Air Ambulance for Norn Iron

[Strapps]

Northern Ireland is the only area of the UK which doesn't have its own air ambulance service. Doctor John Hinds was a strong advocate of such a service as can be seen in this BBC report. In his words, "In countries that have an established service, the mortality rate from trauma has been cut from anything up to 40%. Some of the air ambulance services in England have reported cost savings up to £20m in the care of trauma patients."

Doc John was a consultant anaesthetist and world-renowned expert in trauma care as well as a travelling medic for the road races, part of a team of doctors who follow the racers so that if an incident occurs they can be at the scene in moments. The doc crashed during practice at Skerries on Friday and tragically died in hospital the next day (report).

A petition has been set up calling for an Air Ambulance service to be established in his memory. Please take a moment to read through and sign; this would be a fitting tribute to a great man to whom many people owe their lives and continued health.

Petition to establish an air ambulance service in Northern Ireland.

Thank you.

 

[Uneducated_Rick]

I believe that Air Ambulance services in England and Wales aren't financially supported by government - they all run based on donations.

I suspect a petition targeting all of the UK might garner a lot more support than trying to get for NI what a lot of people want elsewhere

 

[Cartus]

I think Ricky is correct as I donate monthly to the local Gloucestershire air ambulance.

Why not finance the service in the same way in N.I?

 

[viv1969]

I agree NI would benefit from an air ambulance but also agree with the above 2 posts.
And anything on change(.)org Isn't something I'd sign.

 

[Strapps]

I believe that Air Ambulance services in England and Wales aren't financially supported by government - they all run based on donations.

From another forum where this is also under discussion, not my words.

I've been doing a lot of reading on air ambulances since John's passing and the UK situation is far from clear cut - each air ambulance is different in terms of funding, ranging from 100% charity funded to a mix of state and charity funded. There is no UK air ambulance which is 100% state funded.

There is then matter of the medical staff - some air ambulances use staff provided and paid for by the NHS, others use NHS staff which they pay for and then there are some which employ their own medical staff.

Each air ambulance takes a different position on the skilset of the medical staff on board as well, some have a pre hospital clinician of DocJohn's calibre on board and are capable of amazing surgery at the scene (if anyone watched "A Hour to save your life" on the BBC a few weeks back there was the story of the cyclist who was run over by an HGV and had open heart surgey and more on the side of the road) whilst others appear to more akin to an ambulance with rotors.

Each UK air ambulance also appears to have a different set of criteria regarding what it is they actually do - some turn out to minor incidents as 1st responders whilst others have to be called in for serious incidents after on scene assessment by other 1st responders. It appears that geography plays a large part in this.

There appear to be factions within the UK air ambulance scene - the AAA (Association of Air Ambulances) represent all but two air ambulance organisations and AAS (The Air Ambulance Service) which runs the other 2, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, and who are taking a much more forceful position than the others - they have charity shops all over the UK outside of their geographical patches and offer a national paediatric transfer service.

Scottish air ambulance cover is provided by a mix of state and charity funded services.
https://www.scaa.org.uk/
http://www.scottisha.../TheParent.aspx

Welsh air ambulance is a charity relying on fund raising with no state funding.
http://www.walesairambulance.com/
http://www.ambulance...aspx?pageId=57

I suspect a petition targeting all of the UK might garner a lot more support than trying to get for NI what a lot of people want elsewhere

Feel free to start one. For the sake of clarity, I didn't start this petition and am attempting to publicise it because I knew John and it's a tribute to him.

Why not finance the service in the same way in N.I?

This was tried a few years ago and raised quite a bit of money, which was then distributed in "wages", "overheads" and "consultancy fees". It's referred to at the bottom of this BBC report.

 

[Cartus]

Whilst I would agree that ideally the state should fund a comprehensive air ambulance service and the need for a service in N.I. it ain't going to happen in the foreseeable future, especially with the Conservative government.

I've had a look at Wikipedia on the subject and (interestingly) Scotland has the only government funded air ambulance in the UK, a private company have the contract and currently operate four aircraft in addition to a charity financed service.

N.Ireland has a population of 1.8 million. This may be a similar number of people currently served by charity-financed English air ambulance services, so why is the situation different in N.I I wonder?

Ps, I've just read the BBC article, interesting and I see a helicopter was rented from Scotland.

I personally think something should be done but the solution would have to be privately funded somehow, unfortunately I must say.