Having now been with EAAA for eight years, Dr Sarah specialises in critical care with the charity’s 24/7 life-saving service.
“Being part of a HEMS team and working with others to provide high-quality patient care in varied and challenging situations is really rewarding. It is really inspiring working for an organisation where every single staff member is focussed on ensuring we can give patients and their families the best possible pre-hospital care,” Dr sarah says.
Being able to provide specialist critical care at the scene, within minutes of being alerted of a medical emergency can make a big difference to the outcome of the patient. Whether it’s a cardiac arrest, road traffic collision or other medical emergency, EAAA can significantly reduce the wait for urgent critical care needed in the early stages of an emergency by bringing the advanced skills, equipment and treatment – that you would normally find in a hospital – to the scene when the patient needs it most. This includes blood transfusions, advanced pain relief, sedation and anaesthesia, and surgical interventions.
Sarah says: “It’s a huge responsibility and a privilege; we are trusted by all those around us to give patients and their families the best possible pre-hospital care to ultimately keep loved ones together. And that’s what makes this job so special.
“I can honestly say that there’s nothing quite like working in pre-hospital emergency medicine when somebody needs urgent help from East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). It’s a unique environment and there is no such thing as an ordinary day for the crew; every call that comes in can be for a different medical emergency, in a different location – and every single person we attend means the world to someone.”