The conference, held at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, brought together over 300 medical specialists and staff from emergency services to discuss aspects of pre-hospital medicine. The theme for the day was ‘Reflect, Learn, Innovate’.

Keynote speaker for the day was Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis, Head of Operational Resilience and Special Operations Group at London Fire Brigade (LFB). Ellis undertook the Gold Commander role for LFB during several terror attacks on London in 2017.

Beresford also talked at the conference, detailing the impact of knife crime on his own family and discussed ways of tackling the issue – Beresford’s cousin Nathaniel Armstrong was tragically killed during a knife attack earlier this year, and since then, he has investigated the subject further in a documentary titled Knife Crime and Me, in which he spoke to gang members, others who carry knives and those who have not followed a life of crime.

Duncan Bew, Consultant Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon at King’s College Hospital, looked at the causes of knife crime. Dr Matt O’Meara, Pre-hospital Care Consultant at EHAAT and Dr Phil Cowburn, Medical Director of Great Western Air Ambulance, alongside Critical Care Paramedics Charli Watkins and Dee Gordon, each shared lessons learned from challenging cases. Critical Care Paramedics Sam Immens and Elisabeth Hanrahan of the New South Wales Ambulance Rescue Service discussed a mission which saw them treating a patient trapped in a deep hole in a remote area of the Outback. There were also presentations from Home Office Registered Forensic Pathologist Dr Ben Swift and San Diego-based Flight Paramedic Phil Grieve, who was EHAAT’s first Clinical Director.

“It’s been great to see so many colleagues come together to share knowledge and best practice on a range of subjects,” said Ben Myer, Conference Lead and Clinical Manager at EHAAT. “Once again, we attracted a group of high-quality thought-provoking speakers and thank them for their openness and honesty. We hope that everyone who attended left having learnt something and will consider the points and themes discussed and apply that learning to their roles.”

The event was sponsored by Specialist Aviation Services, Leonardo Helicopters, MDS Civil Engineering and Anglia Ruskin University, by Dr Ruth Jackson, the Pro Vice-Chancellor for the School of Medicine Development at Anglia Ruskin University, EHAAT CEO Jane Gurney and Dr Ronan Fenton, Medical Director of EHAAT.