On Wednesday 28th March 2012, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) hosted the third Aeromedical Case Study Conference at Ford Dunton, near Basildon, the largest automotive technical centre in the UK, which houses the main design team of Ford of Europe.
This year’s conference was titled ‘The Human Contribution to HEMS Patient Safety’ and the theme was Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Team Resource Management (TRM) within the HEMS Team – ‘Getting it right when things go wrong’.

The aim of the conference was to give like-minded professionals the opportunity to meet and examine key aspects of aeromedical clinical governance. Speakers from various Air Ambulances from the UK and Europe plus other helicopter emergency medical services were invited to present their own case study providing a critical look at different issues faced and lessons learned in the complex arena of immediate medical care.

Chaired by Dr Gareth Grier, EHAAT Clinical Lead and Stuart Elms, EHAAT Clinical Manager; this year’s conference saw keynote speeches from eminent experts in CRM including Phil Smith, Critical Team Performance Ltd and guest European speaker Dr Peter Temesvari, Hungarian Air Ambulance.

Dr Gareth Grier, Chair and EHAAT Clinical Lead, said: “Now in its third year, this successful conference has become a key event in the Air Ambulance calendar. I am extremely proud to Chair this national event in pre-hospital care which brings together Air Ambulances from all over the UK to share ideas, common practices and strategies. There is some truly amazing work going on every day by Air Ambulance Teams; putting patient care at the forefront of what they do and delivering a high-class emergency medical service before the patient has reached the hospital.”

Stuart Elms, Chair and EHAAT Clinical Manager, adds: “The intention has always been to bring together all of the Air Ambulance specialties involved in the care of patients in the pre-hospital and critical care environment to create an atmosphere in which we can all learn from each other and inspire clinicians of all specialities to strive towards greater patient care and safety. With patient safety depending on the skills, vigilance, and judgment of trained individuals working together as a clinical team we all have to demonstrate our endeavours to ensure the academic, clinical and practical skills of CRM are at the forefront of our training, this forum allows us that avenue. With World Class speakers and clinicians on hand to impart knowledge and experience the conference has been a great success.”

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust would like to thank Ford Dunton for kindly supplying the venue, headline sponsor Medical Aviation Services and other sponsors; Lewis’s Medical Supplies, Prometheus Medical Ltd, Pro-Act Medical Ltd, Falko, SP Services, Zoll Medical UK Ltd, Quotepad Medical, Amazon Medical and Boundtree without whose support this event would not take place.

Conference Speakers, Left to Right: Captain Matthew Tacon (Medical Aviation Services Pilot), Anni Ridsdill Smith (Director of Airate Ltd), Dr Mark Salmon (Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust), Jon Sanders (Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust Paramedic), Dr Malcolm Russell (Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust), Dr Gareth Grier (EHAAT Clinical Lead), Jane Gurney (EHAAT CEO), Phil Smith (Critical Team Performance Ltd), Stuart Elms (EHAAT Clinical Manager), Dr Marc Wittenberg (EHAAT), Nigel Hare (Operations Manager of Devon Air Ambulance Trust)