WAA passes significant mission milestone
Wales Air Ambulance (WAA), a UK HEMS operator, has announced that it has reached a significant career milestone, responding to its 30,000th call out.
Wales Air Ambulance (WAA), a UK HEMS operator, has announced that it has reached a significant career milestone, responding to its 30,000th call out.
The service, started in 2001, began as a one helicopter operation based out of Swansea, but now has bases in Caernarfon, Welshpool, Llanelli and Cardiff. It’s the only service dedicated solely to serving Wales and can reach anywhere in the country within 20 minutes, according to WAA.
“It’s humbling to know that there have been 30,000 occasions in the past 17 years where we have been available to support those in need. The noise of rotor blades turning is a familiar sound to us in the Charity, however, it is a constant reminder that we would not be here without public support,” said Chief Executive, Angela Hughes, who was the service’s first employee.
WAA’s unique partnership with NHS Wales has allowed the service to create the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS Cymru), more commonly known as the ‘Welsh Flying Medics’, which aims to provide pre-hospital critical and emergency medical care across Wales.
“We are often referred to as a ‘flying A&E’,” explains Flying Medic Dr Ami Jones. “This is due to the high level of care we are now able to offer. This includes A&E-standard treatment at the scene of an incident and the ability to, quickly, take a patient directly to the specialist care they need.”
Flying Medics can conduct blood transfusions, administer anaesthetics, offer strong painkillers, and conduct a range of medical procedures at the scene of an incident.
“Thanks to the contributions of the people of Wales, our country has an air ambulance service that it can be proud of and one that has now become a vital part of our emergency care landscape,” said Dr Jones.