TAAS joins Association of Air Ambulances
Wiltshire Air Ambulance and The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) have become members of the UK's Association of Air Ambulances.
Image: The Children’s Air Ambulance helicopter pictured in January 2015 (TAAS)
The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA), which represents the majority of air ambulance helicopter operators in the UK, has announced a further increase in its membership. This month, both Wiltshire Air Ambulance and The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) have become members. The Association said that 34 of the 36 HEMS aircraft in operation across the UK are now operated by AAA full members.
Clive Dickin, National Director of the AAA, said: “The AAA’s strategy is to improve patient treatment through shared knowledge and collaboration, so to see the Association’s membership grow to almost reflect the entire UK HEMS network is a real tick in the box for patient care. Additionally, having a unified membership further enhances the Association’s ability to affect change on issues that it feels need improvement.”
Andy Williamson, CEO at TAAS, which operates The Children’s Air Ambulance and local air ambulances for Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “We look forward to working in collaboration with the AAA to drive further improvements in the quality and safety of services provided by air ambulances across the UK.”
The move by TAAS suggests that there has been a comprehensive rapprochement between the two organisations. As recently as 2013, the AAA was openly questioning the need for one centralised aircraft to provide paediatric transfers (The Children’s Air Ambulance is based in Coventry). The AAA also suggested that TAAS’ nationwide fundraising for TCAA could have a negative impact on local air ambulance charities. The organisations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in January 2014 which the AAA described as marking ‘a significant turning point’ in the relationships between its members and TAAS, adding: “In line with the MoU, parties are to be clearer in their fundraising activities about which organisation those funds will benefit. Also, all parties are to try to resolve difficulties privately or through mediation, rather than resort to public criticism as seen in recent years. This is an essential element to avoid the potential unnecessary damage to charity reputations and its negative impact on patient care.”