Following on from the statement published earlier this week (30.03.2020), and due to the intensifying situation surrounding Coronavirus and the urgent need for more highly skilled paramedics on the frontline, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) have had to take the extremely difficult decision to redeploy all of their Critical Care Paramedics onto frontline land ambulance duties.
This comes just days after it was announced that the YAA’s Critical Care Consultants were to be redeployed back to their respective hospitals to focus on their primary roles in emergency medicine, anaesthesia and critical care across Yorkshire.
The announcement coincides with the news that the Harrogate Convention Centre is to be opened as one of four national Coronavirus NHS Nightingale Hospitals specifically set up to deal with patients of the pandemic.
Peter Sunderland, Chairman of the YAA explains: “As the NHS anticipates the Coronavirus crisis will intensify in the region over the next few weeks, demand on the new Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate will inevitably increase. This means that patients will need transferring by road ambulance to the facility, and this will be supported by YAS’s specialist team of highly skilled Paramedics. As our Critical Care Paramedics fall into this category, is it vitally important that their skills are utilised to provide as much support as possible during this crisis period.”
This means that for a temporary period, the YAA will be unable to fly either of their Air Ambulance helicopters, for emergency purposes for now. They will however, be periodically undertaking some essential & mandatory Pilot training, along with the possibility of providing assistance to the civil powers. This may include transferring essential medical equipment or personnel across the region at some point in the future.
Peter continues: “Obviously this situation isn’t ideal for the Charity, however we know we must do whatever we can to support our colleagues in the NHS and at YAS, and by redeploying our Doctors and Paramedics back to the frontline, where they are currently needed the most, this is the best decision we can take at this time. We do wish to reinforce however, that this is just a temporary measure, and that the YAA crews and helicopters will be back flying as soon as the situation starts to safely subside.”
The YAA crew will complete their last shift from their Nostell Airbase today (03.04.2020) before being immediately redeployed to the YAS frontline.
Nick Smith, Executive Director of Operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust added: “This has been the most difficult of decisions, but we are currently operating in unprecedented times and we need to ensure that valuable clinical resources are in place where they can be of most benefit to patients. We are sincerely grateful to Peter Sunderland and his team for their understanding and continued support at this challenging time.”
Peter concluded: “It is times like these when, as a nation, we must all pull together to support one and other, and in particular the NHS and our key workers. Our vital contribution at this time is to support them by redeploying our key medical personnel back to the frontline, where they are currently needed the most.
“The Charity will continue to do everything it can at this time to plan for the future, and as soon as this situation has safely subsided, our helicopters will be back in the air and our fundraising teams will be back out and about supporting and educating the people of Yorkshire about the wonderful work we do.
“Finally, we would also reiterate our message from earlier in the week reinforcing the government’s message to stay at home and only travel for essential reasons if you have to. We must all do our bit to help stop the spread of this virus as soon as possible. Please ensure you and your loved ones keep safe and I personally thank everyone for their ongoing support.”
