Year on year Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance contributes to the life journeys of thousands of patients. Many of these are so severely injured or ill that they do not recall the events after their incident. As a result of their injuries or illness, some also endure enormous physical and mental challenges and at times they do not feel that they have sufficient information about their care or access to help. Sadly, we also attend incidents in which patients do not survive and their remaining families often have important questions about the care that was provided to their loved one in the pre-hospital environment.

In the latter part of 2018, we appointed two very experienced intensive care nurses (Kirsty Caswell and Jo Petheram) to work part-time as patient and family liaison nurses for DSAA. One nurse focuses on the north of our operating area and one to the south. These appointments were the first of their kind in the south west region.

Their aims are to build and enhance relationships with the respective hospitals, provide support to patients who have been treated by our critical care team to help make sense of their life experiences, answer patients’ questions about their pre-hospital care, provide links with patient support services and other charities that are aligned with the patient’s conditions and encourage peer support links with other similarly injured patients.

Can we help?

If you or a loved one has needed the help of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and you wish to contact our Patient and Family Liaison Service, please email: [email protected]