General

The rapid response emergency charity has worked closely with Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust to develop the intensive, three-week technical crew members course.

The intake, all experienced paramedics with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, was chosen for the two-year secondment following a rigorous selection process.

New recruit Paul Holmes said: “The first day’s training was underwater escape from a helicopter and it’s been an intense learning curve, but just fantastic.”

The programme also includes mountain and swift water rescue, navigation, air safety, advanced clinical skills and crew resource management.

Pete Vallance, Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) Clinical Operations Manager, said: “This is the first year we have provided a full, in-house technical crew members course encompassing both medical and aviation aspects.

“A lot of work has gone into this from both ourselves and Yorkshire Ambulance Service to ensure we have provided training of the highest calibre.”

Ian Walton, Associate Director of Resilience and Special Services at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: “As partners we take every opportunity to work together with colleagues at YAA.  Enhanced training packages and secondment opportunities for our paramedics will further enhance this vital service for the benefit of patients.”

Previously new paramedics joined the YAA on a part-time basis over three years. But this latest cohort is also the first that has been seconded full-time for two years.

Pete Vallance explained: “Because of the advancements and requirements of aircrew paramedics, we decided it would be much better to have people with us for two years on a full-time attachment.

“We found that paramedics spending a month with us and then going back on the road for a month meant they were constantly playing catch-up.

“Now, even if they are not flying, the aircrew paramedics are manning the air desk and it is a better experience for them, and a more effective way of developing their skills during their time with us.”

The YAA is a rapid response emergency service serving 5million people across Yorkshire. It has transported over 6,000 critically ill or injured people to hospital in its 14-year history.

Pete added: “The workload of land crews is much greater but the aircrew paramedics are primarily dealing with the really critical end of the patient care cycle; the most life threatening injuries that need immediate attention and rapid transport to hospital.

“As well as developing their clinical skills, the paramedics learn a lot about working together as a team in often highly pressurised working conditions.”

The YAA is an independent charity and needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters in the air – equivalent to £4.4 million a year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of their 14 paramedics from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

In order to hit its target, Nexus is arranging a series of fundraising initiatives throughout the year, with activities including a Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks Challenge on 15 August which will see Nexus staff walk the gruelling 23-mile trail that includes Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Leading from the front, Nexus CEO, David Brennan will also cycle from Harrogate to Scarborough and back on a sponsored 160-mile bike ride in July.  

Since forming the partnership, eight Nexus employees have visited the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Air Support Unit at Nostell Priory, enabling them to receive greater insight into how the service operates.

David Brennan, Chief Executive at Nexus says: “As a Yorkshire-based business we are committed to supporting this vital service, which saves lives across our region every day and is close to the hearts of so many of our customers, colleagues and partners.

“Like the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, we aim to deliver the fastest response times and are continually innovating. These shared values bring real synergy to our partnership.”  

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance attends over 1,000 missions each year which is an average three missions every single day.

Kerry Garner, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager for West and South Yorkshire added: “As an independent charity we rely solely on the generosity of the public and kind donations from businesses to ensure our helicopters and medical teams can continue saving lives across Yorkshire.

“Many of the incidents we attend occur on our region’s motorways and roads, so to have Nexus, a corporate vehicle rental provider, lending its support to this vital service is very pertinent. We are incredibly grateful to the Nexus team for their support and look forward to building a strong relationship with them as their fundraising efforts continue.” 

For the 48-year-old has won a new Suzuki Swift car – just days after being forced to scrap his old car and facing weeks of saving up to ‘buy another old banger’.

David, a press setter at Rosti McKechnie in Pickering, bought the ticket at last year’s Wartime Weekend in the town and did not give it a second thought.

“The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was there and I got my grandson a ticket for their pick-a-stick game and he won a fluffy helicopter.

“I bought a couple of raffle tickets to support the charity and never thought anything more about it but someone must have been looking down on us that day.

“It could not have come at a better time as I had to scrap my old car and we were going to be without one for a while until we could save up enough to replace it.”  

The raffle was organized by Hunmanby driving instructor Rob Scott as part of a major fundraising drive for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

Rob and his team also converted a 15-year-old Mercedes Vito Minibus into the distinctive yellow YAA helicopter – complete with rotor blades! – to compete in last month’s Benidorm or Bust rally from Blackpool to Benidorm.

Their ‘Helivan’ won best car out of 209 vehicles that completed the 3,756-mile journey, taking part in Top Gear-style challenges along the way.

“We were absolutely delighted to win the best car trophy and kept being told we had the most famous van in Europe!,” said Rob.

He was joined on the start-line by three other cars raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and the rally and raffle have so far raised just over £20,000 for the rapid response emergency charity.

David, of Willow Gate, picked up his new Suzuki Swift from Scarborough’s GT Garages, who also provided Rob with a demo car for ten months to help promote raffle sales and sponsorship.

Rob, a registered volunteer for the YAA, added: “We’ve had so much support from GT Garages. It’s been incredible and we can’t thank them enough, and a range of other local companies who have given us their services and time free of charge.”

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire, attending over 1,000 missions a year – on average three a day.

The charity needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying, equivalent to £4.4m a year.

Caption: Raffle winner David Lawrence and wife Karen with their new car, donated by GT Garages. Raffle organizer Rob Scott (left) hands over a cheque for £20,000 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance regional fundraiser Bob Smailes.

Family and friends of a 22-year-old girl, tragically killed after a horse riding accident, have raised nearly £10,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance after a marathon mountain challenge.

Georgina Lockey, was flown by the rapid response emergency charity to Leeds General Infirmary after being thrown from her horse near the Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax, on August 18, 2013.

The popular former Hipperholme and Lightcliffe High School student, suffered a devastating brain injury in the accident.

Despite the efforts of medical staff her brain damage was so severe, her parents made the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support two days later.

Since her death Georgina’s family and friends have been fund raising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Cousin Laura Fairbank said: “Without the YAA’s speed, care and ability to reach Georgina in the remote rural location, she may not have been given the fighting chance in hospital.

“Her family may not have had the chance to say their goodbyes and for her to give life to others by becoming an organ donor.”

Earlier this month Laura joined Georgina’s sisters Annabel and Suzie, cousin Claire Nixon and nine close friends to tackle the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

The 13 girls battled gale force winds, rain, hail and snow to complete the ascent of Whernside, Pen-y-ghent and Ingleborough in under 12 hours.

Annabel, 18, from Northowram, said: “Georgie loved walking and being outside and she would have loved to have done the Three Peaks Challenge.

“It was very very tough but we have just been amazed by how much support we’ve received. We originally aimed to raise £5,000 but have so far received almost twice that.”

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

On average the Yorkshire Air Ambulance attends over 1000 missions each year which is an average 3 missions every single day.

Since nursery nurse Georgina’s death, her family and friends have now raised over £20,000 for the YAA from a range of events including a fashion show, tea parties and 10K run.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager Kerry Garner said: “Georgina’s family and friends are truly amazing. They have done so much for us since Georgina’s accident and we are incredibly grateful.”

Charlotte Leighton has extra reason to celebrate riding at the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials as the event has chosen the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its chosen charity for 2015.

Nine years ago Charlotte’s life was saved by the rapid response emergency charity after being knocked down by a car outside her home in Tollerton, near York.

She was flown to Leeds General Infirmary in ten minutes – a journey that would have taken around 40 minutes by road. “If I had gone by land ambulance it might have been too late,” said Charlotte, now 19.

She was left with multiple fractures to her forehead, eye sockets, jaw and leg and underwent pioneering facial reconstruction surgery.

The hairdresser and beautician is still undergoing treatment – with an operation in August that will involve breaking her upper jaw and putting in a titanium plate before bone grafting and implants.

But Charlotte’s injuries have never stopped her from living life to the full. She took up horse riding at the age of 12 and, with younger sister Serena, regularly competes in show jumping events across the country.

Charlotte and Serena, 15, are part of a four-strong showjumping team from York and Ainsty South Pony Club taking part in the Equi-Trek Bramham International Horse Trials between June 11-14. Other members are Holly Clayden and Nick Ireland.

Proud Mum Sue said: “Everyone gives so generously to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance because it’s a service that’s here for us.

“You never know when you are going to need it and it’s always there when you do. We never thought we would need the air ambulance but if it wasn’t for them, Charlotte would not be here today.”

Charlotte – now a registered volunteer for the YAA – and her family and friends have raised over £200,000 for the helicopter heroes that saved her life.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs to raise £12.000 every day to keep its two helicopters in the air, which is equivalent to £4.4 million a year.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Thousands of people are expected at Bramham over the four action-packed days to watch eventing, show jumping, showing, young stock classes and Pony Club activities as well as enjoying family attractions and 160 trade stands.

Charlotte said: “Bramham is such a fantastic event and it’s such an honour to compete there, to ride in that arena, with all the surrounding stalls and marquees.

“It’s a very special atmosphere and I’m just delighted that they have chosen the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as its charity this year.”

The online Bramham Box Office is now open and booking in advance qualifies you for discounted tickets and free car parking.  Visit www.bramham-horse.co.uk for full prices and how to book.

Photo: Charlotte Leighton with her horse Hector who will be competing at the Bramham International Horse Trials next month. She is also pictured in hospital after her car accident.

In fact, their latest charity event, a ‘Sparkling Afternoon Tea’ at St George’s Court, Old Home Farm, High Grantley, near Ripon, proved such a sell-out success that the ladies have now netted £11,500 in total for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

St George’s Court’s Lindsey and William Hitchen, long-standing members of Farm Stay UK, the national group of on-farm accommodation providers, hosted the event, helped by ladies from Farm Stay’s Dales and Bronte group and others across to the Yorkshire moors and coast.

Two years ago, the Yorkshire region created a recipe book celebrating 30 years of Farm Stay UK, choosing to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance from proceeds of the book’s sale.

Five hundred copies were originally printed and over 3,500 books have now been sold. Funds have also been boosted by charity fund-raisers, when the ladies have served up some fantastic farmhouse fayre, much of it featuring locally produced food.

Yorkshire Farm Stay Chairman Lisa Preston, of Pickersgill Manor Farm, Silsden, said: “We were very close to our target of £10,000 before the St George’s Court event, but to break through the barrier and, in fact, raise considerably more, is a fantastic achievement.

“A total of 126 people turned out to support us and we cannot thank them enough, along with our generous band of sponsors, We are now looking forward to presenting the cheque to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Keynote sponsors included Barclays, Pinnies and Pearls, of Harrogate, Paynes Dairy in Boroughbridge, Taylors of Harrogate, Pickering-based HPE Print and Cooking Fantastic, of Killinghall.

Rob Dixon from York based Pilotwise has produced ten sets of bespoke FRCs (Flight Reference Cards) for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopters.  

They are of a fantastic quality and an excellent enhancement to the manner in which we conduct flight operations.  FRCs are used throughout the aviation industry and contain all the checks required to operate our aircraft in both Normal and Emergency scenarios.  

Presentation and accessibility of this information is key to resolving problems in a safe and effective manner.  Crews have already started rehearsing these drills in their morning briefs. 

Here is Paul presenting the FRC's to our Chief Pilot, Andy Lister along with paramedics Tony Wilkes & Andy Armitage. 

The donation of £944,254 was made by Yorkshire Building Society based on deposits placed in its Yorkshire Air Ambulance affinity savings accounts over the past year.

It will contribute towards the Charity’s plans for a future replacement helicopter and takes the total donated by the Society to YAA since 2007 to more than £2 million.

Gary Lacey, Yorkshire Building Society Savings Product Manager, said: “Yorkshire Building Society is committed to supporting good causes where our members and colleagues live and work. To have been responsible for the largest ever donation to the YAA is something the Society is very proud of.

“We are delighted to be able to help such a vital service as Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is close to the hearts of many of our members in the region.”

 Peter Sunderland, Chairman of the YAA, said: “This is the largest, single donation the Charity has ever received and we are overwhelmed by the support of the Society. 

“We are currently looking at provisions for a future replacement helicopter for one of our current aircraft, so these monies will significantly contribute towards the reserves we are starting to build to cover these costs.”

Katie Collinson, Partnerships Manager for the YAA, added: “We are really happy to have the support from Yorkshire Building Society and its customers and this donation of £944,254 is an amazing amount of money.

“We would like to extend our thanks to Yorkshire Building Society for choosing to support the life-saving work of the YAA and also to all the customers who chose to open a YAA account.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity that currently flies around 1,200 missions a year and provides a rapid response air emergency service to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire. The charity has to raise £12,000 every day, which equates to £4.4 million a year, to keep both of Yorkshire's air ambulances in the air and relies on donations from individuals and organisations to meet this demand.

The YAA affinity accounts are no longer on sale but donations will continue to be made based on existing deposits and existing accounts will have the option to roll over.

The rapid response emergency charity has bought 14 pairs of specialist medical shears following the grant of £912 from the Trust, a grant-making charity that supports community projects in the Craven area.

The state-of-the-art Leatherman Raptor shears are designed for use by military medics and emergency rescue services. They can quickly and safely cut through materials including seat belts and motorbike leathers.

YAA Paramedic Al Day said: “We are really very grateful for the donation that has meant we can upgrade this vital piece of equipment.

“The shears we had were in need of replacement and we now have excellent kit which will enable us to save vital seconds at the scene of major trauma incidents.”

The Craven Trust has been supporting community-based projects, organisations and individuals in the Craven area for nearly 20 years.

Chairman Mark Facer said: “The Craven Trust is delighted to be able to support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and contribute towards the cost of the medical shears.

“We cover some of the remotest parts of Yorkshire and the Air Ambulance is invaluable in providing rescue services in those areas’.

YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Is it a car? Is it a helicopter? No it’s a ‘helivan’ that will be taking to the roads of England, France and Spain next month.

Driving instructor Robert Scott has spent weeks converting a 15 year-old Mercedes Vito Minibus into the distinctive yellow Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter – complete with rotor blades!

He will be joining more than 200 cars taking part in this year’s Benidorm or Bust rally from Blackpool to Benidorm with Top Gear-style challenges along the way.

The 1,700-mile route takes drivers over four days from Blackpool to Dover, then from Calais to Poitiers, through Bordeaux and over the Pyrenees to Zaragoza before ending in the popular Costa Blanca resort.

Robert, from Hunmanby, near Filey, is hoping to raise £12,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA). He said: “I know people who have had to be airlifted to hospital and it is such a great charity providing a life saving service for people in Yorkshire.

“I’ve done the Benidorm or Bust before and it’s a great few days. We’ve spent a lot of hours making a steel frame to go on the roof, the rotor blades and creating the fiberglass helicopter tail. It’s been spray painted yellow and branded up and looks great.”

Robert, 45, has already raised thousands through the sale of raffle tickets to win a new Suzuki Swift car from Scarborough’s GT Garages who have also provided a demo car over the last 10 months to help promote tickets sales and sponsorship.

The HGV and car instructor has now become a registered volunteer for the YAA. He added: “We’ve had so much support from a range of local companies who have given us their services and time free of charge. It’s been incredible and we can’t thank them enough.”

Supporters include Boro Tyres of Scarborough and All Signs in Bridlington and major sponsors include Castle Howard, Sledmere House, Morrisons and Sainsburys.
Robert was helped create the ‘Heli-Heroes’ helivan by team members Mick Hammond, Howard Cowton and Jeremy Brambles.

They will be joined on the Benidorm or Bust start-line on May 6 by three other cars raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. They include Vicky Turner and dairy farmer Mark Stephenson from Old Malton who will be driving Daisy the Robin Reliant – AKA Mad Cow.

The YAA is an independent charity providing a rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire – England’s largest region. It needs to raise £12,000 each day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Without any direct government funding, the only help the charity receives is through the secondment of its paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.