is really a front to raise money country-wide to support/subvent the existing aircraft)
- It was a flight from Coventry to Scarborough, collecting a team in Sheffield on the way. Once at Scarborough, it flew the mission - a 15 min flight to Hull. Then presumably back to Coventry. What part of that service was deemed impossible for a more local air ambulance to cover?
Is Yorkshire still down an aircraft or two? Is this connected to the scrambling of the TCAA 'aircraft'?
So - bsbhe38 - assuming that you are close to the operation, a couple of questions from me (I'd guess you would call me a 'detractor', but happy to swallow my words):
- what's the reg of the new aircraft? I assume that TAAS have commissioned a stand-alone aircraft for this service (otherwise the cloud of suspicion may remain that TCAA is really a front to raise money country-wide to support/subvent the existing aircraft)
- It was a flight from Coventry to Scarborough, collecting a team in Sheffield on the way. Once at Scarborough, it flew the mission - a 15 min flight to Hull. Then presumably back to Coventry. What part of that service was deemed impossible for a more local air ambulance to cover?
Is Yorkshire still down an aircraft or two? Is this connected to the scrambling of the TCAA 'aircraft'?