On Wednesday 19th June 2013, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) hosted the 4th Aeromedical Conference at Ford Dunton, near Basildon in Essex, the largest automotive technical centre in the UK, which houses the main design team of Ford of Europe.

The aim of this free conference was to give like-minded professionals the opportunity to meet and examine topical key aeromedical matters. Chaired by Dr Gareth Davies, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-Hospital Care, London’s Air Ambulance/EHAAT; this year’s conference saw a range of speakers present around the themes of ‘Are we ready for the next Terror Attack?’ and ‘Clinical Innovation’.

Speakers from across the UK and Europe included Andy Hayman, Former Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, Specialist Operations – Responsible for Counter Terrorism, Vij Randeniya, President of the Chief Fire Officers Association, West Midlands Fire Service, Major Claire Park MBE RAMC, UK Military Medical Emergency Response Team and Mark Harvey, Flight Paramedic, Falck Air Ambulance, Denmark.

Dr Gareth Davies Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-Hospital Care, London’s Air Ambulance/Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, said: “Building on the success of last year’s Conference, it was a privilege to Chair this national event in pre-hospital care. It is encouraging to see many of the air ambulances and emergency services coming together to share experiences in the management of major incidents in the UK and create a forum for honest, open discussion where we can all learn from each other and strive towards greater patient care. With World Class speakers and clinicians on hand to impart knowledge and experience the conference has been a great success.”

Jane Gurney, CEO, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, adds: “Now in its fourth year, this successful conference has become a key event in the Air Ambulance calendar. I am extremely proud to bring together the Air Ambulance community from all over the UK for this national event in pre-hospital care. The conference allows us to share ideas, common practices and strategies but more importantly capture key learning points. There is some truly amazing work going on every day by Air Ambulance Teams; the conference has given us an insight into many new and exciting clinical innovations along with an opportunity to focus on preparing integrated terror attack plans to work more effectively with the other emergency services”.

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust would like to thank Ford Dunton for kindly supplying the venue and headline sponsor Medical Aviation Services – without their support this event would not take place.

Photo –  L-R: Andy Hayman, Former Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, Anni Ridsdill Smith, Director of Airate/EHAAT Trustee, Vij Randeniya, President of the Chief Fire Officers Association, West Midlands Fire Service, Jane Gurney, EHAAT CEO and Gareth Davies, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-Hospital Care, London’s Air Ambulance/EHAAT