Specialist Medics to Take to the Skies

HAMPSHIRE and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, in partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, has committed to fund the first four years of a pre-hospital emergency medicine training programme for doctors in the Wessex Deanery, which includes Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The programme is designed to provide a steady and resilient supply of pre-hospital emergency specialist doctors to fly as part of the charity’s air ambulance crew, during both day and night operations.

The critical care team of pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors and paramedics working on the air ambulance together enables patients with life-threatening injuries or illness to get advanced medical treatment immediately at the scene.

“Working alongside our paramedics, our pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors are able to carry out procedures ranging from open-heart surgery to amputation, providing a further depth of medical knowledge and the ability to carry out additional medical procedures before the patient reaches hospital,” said Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance chief executive Alex Lochrane.

Fiona Dalton, chief executive of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have formed a fantastic relationship with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance over a number of years and we are delighted to partner with them again on this excellent development for clinicians and patients across the south of England.

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