Helicopter Emergency Response - The Fourth Emergency Service
The Helicopter Emergency Service was launched in 1989 at a public ceremony. The air ambulance is housed at a purpose-built helipad at Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, which has been very kindly sponsored for the charity, making it one of the best airbases in the United Kingdom.
Since its launch it has attended over 33000 missions, a lot of them lifesaving. The air ambulance is deployed on average 4 times each day. It can reach anywhere in the capital within 12 minutes of an emergency call. It is already proven that Air ambulances save lives and are an essential way of transporting seriously ill or injured patients to the most appropriate hospital to their needs in record time.
The Air Ambulance responds to all types of emergencies but especially Road Traffic Collisions (RTC's) as well as medical emergencies. The dedicated HEMS despatch desk, which is part of the London Ambulance Service, deploys the Air Ambulance after careful consideration of the incident as to whether the patient's condition or the location warrants the air ambulance.
To ensure that this vital, life saving service continues flying the charity needs to raise in excess of £3,500 per day, with minimal support from the Government and National Lottery, relying solely upon voluntary donations to keep this essential service flying. Successful fundraising projects include the London's Air Ambulance Lotto and the Annual 17 floor Abseil.
If you are interested in what it takes to work for the Air Ambulance Service, then how about the doctors opinion or Royal London Hospital,
HEMS London in recognition and appreciation of the heroic work of the London Air Ambulance Service.
HEMS London - in recognition and appreciation of the heroic work of the London Air Ambulance Service.
Today's Hero's in the Skies
The Helicopter Emergency Service, London's Air Ambulance is housed at The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. It is the Emergency Medical Helicopter Service for London and the M25 area, providing pre-hospital trauma care to almost a fifth of the UK population. The service uses a customised MD Explorer Helicopter with multipurpose twin-engines that has a proven to be a high performance vehicle that is affordable, dependable and safe. Two pilots are required for each mission, one of whom acts purely as navigator and radio-operator (now called the Communicator, who keeps in close contact with Air Traffic Control). They also keep a close eye on any potential hazard including watching out for wires, cranes and high buildings, as well as identifying suitable and safe places to land. In addition to a doctor attending the scene, the helicopter will normally carry a full emergency trauma team. Read more on the History of the air ambulance service.
After dark or in adverse weather conditions the helicopter is replaced by a car service which ensures emergency cover for London 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 52 weeks of the year.
The Helicopter Emergency Service is a Registered Charity and a Company limited by Guarantee. The Charity was established in 1989.
The objectives of the Charity are:
- the emergency relief of sickness and injury, and
- the protection of human life,
- by the provision of an air ambulance
for the benefit of everyone living within it's catchment area.
