It's taken a coroner to say it, Boris
Thread Starter
It's taken a coroner to say it, Boris
The Mayor of London's negative stance about helicopters must now seem highly embarrassing in the light of the Coroner's statement following the 7/7 bombs inquiry.
A fully-funded "air ambulance" is required:
7/7 inquest: London 'woefully' unprepared for terrorist attack on 2012 Olympics, warns coroner - Telegraph
A fully-funded "air ambulance" is required:
7/7 inquest: London 'woefully' unprepared for terrorist attack on 2012 Olympics, warns coroner - Telegraph
London is “woefully” unprepared for a terrorist attack on the 2012 Olympics because of a chronic shortage of air ambulance crews and other fast response teams, Lady Justice Hallett warned in her report into the July 7, 2005 terrorist attacks.
The coroner expressed “grave concern” about the patchy provision for medics at major incidents, which is hugely reliant on volunteers and charity donations, and suggested that lives will be lost unnecessarily in any future incident unless the issue is urgently addressed.
By “pure chance” the London Air Ambulance had 27 doctors and paramedics available on the day of the suicide bombings, because it was holding a conference that day.
But on any other day, only a two-man team would have been on duty, the coroner said, which falls “woefully short” of the cover needed.
She added: “I am concerned that London, a major global capital, host to the Olympics in 2012 and a prime terrorist target, should find itself dependent on corporate funding and charitable donations, and upon professional volunteers giving up their free time.”
Among the nine recommendations made by Lady Justice Hallett in her inquest report was the urgent need for the air ambulance and a ground-based Medical Emergency Response Incident Team to be “properly funded”.
The coroner expressed “grave concern” about the patchy provision for medics at major incidents, which is hugely reliant on volunteers and charity donations, and suggested that lives will be lost unnecessarily in any future incident unless the issue is urgently addressed.
By “pure chance” the London Air Ambulance had 27 doctors and paramedics available on the day of the suicide bombings, because it was holding a conference that day.
But on any other day, only a two-man team would have been on duty, the coroner said, which falls “woefully short” of the cover needed.
She added: “I am concerned that London, a major global capital, host to the Olympics in 2012 and a prime terrorist target, should find itself dependent on corporate funding and charitable donations, and upon professional volunteers giving up their free time.”
Among the nine recommendations made by Lady Justice Hallett in her inquest report was the urgent need for the air ambulance and a ground-based Medical Emergency Response Incident Team to be “properly funded”.
There are no limits
Join Date: May 2002
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The last thing that most of us want or need is a publicly funded Air Ambulance system.
If we would have had that already, it would have been shut down.
Just see what is happening to police air support right now.
If we would have had that already, it would have been shut down.
Just see what is happening to police air support right now.
The London AA can be great it is just that they have sat on their over rated 'the best in class' laurels far too long and had distracting business interests.
They may be getting there with the new staff [if they do not make them ineffective or sack them] but it will not be before time.
They may be getting there with the new staff [if they do not make them ineffective or sack them] but it will not be before time.
IS she not aware of the (discussed here a while back) helicopter "no fly zone" in re the London Olympics? That might put a cramp on any mitigation of the problem she perceives.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Aren't they going to arm all the already in post ex-mil pilots that operate the local air ambulances in and around the London area, during the Olympics period?
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
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Oh God!!! Pilots with guns...... please don't give them bullets as well. All we need then is a one metre range at the base and a camcorder. £250 incoming from You've been framed!! 
)
ISTR a Southern-Counties-based police observer with more degrees than a right angle who - despite having served on SB and Firearms - was under the 90kg mark. Most of that mass was taken up with brain cells, I reckon. Oh, and he was as smart as he was clever - probably why he was still a happy PC instead of something senior .
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