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Search forTrail-blazing service celebrates milestone
Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 15:22
Pilot Pete McLelland flew the lifesaving helicopter on its historic mission last Wednesday after a 999 call reporting the collapse of a pensioner at his remote home near Launceston.
Land and air paramedics teamed up to help resuscitate the 70-year-old patient before he was airlifted to hospital in just 12 minutes.
It was one of the latest missions for a lifesaving helicopter that last year alone was scrambled some 1,047 times, often to isolated cliff tops, beaches and moorland.
Many of these flights touched down at the helipad just a few yards from the accident and emergency department of the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske.
"Evidence shows that what we call the 'golden hour' is crucial (to the survival of patients)," said Andy Virr, lead consultant in A & E at the RCH.
"The air ambulance brings rapid expertise at the scene by paramedics who have extended skills, while we can offer the medical expertise here at the coal face."
Mr Virr, a trustee of the charity that operates the air ambulance, added: "The remarkable thing about this service is that it is funded each year by the good people of Cornwall."
Indeed, the public digs deep to help collect around £1.5 million to keep the state-of-the-art helicopter in the air.
Paula Hichens, the air ambulance's general manager, said: "Their generosity is absolutely outstanding. They have stood by us for 21 years and, quite simply, we would not have been able to answer our 20,000th emergency call without their full support.
"It's been quite a challenge," she added. "Although the charity has had some difficulties in the past, the people of Cornwall have always stood by and the fund-raising now is as strong as it has ever been.
"We are striving to make it less, but about 10% goes on charity overheads, with a large chunk of this budget going on advertising to promote fund-raising and keep our charity on the radar of ordinary people."
It is this level of public support that enables the helicopter to reach any corner of the county within 20 minutes – and the Isles of Scilly in 28 minutes – from its base at Newquay Airport.
But the charity says it is always looking to improve its performance and this year brought in specially-trained helicopter dispatchers, based at ambulance control in Exeter and paid for by Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset air ambulance trusts.
"The extremely busy and hard-working Cornwall air ambulance concept has been much envied and copied – and now there are now 26 lifesaving helicopters operating right across the country," added Ms Hichens
● Volunteers are always needed to help support the helicopter's missions. Anyone keen to fund-raise can contact the charity's headquarters on 01726 890444, while donations and sponsorship can be made online through www.just giving.com/cornwallair ambulancetrust
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