Following the Association of Air Ambulances decision to change its membership structures the Association has recruited 2 new full members and a range of associate members to its ranks.

Full members of the Association are ambulance services and air ambulance charities that are committed to ethical fundraising and collaboration in their unified vision of improving patient outcomes.  The Association which currently represents 14 of the 19 Air Ambulance Charities and 9 of the 12 Ambulance Services has in the past year launched Guidance SOP’s about “On Site Photography”, established the “Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence”, been instrumental in the formation of the “Air Ambulance All Party Parliamentary Group” and held the first collaborative “National Air Ambulance Week “.

Clive Dickin, National Director commented: “Delivery of real improvements to the sector is key and as the principal association for the air ambulance sector in the UK the growth in membership is a key indicator of the authority and cohesion of the Association.  2012 proved to be a very exciting year for the Association, its reputation grew with the delivery of a range of new initiatives and the Association has further plans for expansion in 2013.”

Now an incorporated organisation, the Association is launching a membership code of conduct. To further enhance the already positive image and operational performance the code will establish a clear benchmark for reputable and ethical fundraising activities, improved air operations and sharing best clinical practice. Further, through the sub committees of the Association, additional collaboration and sharing of best practice will help to further improve effectiveness and efficiency. Key areas will be investigated further and include the sharing of clinical and operational best practice and data, benchmarking and reviewing tasking. The 2008 Frame Work Document has now been reviewed and will be published, with a brand new reference work being planned for 2014. A review of perinatal and paediatric retrieval and transfer will be completed, with the Associations vision of an established matrix, with multiple air assets delivering a rapid and broader platform of service.  This service will link, established emergency medical services, MOD charitable and commercial air ambulances with hospitals and specialist centres.

Bill Sivewright, Chairman of the Association commented: “This is an exciting time for the Association.  Since its inception in 2008 it has aspired to bring together the air ambulance community in a way that enables the best use of NHS, charitable and commercially funded resources to really deliver on patient benefit.   This is an enormous challenge and we have quite some way to go but the significant developments of the past year have taken us much closer to realising that goal.”

For more information about the Association please visit its current web site at www.associationofairambulances.co.uk.