The National Children’s Air Ambulance clinical partner in Yorkshire and the Humber has completed its 600th mission transporting a neonatal patient closer to home who still required in-hospital care.
Embrace, hosted by Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust – is a highly specialist, round-the-clock transport service for neonates and children who require care in another hospital in the region or further afield. It first began its work in December 2009 and since then it has completed nearly 400 of its 600 total missions with the National Children’s Air Ambulance (NCAA) – the first and only dedicated children’s air ambulance service in the country, which is charity-funded.
On Thursday 4 June, Embrace flew with the NCAA to transport a neonatal patient from Oldham Hospital in Manchester to Hull Royal Infirmary using the NCAA flight incubator. The journey – which would usually take over an hour and a half – took only 30 minutes.
NCAA Crew member Peter Jackson was the team leader on the 600th mission, when it was completed. It is his role to ensure that the aircraft is fully prepared to transport the NHS clinical partner team so they can deliver uninterrupted care from the referring hospital’s bed to the receiving hospital, with no change in treatment.
Following the mission Peter said: “It was an absolute privilege being an NCAA Crew Member working alongside Embrace, the NHS Neonatal and Paediatric transport service for Yorkshire and Humberside.”
Elle Jordan, Embrace Consultant and Embrace Senior Responsible Officer for NCAA, said: “Reaching 600 flights is a remarkable milestone. At Embrace, we are proud of our aeromedical work and partnership with NCAA, ensuring excellent patient care and experience. Being able to transport patients quickly by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft means we can get children to the specialist care they need sooner or safely return them closer to home when they’re well enough. These transfers can make a real difference, particularly over long distances or when time is critical.”
