HEMS aircrew clinicians from across SCAS have recently completed a 5 day course at the Trust’s Boars Hill training facility delivered by SCAS, our two air ambulance charities and Oxford Simulation Teaching and Research (OxSTaR) who provided and operated the manikins for simulated incidents used in the training.
The course was originally developed by Syed Masud, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre Hospital Care for Great North HEMS and recently revised and updated by him in his capacity as HEMS Consultant for SCAS to provide the gold standard in trauma training for HEMS aircrew across the South Central Region following the designation of the John Radcliffe and Southampton General hospitals as Major Trauma Centres.
Syed Masud, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre Hospital Care at John Radcliffe Hospital said: ‘The HEMS Crew course is seen as the Gold Standard training course for HEMS clinicians and SCAS HEMS is one of only a few HEMS in the UK to run the course which recognises that trauma happens not in hospital, but from the second a Road Traffic Collision occurs. The course has helped to position SCAS at the cutting edge of clinical practice pre hospital by demonstrating that what people thought could only be done in hospital is now being done in minutes at the roadside.’
Ian Teague, SCAS Assistant Director Learning and Development added: ‘This course is the first of its kind to be delivered to HEMS crews in our region. It recognises the benefits of the doctor and paramedic in pre hospital care and formalises the many skills, knowledge and experience of all parties involved.’
Last word goes to the course participants who commented: ‘Such high level clinical education will benefit trauma patients and anyone experiencing time critical illness in the four counties we serve pre hospital.’ ‘I welcome the opportunity to expand our knowledge using greater skills pre hospital to maximise patient outcomes.’ ‘It’s about working together with doctors at the cutting edge and being able to assist them in delivering better care to patients both now and in the future.’