Dr Colville Laird emphasises importance of collaboration at AAA National Conference

The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) National Conference returned for another year to the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington, London to explore the issues affecting air ambulance charities. Held on Monday 16 November, the day's talks followed a theme of the ‘Here and Now’, and discussed what air ambulance charities are doing, the advances and steps being taken to take patient care to the next level, and considered the opportunities for clinical, operational and charitable excellence to flourish.

In a similar vein to previous years, the agenda came under three main categories: clinical, operations and charity. An extended workshop programme was introduced and lectures held across two theatres.

Following a brief welcome from AAA national director, Clive Dickin, Hannah Sebright, AAA vice chair, outlined the challenges facing the air ambulance sector. The keynote presentation was then given by Dr Colville Laird, chair of the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, who explained how he was tasked by the organisers of the conference to deliver a ‘controversial’ talk. Coming under the enigmatic title of ‘Air Ambulances, Budgerigars and Formula One’, Laird highlighted the importance of working together in pre-hospital care, as the result is better than the sum of its parts. He emphasised that air ambulances are only part of a very big system in pre-hospital care and that the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care is encouraging interaction between all levels of care provider.