7 Nov 2024
In September 2024, our advanced trauma team – who are operational 24/7, 365 days a year – attended to 181 patients.
These individuals were critically injured and did not have time to get to hospital – they needed emergency care at scene. Our crew brought the emergency department to the roadside for these patients, which included administering 30 rapid sequence intubations, 18 blood transfusions, two thoracotomies (open chest surgery) and more.
Once we have stabilised the patients on scene, the usual procedure is for our crew to accompany the patient to the nearest major trauma centre. In this month 43 of our patients went to The Royal London Hospital (33 per cent), 41 patients to St Mary’s Hospital (32 per cent), 24 to King’s College (19 per cent) and 15 to St George’s (12 per cent).
We attend to all boroughs of London and can fly to anywhere within the M25 in 11 minutes. In September, the borough we most frequently attended was Westminster, followed by Enfield, Hillingdon and Southwark.
In terms of mechanisms of injury, 38 of September’s patients were as a result of assault (21 per cent). Transport-related injuries resulted in 37 patients (20 per cent), medical-related injuries 29 patients (16 per cent), falls 23 (13 per cent) and accidents 18 (10 per cent). There were also 36 patients who had other or unknown mechanisms of injury.
On average, we attend to five critically injured patients every day. But we’re a charity, with 96 per cent of our funding reliant on public support. We need London’s support to keep us flying, ensuring we can be there when we’re needed most. Can you help and donate today?