Following recent conversations between GNAAS and Manx Care, we have reached a conclusion, and it has been agreed that GNAAS will be partly funded and continue responding to the Isle of Man.
Since March 2022, we have trialled operating alongside the Isle of Man’s existing fixed wing air ambulance service, to transfer patients to trauma or other specialist centres in the North West, so they can receive vital treatment in the shortest time possible.
The service was commissioned by Manx Care supported by the Isle of Man Cabinet Office’s Transformation Programme, in response to a key recommendation made by Sir Jonathan Michael in his review into health and care services on the Island: the creation of an enhanced 24/7 emergency air bridge.
GNAAS is an established provider of advanced treatment at the scene of an incident as well as emergency treatment in flight for the most ill and injured people in the North East, North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.
To provide the additional service in the Isle of Man, and allow for the extended flight over water, which is approximately 35 minutes, we had to make several adaptations, both to our aircraft and staff training.
Our helicopters have had flotation devices fitted to them in case of needing to ditch in open water to help them remain afloat and allow time for the team to escape, and there are also rescue rafts fitted to the aircraft.
In addition to a survival brief every day and needing to review wave height over the Irish Sea as part of the aviation brief, the team are required to wear a personal flotation device when flying to the island.
To ensure all team members are appropriately skilled on the required actions in the event of a water landing, they have all taken part in “dunker tank” training. This involves team members being submerged in a simulated airframe and allows them the opportunity to rehearse exiting the aircraft in water.
Since the partnership began, our doctors, pilots and paramedics have responded to the Isle of Man at least 60 times and transferred many patients to specialist hospitals in the UK.
Our team work closely with paramedics from Isle of Man Ambulance Service and can provide patients with advanced levels of pre-hospital care, including anaesthesia, blood transfusions and surgery.
For the duration of the trial, GNAAS received funding from Manx Care to respond to the Island, to supplement our normal costs of operating which are currently £9.3m a year.
Whilst the funding from Manx Care allowed us to begin responding to incidents, it was not guaranteed after the initial trial ended.
Over the last three years we have been working hard to increase our presence in the Isle of Man and raise enough funds to continue providing our service to residents and tourists on the Island.
While we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from the public, the reality is that without further funding from Manx Care, we would not be able to sustain the service for the Isle of Man community.
Both Manx Care and GNAAS are pleased to announce that we have agreed to a new contract that will see continuation of this vital service for a further 12 months, commencing from April 2025.
Manx Care will fund the service based on a per mission costing and GNAAS commit to strengthening its fundraising activities on the Island.
It estimated that we need to raise £124,000 a year to cover additional costs such as safety equipment required to travel over water.
We want to be there for anyone who needs our critical care, but we can’t exist or be able to deliver this without the support of the communities we serve. If you value the work we do on the Island please donate to support our mission.
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