Air Ambulance 20th anniversary celebrations draw to a close

24 May 2018

Air Ambulance 20^th anniversary celebrations draw to a close

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) has marked the end of a year of celebrations for its twentieth anniversary with an Evening of Celebration at Chelmsford Cathedral on Tuesday 22 May. The Cathedral was chosen because of its size and location, in order to allow as many people as possible to attend.

The evening paid tribute to those who have helped the organisation develop from a single airbase covering one county to two bases – at Earls Colne and North Weald – covering two counties.

EHAAT Chief Executive Jane Gurney outlined the history of the Charity while Critical Care Paramedics Tony Stone and Adam Carr shared some of their experiences as Patient Liaison Managers as they help air-lifted patients with their recovery by `filling in the blanks’.

The evening was the final event of a Year of Celebration which began In June 2017 with a Celebration Event at Audley End that was attended by thousands of supporters. There the Charity unveiled its first purchased helicopter, the AgustaWestland 169.

Jonathan Trower, Chairman of the Trustees, paid tribute to the supporters, staff and volunteers whose efforts had supported the Charity’s development. He revealed that at a recent meeting the Trustees and Executive Team discussed plans to develop the Charity’s life-saving service.

The New Hall School Choir entertained the audience with performances of `Oranges and Lemons’ and `Banaha’, a Congolese song of celebration. For the latter guests were divided into three groups and encouraged to join in.

Jane Gurney said: “This is has been a fantastic opportunity to bring staff, volunteers and supporters together at the end of what has been a remarkable year of celebrations marking our 20^th anniversary. The organisation has made such amazing progress since it began with a single helicopter back in 1998, and it has been wonderful to celebrate with many of the people who have made that possible – thank you!”

-ENDS-

Photographs:

1. Patient Liaison Managers/Critical Care Paramedics Adam Carr and Tony Stone

2. EHAAT CEO Jane Gurney and The Very Reverend Nicholas Henshall, Dean of Chelmsford

3. EHAAT staff (L to R: Adam Carr (Patient Liaison Manager), Scott McIlwaine (Clinical Operations Manager), Stuart Elms (Clinical Director), Cliff Gale (Operations Director), Jane Gurney (CEO), Jonathan Ager (Finance Director), Tony Stone (Patient Liaison Manager)

4. EHAAT staff and volunteers

For more information please contact the Communications Team on 0345 2417 690.

Notes to Editor:

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.

The service is provided free of charge but, unlike NHS emergency services, the Charity receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery. It costs £500,000 every month to keep the service operational and saving lives, and this would not be possible without the generosity and goodwill of people and businesses of Essex, Hertfordshire and beyond.

Each of the Charity’s HEMS teams consist of two Pilots, a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and a Critical Care Paramedic.

These teams, made up of highly-skilled individuals, tended to 1077 patients in 2016 and are the backbone of your local life-saving Charity.

The fleet, consisting of two Air Ambulances, and four Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs - cars) operates seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. After sunset, the Critical Care Team continues to provide the service using Rapid Response Vehicles.

In addition, a Rapid Response Vehicle is operational on a Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until 2am with a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic.