On Wednesday 30th April 2014, over 150 delegates from across the UK joined Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) for the 5th Aeromedical Conference at the ultra-modern CEME Conference Centre in Rainham.

This free event sponsored by Medical Aviation Services saw a host of nationally and internationally acclaimed speakers present a variety of topics around the theme of ‘Trauma – the Future’ in the pre-hospital arena; including suspended animation, hemorrhage control and treatment, trauma networks, CT-scanning, neuro-surgery and Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA).

Speakers included Dr Gareth Davies, Consultant in Emergency Medicine & Pre-Hospital Care at London’s Air Ambulance, Lt Col Chris Wright, St. Mary’s Hospital, London, Professor Karim Brohi, Consultant Trauma and Vascular Surgeon, Royal London Hospital, Professor Hans Morten Lossius, Professor of Pre-Hospital Critical Care and Head of Research and Development, The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Dr Mark Wilson, Neuro-Surgeon, St. Mary’s Hospital, London and Dr Samy Sadek, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Pre-Hospital Care and Clinical Governance Lead, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust.

As well as presentations by the key-note speakers, delegates were treated to two workshops in the CEME POD, a unique tailor-made auditorium. One by Laerdal, introducing the future of simulation which saw the EHAAT HEMS Team demonstrate a new high-tech simulation mannequin, plus a product launch by Malcolm Russell from Prometheus for the Russell PneumoFix™, designed to provide effective management of tension pneumothorax.

The Conference was chaired by EHAAT Consultants Professor David Lockey and Dr Anne Weaver. They have both been involved with the Clinical Governance of the Trust as honorary consultants since the Doctor/Paramedic model was adopted. Professor Lockey is an Anaesthetist with many years of pre-hospital experience and Dr Weaver has great experience in pre-hospital care both in the UK and Australia and continues to push the boundaries of HEMS pre-hospital care.

Aeromedical Conference Chair and EHAAT Consultant, Professor David Lockey, said: “This type of conference is really useful because it approaches patient care from two ways, first of all the innovation and the advances in trauma injury and the structures put in place to improve patient care and outcome. The combination of everyday processes which we are always striving to improve and innovation is what we have heard discussed.”

Special International guest speaker Professor Hans Morten Lossius from the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation spoke about the differences between their Air Ambulance model and that of the UK.  He shared with delegates the cutting edge potential of taking advanced interventions and diagnosis to the scene by taking CT scanners to patients with stroke in an effort to treat them quicker and how subsequently these innovations may cross over to the trauma patient.

Professor Hans Morten Lossius, Professor of Pre-Hospital Critical Care and Head of Research and Development, The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, adds: “Coming to the Aeromedical Conference has been a great opportunity to meet colleagues that are dedicated and work at a high level and to share our visions for pre-hospital care. I think it is an important goal of conferences to talk together and get united to make the pre-hospital field a powerful part of the healthcare system.”

Jane Gurney, CEO of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, reflects: “I am extremely proud to bring together such a diverse range of people in the pre-hospital field for this national event; from military personnel and high level clinicians to the Air Ambulance community and medical students. The conference allows us to share ideas, common practices and strategies but more importantly capture key learning points and strive towards greater patient care.”