London’s Air Ambulance, also known as London HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service), is a charity that operates an air medical service dedicated to responding to serious trauma emergencies in and around London. Using a helicopter by day and road vehicles by night, it functions as a mobile emergency department in life-threatening, time-critical situations.
London’s Air Ambulance was founded in 1989 in response to a report by the Royal College of Surgeons which documented cases of patients dying unnecessarily because of the delay in receiving prompt and appropriate medical care. The charity was the first in the UK to carry a senior doctor in addition to a paramedic at all times on a helicopter, introducing a system that reduces the death rate in severe trauma by 30–40%.
From its base at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, the helicopter can reach any patient inside the M25 London orbital road, which acts as the service’s catchment area, within 15 minutes. Missions commonly involve serious road traffic collisions, falls from height, stabbings and shootings, industrial accidents and incidents on the rail network. The team can provide advanced life-saving medical interventions, including open heart surgery, blood transfusion and anaesthesia, at the scene. The charity operates 24 hours a day, serving the 10 million people who live, work and travel within the M25. Of up to 5,000 999 ambulance calls made every day in London, up to seven of the most critical are passed to the air ambulance.
Emdad, who has just returned from a group expedition to climb Mount Snowdon to fund cataract operations in developing countries, injured an Achilles in January. He said: “I may not be able to jog yet as I can’t stand fully on my toes, but my Snowdon team are also running for the Human Relief cause and I’ll be flanked and supported by a few friends.
“Snowdon was a great experience and walking at a steady pace I made it with the sturdy support of members of the team. I’m determined to complete the BUPA 10,000 so even if I can’t run I’m determined to walk it.”
•To sponsor Emdad, please visit www.justgiving.com/numero7