Stephen Metcalfe, local Member of Parliament for South Basildon & East Thurrock has joined with Essex and Herts Air Ambulance to campaign for a new landing site near Basildon Hospital. Essex Air Ambulance together with Stephen Metcalfe are appealing to the local authorities to help find a replacement landing site so that patients in need of life saving treatment can see be brought to the Hospital and the regions Cardio Thoracic Unit.
Stephen Metcalfe commented: “It would be a tragedy if this vital and life-saving aircraft loses its ability to continue to service our community. It is vitally important that we support this fight to ensure that the life-saving work of the Air Ambulance is safeguarded for the future.”
“I am very pleased to be lending my support to Essex Air Ambulance, and I call on all members of the community to rally around this crucial campaign and to help secure a suitable replacement site.”
The Essex Air Ambulance HEMS Team consisting of a highly experienced Pilot, Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic are attending an increasing number of cardiac arrest patients due to the advanced equipment they carry on board such as an automatic chest compression device and QCPR kits enabling them to provide advanced level of cardiac care at the scene.
One of the unique advantages of having a Doctor on board is the important decision to triage patients to the most appropriate hospital if they require specialist care. This saves vital minutes between onset of illness to the patient receiving specialist medical care in hospital. Therefore it is paramount that in the case of cardiac arrests and other heart problems; there is a dedicated landing site allowing these patients the best chance of survival.
