DSAA Beeline, Issue 1 2017

WHAT WE DO
Brand new clinical
training facility
Ken Wenman, Chief Executive Officer of
the South Western Ambulance Service
NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT),
officially opened our new clinical training
facility on 26 October 2016
Training
Emily Cooper joined us in December as our Education
Facilitator. Emily is an Adult Intensive Care Nurse and has
a wide experience of training multi-professionals using
simulated patients, animal tissue, human tissue and
prosthetics.
During December many of the team took part
in Emergency Resuscitative Surgery training in
Southampton, which taught them the skills to perform
life-saving operations before the patient reaches hospital.
More recently we have spent time running simulations
on the new AW169 aircraft prior to it becoming
operational. Over the coming months, our training
sessions are packed full. We have sessions lined up with
the Coastguard, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue
Service, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, as
well as a session focusing on resilience within the team.
Blood
Since we began carrying and administering blood, 23
patients have been given the possibility of life. Enhancing
our capability with carriage of blood products was
a significant project for our team and our thanks go
to Ian Mew, Michelle Walker and Leonie German for
making blood product delivery a sustainable reality. Our
continued thanks go to the Henry Surtees Foundation,
the Devon Freewheelers, Dorset County Hospital and
SWASFT for their support.
Clinical training facility
The new clinical training facility (see panel, right) at our
airbase has been well used for the team’s training days,
governance meetings, outreach training for student
paramedics, doctors and nurses and is being used daily
for skills training by the on-duty crew.
The full facility, includes
a modern clinical training
facility, a day/night aviation
planning room, improved
clinical storage and crew rest
facilities.
The whole project reflects
the Charity’s drive for clinical
excellence and effectiveness
and is designed to further
build on the success of our
award-winning education
and training programme.
Funding for the project
was provided last year
by the Association of Air
Ambulances Charity (AAAC)
after £5 million was allocated
from the Banking Fines Fund
(LIBOR) by then-Chancellor
of the Exchequer, George
Osborne, in support of UK’s
air ambulances.
After the charity secured
funding for this project,
work began and took
approximately eight weeks
to complete. At the opening,
Bill Sivewright, DSAA Chief
Executive Officer, paid thanks
to those who had helped
make the project a reality.
“We owe a tremendous
debt of gratitude to so
many people. To our
landlords Geoff Jarvis and
Losan Ltd for giving us
the opportunity to further
enhance the hangar that they
so generously provide to the
Charity.
“To Babcock International,
who, as well as supporting
our flying operations,
brought their wider industry
expertise to bear and
manage the build project.
“To the AAAC for helping
to secure and distribute the
funds and to SWASFT for
their enduring support to
the Charity’s operations,
especially during a significant
period of change.
“Finally, to the air
ambulance crew who have
lived through a great deal
of disruption with patience
and flexibility and have done
so without any drop in the
life-saving service provided
to the people of Dorset and
Somerset.”
Ken Wenman then cut
the yellow ribbon, which
officially opened the new
facility.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 11
09-11 DSAA Clinical.indd 11 09/03/2017 09:37