Patients with life threatening illnesses or injuries who live in rural areas. The service is available from Stranrear to Stornoway, delivering access to a dedicated medical service previously unavailable.

 

Scotland’s new “Flying Doctor” service is a unique and innovative service which pulls on the combined skills of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde consultants, ambulance services and rural health boards.

 

3 years in the making and initiated by concerned volunteer health consultants the service is a shining example of a health service responsive to needs. The recent 1.5 million investment only covers an 18 month test period but the staff involved are confident the service will continue to prove its worth.

 

The key aim of the service is to provide a rapid response for patients suffering life threatening illnesses along the west coast of Scotland with access to expertise from an intensive care consultant.

 

The consultants are based in Glasgow but are only a phone call and a helicopter ride away via the flying ambulance and the royal navy’s Sea King.
The need for the service is illustrated by the case of Ellen Brown form Islay. Having contracted meningitis, Ellen was unconscious. Her GP rang the EMRS and was given advice on initial treatment. The consultant was then flown to Islay via the Sea King search and rescue helicopter. On arrival the patient was anaesthetised and catheters were inserted into an artery in her wrist and into her heart to optimise her blood pressure.

 

Ellen was then flown to on a ventilator directly to intensive care in Glasgow. Ellen made a full recovery thanks to the immediate response of the consultant and flying ambulance service. “I am here today because of the volunteer work of the consultants to prove this service, I am delighted that real funding has been awarded this much needed service.” She stated. to NHS Scotland.”

 

Dr Stephen Hearns Consultant in emergency medicine at the Royal Alexandria hospital and lead consultant for EMRS expressed his support for the decision to fund the pilot scheme. “The service will not only offer an integrated system of rural emergency care but will also provide rural GP’s with training in in emergency care and immediate access to expert advice. The initial pilot is for 18 months we hope this will become a permanent addition to NHS Scotland.”

Jim Kersse, Head of Air Ambulance Services added. “Our air paramedics are highly trained specialists in emergency care and have undertaken over 3000 flights a year, the EMRS service will greatly enhance existing services and offer early intervention for patients suffering in remote areas.
The addition of an emergency consultant through the EMRS greatly enhances the potential for treatment and recovery for patients in rural areas, these new flying doctors will help save live’s.