19 Jan 2023
In November 2022, London’s Air Ambulance’s crew treated 167 critically injured patients in London: 11 patients less in comparison to October 2022.
Providing life-saving pre-hospital care during this month involved administering 36 ultrasounds, 30 rapid sequence intubations, 23 blood transfusions and five thoracotomies at the scene, alongside other interventions. Our advanced trauma teams are the only ones in London who can administer blood transfusions, place patients in comas and perform open heart surgery in the pre-hospital environment.
The team also performed an innovative procedure called REBOA four times during November. REBOA involves inserting a balloon with a catheter and inflating it to control internal bleeding. It was London’s Air Ambulance who performed the world-first use of REBOA outside of a hospital in 2014.
The most common mechanism of injury in November was penetrating trauma, which resulted in 61 patients (36 per cent). Road traffic collisions resulted in 50 patients (30 per cent), falls from height 30 patients (18 per cent), other mechanisms of injury 16 patients (10 per cent) and medical injuries 10 (six per cent).
In terms of boroughs across London, Westminster was the most commonly visited during this month, with Southwark and then Haringey second and third. The Royal London Hospital received the majority of our patients (43 per cent), with St Mary’s Hospital receiving 26 per cent and King’s College Hospital and St George’s Hospital both 12 per cent.
The aircraft performed three carry backs – two to The Royal London Hospital and one to St Mary’s Hospital. As our purpose is more to provide pre-hospital care instead of transporting patients to hospital, this is a relatively rare occurrence for our team.
London’s Air Ambulance is a charity and we rely on public support to remain operational. We need to replace our two helicopters by 2024 as they’re coming to the end of their lifespan, which will cost an additional £15 million alongside the approximate £10 million it costs annually to run the service.
Can you help support our Up Against Time appeal, and ensure we can continue to be there for London?