GNAAS on the Isle of Man

Life-Saving Service on the Isle of Man

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) have made a significant impact on the lives of people on the Isle of Man since delivering our service on the Island. 

We started a trial with Manx Care in March 2022 to provide critical care interventions and transfer seriously injured or unwell patients by helicopter from the Isle of Man directly to the UK for emergency medical treatment. 

The direct transfer of patients to trauma units or specialist centres in the North West ensures they receive off-Island treatment in the shortest possible time.

The story so far...

Previously, patients who needed immediate hospital care were brought to Noble’s Hospital and if they required further treatment off-Island, were subsequently transferred by fixed wing air ambulance. 

Despite a good and reliable air ambulance service for secondary transfers, there existed no access to a pre-hospital Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) able to provide the full spectrum of advanced critical care procedures.

Initially a six-month trial period of this service began in March 2022 which offered a primary HEMS retrieval from the scene of an incident, including stabilisation and transfer to a major trauma centre within the UK, and also secondary transfers from the emergency department of Nobles Hospital to the relevant UK mainland hospital. 

GNAAS has carried out numerous interventions on the island which would not have been possible with only a standard road paramedic crew.

A spokesperson for GNAAS said: “We are very proud to be able to provide our pre-hospital service to the Island and make a positive difference in people’s lives. 

A service like no other

At GNAAS, we have our own specially trained critical care team that are dedicated to providing the best possible care and emergency treatment to those that find themselves in the worst of situations. We are able to carry out life-saving interventions before patients have the chance to reach hospital, a service that has not previously been available in the Isle of Man.

With your support, we can continue to provide the Isle of Man with this service in the future and continue to care for the fantastic people on the island.