In 2024, the Physician Response Unit treated 3,361 patients

Our Physician Response Unit (PRU) – a pioneering community emergency medicine service aiming to deliver safe, effective and patient-centric emergency care, often in the patient’s own home – treated 3,361 patients throughout 2024.

Dispatched in an emergency response car, the total of 3,361 patients for the year means on average the team attended to nine jobs per day, with the highest number of jobs in one day being 16.

These jobs include a variety of emergencies – from cardiac arrests, major trauma and sepsis to severe headaches, chest pains and minor injuries – a true representation of the spectrum of cases encountered in the emergency department.

In terms of the chief complaint that resulted in the PRU being dispatched, difficulty breathing was the most common, resulting in 320 dispatches. Clouded consciousness was the reason the PRU visited 286 patients and falls for 219 patients. You can see how these differ from 2023 by reading that year’s annual report here.

The PRU operates in North East London within the footprint of the three Barts Health NHS Emergency Departments: The Royal London Hospital, Newham University Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital. Since 2020 it also offers support within the neighbouring boroughs of Barking, Havering and Redbridge.

In 2024, the service attended Newham the most, visiting 1,056 patients in that borough (31.4 per cent). Waltham Forest saw the service treat 750 patients (22.3 per cent) and Tower Hamlets 709 (21.2 per cent).

The PRU is run by London’s Air Ambulance Charity alongside the helicopter emergency medical service, both operating on the same principle – getting there in time to make a difference, at any time of the day or night. In 2024, the helicopter emergency medical service attended 2,058 patients. Our annual report details the mechanisms of injury that resulted in these patients and you can read this here.

Both services rely on the support of the public; on your support. As we continue to provide world-class medical care when a life is on the line, can you help us be there for London?