The clinical achievements of our team over the last few months and during the COVID-19 pandemic have been enormous. These would not have been possible without your support. We hope you feel as proud as we do, to have made such a difference during these unprecedented times.
Our clinical team have faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but despite this, we are proud that we have continued to deliver pre-hospital critical care for 19 hours per day throughout this period. We outline how they have overcome these challenges below.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance provides a critical care service from 7.00am - 2.00am every day of the year. This is funded entirely by the charity and operates completely within NHS governance. Clinical and operational integration within the NHS is absolutely key to providing seamless, high-quality care pathways for patients. Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a huge challenge to the whole of the NHS and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is playing its part in the NHS response. Read more
One of the challenges facing the NHS was how to maintain emergency services, while supporting patients within hospital who had the COVID-19 illness. Read more
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has continued to provide pre-hospital critical care to the region throughout the pandemic. Read more
One very important aspect of providing care, is that you keep the care-givers safe. Read more
In the early stages of the pandemic, Public Health England (PHE) provided guidance that patients with suspected COVID-19 disease should not be carried by aircraft. Read more
The ability to transport patients to hospital by air comes into sharp focus when the patient needs critical care treatment in a specialist centre and that centre is hours away by road from the incident location. Read more
Our outreach car has been fully staffed and operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Some emergency patients in hospital have specialist care needs that can only be met in a regional NHS hospital. These patients need to be moved safely and rapidly. This is called a time-critical inter-hospital transfer. Read more
Continuation of our patient and family liaison service during the COVID-19 pandemic required pragmatic discussions with SWASfT, our regional NHS networks and hospitals across the region. Read more
The pre-hospital critical care and enhanced care availability that we have provided during COVID-19 has been significant. Read more
Our outreach car continues to be a visible presence in and around the East Dorset area, operating 12 hours a day (10.00am- 10.00pm), seven days a week. Read more
Mario Carretta, Unit Chief Pilot, explains how we have maintained flight operations during COVID-19. Read more
Our two patient and family liaison nurses provide a valuable support service to our patients and their families. Read more