Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is a regional helicopter air ambulance service in southwest England. It operates for the relief of sickness and injury, with a critical care paramedic and a critical care doctor, during daylight hours in Bristol, Bath, North and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, and parts of Wiltshire.
History
The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity was created in 2008. It currently operates an EC135, in bright green and blue livery. At launch GWAAC operated a Eurocopter 135, but as flying hours increased the funding was not available, so the charity moved to a Bölkow 105.
In 2012 the charity launched the "Movin' On Up" campaign, to raise the money needed to return to the EC 135. The campaign goal was reached in 2014, and in October the EC 135 arrived at the base in Bristol Filton Airport.[1]
The EC135 has a 40% increase in cabin volume, allowing the team to offer better inflight treatment. It has an extra seat, allowing means medics to be trained on-board or a child patient to be airlifted with a parent. It can also land on elevated hospital helipads, and allows side loading, saving 15 minutes and allowing airlifting of more patients. The EC135 is 4 minutes faster than the Bölkow 105, as the shut down and start time is halved.
Operations
GWAAC is a charity, and provides an air ambulance service for a population of 2.1 million people. The charity has received grants from the national government,[2][3] but does not receive annual funding from the government or National Lottery, and is normally funded by public donations. The charity currently operates on a budget of £2.3 million per year.[4]
The helicopter is based at a hangar on Filton Airfield, in Bristol. Within 4 minutes of an emergency call being received the helicopter is in the air, and it can be anywhere within the region it covers in 20 minutes.
The GWAAC critical care team consists of a critical care paramedic and doctor, who provide a remote accident and emergency department to the patient. They are able to carry out anaesthesia and control of breathing, chest drainage, surgical procedures, additional drugs, triage to the correct destination, and discharge from the scene.
References
- ↑ "Great Western Air Ambulance's new helicopter arrives". BBC News. 16 October 2014.
- ↑ "£1m boost to keep Great Western Air Ambulance flying announced". www.gov.uk.
- ↑ "Chancellor pledges £1 million to keep Great Western Air Ambulance flying". Bath Chronicle.
- ↑ "New Great Western Air Ambulance helicopter attends first call-out". Bath Chronicle.