Operational

This section does not include activities that directly relate to operations flown but rather those ancillary activities that are essential in maintaining and improving the quality of care and safety of each mission.

• The trauma team, be they paramedic or doctor, must constantly update and revalidate their skills and knowledge to ensure they remain competent. This is known as Continued Professional Development (CPD). To achieve this they need to attend educational meetings and conferences usually two per person per year and be regularly monitored and the evidence recorded.
• In addition to the above and occasionally after working hours they are required to attend Operational Crew Meetings, Operational Clinical Audit Days and compulsory training days that take place several times per year, annually their aircraft operating skills and aviation knowledge is reassessed.
• The medical crew are involved in both research and audit, in the first instance research informs our clinical standard operational procedures (SOPs) and audit monitors our performance.
• Patient records must be maintained and patient confidentiality protected, these are carefully monitored and access to such records secured by appointed clinical staff.
• Outside of operational hours the senior clinicians are involved in integrated care initiatives within our region; this requires a significant amount of additional time but is essential in providing a seamless system of care for the pre-hospital patient.

No effort is spared to ensure that at all times the patients we attend are guaranteed the best of care available, consequently the time and money required to maintain these standards is equally as important as that which is spent on the helicopters.