Air Ambulance National Conference 2013 and Awards of Excellence

This year's Air Ambulance National Conference, organised by the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA), took place at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington, London. Offering a fantastic opportunity for those involved in this exciting field to engage with a number of key issues, the one-day conference saw 27 speakers spread over the three colleges of charity, clinical and operational.

Following a welcome from AAA National Director, Clive Dickin, the conference commenced with an air ambulances update from AAA Chairman, Bill Sivewright. He highlighted a number of successes of the year, including improved representation of the air ambulance sector as a result of the formation of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Air Ambulances, noting how it has allowed air ambulances to engage with MPs directly.

Prof Chris Moran, National Clinical Director for Major Trauma, then gave the first of the clinical talks on the first year of major trauma networks in England. Highlighting that survival following major trauma has increased by 20% in England since the introduction of major trauma networks, he said: ‘the introduction of a system led to a stepwise improvement in care.’