Over 1,000 people supported by Thames Valley Air Ambulance Aftercare service

One year since its expansion, the Aftercare service at Thames Valley Air Ambulance in the UK is reaching three times more patients than before.

The service, which also marks its fifth anniversary this year, ensures patients, their loved ones and those who witness an incident have support in the days, weeks and years following their emergency. It was also one of the first aftercare services established by an air ambulance service.

In June 2022, a new Aftercare Manager was installed at the major trauma centre, the John Radcliffe Hospital, to work from the hospital itself. This new manager joined the existing Head of Aftercare and the Aftercare Manager who are based elsewhere.

Adam Crosby, Head of Aftercare, said: “Aftercare represents the very heart of our mission at Thames Valley Air Ambulance – to be there for the communities we serve. The new role, based directly in the hospital, means we can meet patients earlier in their journey of recovery and provide a seamless cycle of support from the incident to the bedside and then as patients begin to rebuild their lives.”

In the last year, those supported have increased to more than 1,000 people affected by an incident.

Crosby added: “A medical emergency can happen in an instant. And with the advances in medicine, you can be back home literally within days. Aftercare is an acknowledgment that something terrible happens in a moment, but the trauma exists long after.

“When life is turned upside down, and the ripples fan out among family and loved ones, we are there to listen, explain and signpost to resources. We are proud to have reached the five-year anniversary of our support, it means we have helped hundreds of people put their lives back together after what is most likely the worst experience of their lives.”

As well as supporting patients, the Aftercare team provides feedback for its critical care crews, letting crews know what happened next in a patient’s journey to help with their wellbeing, as well as giving them access to clinical feedback to improve patient care.