Our Impact
A Year in Review: 2022
A Year in Review: 2022
Our vision is that everyone receives the lifesaving pre-hospital emergency care they need, wherever they are, whenever they need it.
Our mission is to deliver cutting-edge pre-hospital care to everyone who needs us.
When someone has a life-threatening illness or injury, time is of the essence. They need expert help fast. This is where we come in.
Our crew of Critical Care Doctors, Advanced Practitioners, Specialist Paramedics and Pilots can be anywhere in our region in just 20 minutes. They bring lifesaving medical and surgical skills straight to the patient. The crew can perform interventions at the scene of an incident that would usually only be done in a hospital Emergency Department, bringing the care forward to where it’s needed the most.
Our values: We put people first
We behave in an ethical manner
We strive to decrease our environmental impact
We reflect on our performance and learn from others
We are inclusive and welcoming
We are grateful for the support we receive
We hope you enjoy reading about the impact we had locally, nationally and internationally in 2022. We achieved many wonderful things and have set the wheels in motion for greater success in the future.
We’re particularly proud of our dedicated crew. They continued to save lives, share their knowledge and push the boundaries of what is possible in pre-hospital emergency medicine. It’s a team effort, and our charity staff worked hard to raise the money needed to get us to as many people as possible on their worst day. They pushed forward initiatives to save more lives and worked alongside medical volunteers to improve the chain of survival for people who suffer an outof-hospital cardiac arrest.
As you read about the patients we helped, the partnerships we made and how we improved in 2022, we hope it becomes clear how humbled we are by the support of the communities we serve.
We wish we could do more. This is our promise to you: with your continued support we will strive to be there for everyone who needs us.
Anna Perry CEO Martyn Drake Chair of TrusteesWe were called to around five people a day on average, some days it was many more
Each mission costs roughly £2,000 on average
81% of hospital landings were at Major Trauma Centres rather than General or Trauma Unit Hospitals
162 patients were given a pre-hospital emergency anaesthetic
235 babies, children and teenagers needed our help
41 patients were given emergency blood transfusions
12
on our busiest day (25 April)
291 hours flown by helicopter
Busiest day of the week
7 agricultural incidents
20 equestrian incidents
47 bicycle incidents
69 motorcycle incidents
In 2022, we were called to Gloucestershire more times than any other area
The areas we were called to
The invaluable generosity and support that communities give to GWAAC as their local air ambulance charity continues to amaze and inspire us.
Individuals, organisations, trusts, foundations, councils and more went above and beyond to keep our specialist crew responding to those in urgent medical need.
On behalf of all of us at GWAAC, thank you for giving so much in 2022.
Our magnificent volunteers gave their time and energy in so many ways, enabling GWAAC to achieve more than we ever could without them.
• Over 8,300 hours donated by 183 volunteers
• Dedicated volunteer teams worked across four shops
• 75 Great Western Heartstarters taught 7,474 people CPR, defibrillation and emergency first aid
• Nine volunteers delivered 94 informative talks to community groups and businesses
• Five volunteers emptied 360 collection tins, bringing in £33,548
Volunteers from across the region attended our second Volunteer Conference which was hailed a triumph by attendees.
Over 30 volunteers listened to informative talks from three of our Specialist Paramedics, including GWAAC’s Air Operations Officer, and a Critical Care Doctor.
They learnt about the training and assessments required to become a Specialist Paramedic, the crew’s advanced skills and equipment and how the team stay psychologically safe given their frequent exposure to traumatic scenes.
A variety of community groups, businesses and individuals played a part in ensuring GWAAC could give people their best chance on their worst day.
Almondsbury Horse Show
AMD Solicitors
Bevan Brittan
Bleadon WI
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Captain Paul Frost and everyone at Henbury Golf Club
Clifton Diocese
Cruise to the Prom – Vee Dub Family
DLG Auto Services
E G Carter & Co Ltd
Evans Jones
Frampton Country Fair
Gloucester Quays Rotary Club
Good Afternoon Choir, Yate and Chipping Sodbury
HeartSafe
Linney
Longhope Motor Services
Mendip Spring Golf Club
Nailsea Bowls Club
We are hugely appreciative to all trusts and foundations who supported our work in 2022. Funding enabled us to purchase equipment, uniforms and specialist training, as well as progress other important projects. Special thanks to the following who awarded GWAAC substantial grants in 2022 and to those whose support has been ongoing for a number of years.
Beacon Owl Trust
Bristol Masons’ Charity
The Carr-Gregory Trust
County Air Ambulance
HELP Appeal
The Dixie Rose Findlay
Charitable Trust
The Dulverton Trust
The Fieldrose Charitable Trust
The G C Gibson Charitable Trust
George Bairstow Charitable Trust
The Grace Trust
The Green Hall Foundation
The Hospital Saturday Fund
James Tudor Foundation
John James Bristol Foundation
Langdale Trust
The Notgrove Trust
NFU Mutual Bath
NFU Mutual Cinderford
North Gloucestershire Football League
Royal Forest of Dean Rotary Club
Running Somewhere Else Running Club
S A Partners
Saltford Golf Club Ladies Section
Southmead Hospital Haematology & Transfusion Lab
Spirax Sarco
Stagecoach West
Stirling Dynamics
Team Velocity
Tetbury Bingo Buddies and Boot Sales
The MDT
The Rising Sun, Woolaston
Thornbury and District League of Friends
Tufthorn Inn, Coleford
Winscombe Lodge No 6474
Yeo Valley Lions Club
Randal Charitable Foundation
The Rank Foundation
Rowlands Trust
Schroder Charity Trust
The Sperring Charity
Thatchers Foundation
The Thompson Charitable Trust
Fantastic support from these town and parish councils helped GWAAC be there for their local communities.
Backwell Parish Council
Bibury Parish Council
Chalford Parish Council
Churchdown Parish Council
Clevedon Town Council
Dursley Town Council
Harescombe Parish Council
Keynsham Town Council
Portishead Town Council
Sapperton Parish Council
Westerleigh Parish Council
Weston-super-Mare Town Council
Winscombe & Sandford Parish Council
Wotton-under-Edge Town Council
Wrington Parish Council
Thank you to the South Gloucestershire councillors who generously awarded us Member Allocated Funding.
Christine Price
Paul Hughes
Judy Adams
Robert Griffin
Brian Allinson
John O`Neill
June Bamford
Brenda Langley
Jason Pearce
Sanjay Shambhu
Jayne Stansfield
Maggie Tyrrell
Shirley Holloway
Toby Savage
Ernest Brown
Roger Avenin
Sarah Pomfret
Nicholas Labuschagne
James Griffiths
Liz Brennan
James Arrowsmith
Patricia Trull
Keith Cranney
Our crew brought early advanced life support to over 500 people suffering a cardiac arrest in 2022. For those who receive CPR and defibrillation while we are on our way, the chance of survival is hugely increased. We gave our communities the knowledge and resource needed to help in cases like this.
We launched our community defibrillator project
In June, we launched our Public Access Defibrillator programme to equip local communities with the resources to respond to someone in cardiac arrest using a defibrillator. We stated our ambition: for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest to receive immediate CPR and defibrillation within five minutes, to reduce avoidable deaths in our communities.
We partnered with HeartSafe to produce an all-in-one lifesaving defib package to enable anyone to fundraise for and install a defib. In the first seven months, 19 new defibrillators were placed in the communities we serve.
24 year old Sam Polledri passed away from a sudden cardiac arrest while on an evening out with his friends in central Bristol in February 2022.
There were five defibrillators in the area but none of them were accessible to the public. Sam’s death was a tragedy that could have been avoided.
Sam’s mum, Louise said: “If a defibrillator is used within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest, survival
Thank you to the following for hosting a defib:
Balmer Knightcott Estates
Bishop Sutton Tennis Club
Bristol Downs Café – Funded through the Sam Polledri Foundation and kindly supported by Try Tag Rugby Bristol and the Downs Café
Bristol St Andrews Bowling Club
Cheltenham Good Samaritans
Codrington Arms - Supported by Iron Acton Parish Council and kindly funded by Newland Homes
rates jump from 6% to up to 74%. There were no wall-mounted and registered defibrillators near Sam so he wasn’t given the chance to survive.”
GWAAC’s Critical Care Team rushed to Sam that night, and worked hard to try and save him. Following his death, Sam’s family launched the Sam Polledri Foundation, which funded the placement of four GWAAC branded public access defibrillators across Bristol in 2022.
Cotham Rugby Club – Funded through the Sam Polledri Foundation and kindly supported by Cotham Park Rugby Club
David Thorne, Wine Street – Thorne Holdings Ltd, supporting the Sam Polledri Foundation
Deyabrewing
GWAAC’S Cheltenham Shop
– Kindly funded by Spirax Sarco
Haywood Airfield Leisure Enterprise
Lamplighters pub – Paula and team
Locking Parish Council
Millennium Square – Funded through the Sam Polledri Foundation and kindly supported by We The Curious Mount of Olives Church, Coleford
Red Boat Consulting
Salt & Malt, Chew Valley
Walnut Grove Clinic
Walnut Grove Studio
2022 was a record-breaking year for our Great Western Heartstarters (GWHS) initiative, with volunteers teaching basic life support skills to schoolchildren and the public. A dedicated coordinator, generously funded by The Rank Foundation, helped achieve a 50% increase in the total number of people taught in one year compared with the previous six years combined.
GWAAC Critical Care Doctor, Dr Matt Thomas said: “Everyone should know basic CPR skills, and our team are passionate about helping people to acquire these skills and giving them the confidence to use them.”
We invested in GWHS’s future, purchasing a new car to transport equipment and developing new resources for training and education.
Bath City FC wants all players to know how to respond if someone suffers a cardiac arrest on a football pitch. GWHS volunteers taught CPR and defib training to their first team and coaching staff. The session equipped the squad with key lifesaving skills and supported GWAAC’s ambition to have defibs located at all sporting venues across our region.
68 scouts
821 people at events
5,580 school students
6,469 people taught CPR and defibrillation
GWHS taught in 25 secondary schools
75 volunteers
1,005 students taught first aid for a stabbing injury
923 volunteer hours given
7,474 people taught in total during 2022
A record number of people were taught CPR, defibrillation and first aid.
Critical Care
Our trainees, Callum Sutton and Fleur Mosley, completed their qualifications to become Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care (SPCCs). Both made a huge impact on the patients they treated as well as on the medical professionals who took part in joint training days with GWAAC.
We welcomed a new Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) trainee
In August, we welcomed Dr Nicky Moore to the clinical team. Dr Nicky’s placement at GWAAC helps him to become a Consultant in Emergency Medicine as well as a qualified Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Critical Care Doctor.
“The best bit about working with GWAAC is seeing a point when I will be a skilled member of a great team giving patients the absolute best care.” Dr Nicky Moore, PHEM trainee
Two former trainees returned as permanent Critical Care Doctors
Dr Chris Arrowsmith and Dr Andrew Heavyside returned to GWAAC as Critical Care Doctors. Both spent time at GWAAC as PHEM trainees earlier in their careers before going on to become consultants in hospital. Their return shows their passion for pre-hospital care and their desire to work with a leading Critical Care Team.
SPCC, Dan Davis, passed his Diploma in Immediate Medical Care – The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care
Critical Care Doctor, Dr Jamie Vassallo, passed his Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care –The Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care
We developed our crew and operations
Four days after celebrating his 60th birthday, Keith suffered a cardiac arrest following his five-a-side football match. He remembers waking up in an ambulance with GWAAC’s Dr Jonathan Benger and Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care, Matt Robinson, saying, “you’re OK, you’ve had a cardiac arrest.”
Keith was lucky. He had received immediate CPR and defibrillation from bystanders before the GWAAC crew stabilised him and got him to hospital.
He is back playing football and is even making plans to climb Ben Nevis.
“To be able to sit here and carry on with life as normal… I owe a great deal to GWAAC and the people who acted quickly that day.” Keith, former patient
Twenty-nine schools, clubs and businesses in our region agreed to become Official Landing Sites. They shared out-of-hours access details and other key information needed by our crew to exit a location and get to the scene of an emergency.
Landing sites are added to the South West Rendezvous Directory. When a call comes in the crew use it to quickly determine if there is a safe landing site nearby, decreasing response times.
We doubled the number of GWAAC shops, ending the year with four shops on local high streets
Where: Cheltenham
When: July 2022
Our third shop brought together local people who had a shared connection to our service. At the opening ceremony, the ribbon was cut by a former patient, six year old Jasmine, and Chris Williams, a representative from Spirax Sarco and Ireland; the firm which contributed 88 volunteers and more than 127 individual volunteer days over a three-week period to refurbish the shop.
“Everyone was shocked to find out that air ambulance charities have no public funding despite the vital services they supply, adding to the sense of satisfaction and pride we all have in the shop that is now open.”
Jess Howard, Spirax SarcoWhere: Gloucester
When: December 2022
Our fourth shop offered something a little different from our usual stores. This boutique style shop was set up to sell a range of women’s high-quality clothing and accessories including designer and high street fashion.
“The new shops help raise awareness of the charity’s lifesaving work in Gloucestershire and raise much-needed funds to ensure the GWAAC crew can continue to be there for those in need. They encourage people to shop local and support their high street as well.” Jason
Webster, Retail Managertwo
As an official charity partner of the iconic Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in August, we had the opportunity to engage with 500,000 visitors over the four-day event.
We provided activities including crafts, games and face painting. We gave passers-by the opportunity to try on flight helmets, chat to crew and learn CPR. Our helicopter landed in the main arena on Saturday and hundreds of families queued to have a tour from a crew member. And at Saturday’s popular Nightglow we were grateful for all the public’s donations.
We were proud to be one of two official charity partners of the Gloucester 10k in June. A crowd of hundreds cheered on more than 700 runners. Organised by Davies & Partners Solicitors and the Gloucester Quays Rotary, this event raised an incredible £5,000.
Thanks to our partnership with Recycling Solutions, we placed clothing and textile recycling banks in more locations in 2022. As a result, we had a record year with generous supporters donating 214 tonnes of clothing, raising £50,127. Thank you to our 61 hosts who helped us reduce our environmental impact whilst enabling people to contribute lifesaving donations.
Lottery £2,066,613
Grants £556,480
Legacies £505,157
Community fundraising £409,879
Retail income £329,336
Other income £290,297
Individual donations £214,741
Challenge events £80,103
Corporate fundraising £78,653
Helicopter costs £1,465,257
Clinical crew, cars and equipment £834,095
Charity staff £727,983
Lottery expenses £675,980
Other support costs £355,535
Retail costs £314,947
Premises costs £247,576
Total £4,531,259
Total £4,621,373
Alfie turned 10 in 2022 — a milestone for any little boy but especially for Alfie who fell critically ill when he was three years old.
It had been a normal day at home, but after saying he was thirsty, Alfie took a turn for the worse and quickly became unresponsive. The GWAAC crew was called and tried to revive Alfie. After 45 minutes of him being unconscious, the crew put Alfie into an induced coma to protect his brain and quickly transferred him to hospital.
Today, Alfie is fit and well. Mum, Rebecca, said, “He absolutely loves football and spends every minute dragging his dad out to play.”
*Figures subject to auditA team of nine cyclists from Evans Jones rode 300 miles from Cheltenham to Bruges in three days. They raised an incredible £12,215. A huge thank you to David, Ian, everyone at Evans Jones and all who took on this challenge.
A paramedic with a love of adventure completed the South West Coast Path, covering 630 miles over 25 days. Rob slept in whatever shelter he could find each night, braved Storm Eunice and raised an incredible £6,969 plus more than £1,300 in Gift Aid.
Keith and the members of Bath Motor Club have supported GWAAC since 2015, with club members raising over £4,500 to date. 2022’s rolling route along the roads of Somerset saw a bumper year for the Club’s main fundraising event, the Aquae Sulis Tour, which raised an amazing £1,000. We thank the Club for their continued kindness and generosity.
Sally Gunter and the fantastic ladies who keep themselves mobile by visiting the Ladyshape Health and Wellbeing Club in Gloucester, have been supporting GWAAC since 2015. The ladies have raised almost £5,000 to date. We cannot thank them enough for their ongoing support.
Our crew’s specialist uniforms needed upgrading and replacing due to wear and tear
The crew can be called anywhere, to a variety of conditions. This means they need the right gear for their safety and comfort as well as to meet the appropriate safety standards for the helicopter.
The new uniform comes in three pieces. The trousers are made from heat and flame-resistant material and are specially designed to include mini whiteboards for recording vital patient information and plenty of pockets for small pieces of kit.
The bespoke tops use the latest fabric technology for effective working and include branding with individual names and roles to assist other services at the scene of an emergency. The flight gilets provide additional warmth and protection, with more pockets to carry kit.
After meeting a friend for coffee in Bristol, Lisa headed for the shops.
But she remembers nothing of that day after the coffee. On her way to the shops, she was hit by a car.
The GWAAC crew reached Lisa within 15 minutes of the accident. Within 30 minutes, they had assessed and treated her and left for Southmead Hospital – the nearest Major Trauma Centre. Lisa had sustained a broken tibia and fibula and a head injury.
Lisa, who has no lasting damage from her head injury, said, “It was a significant moment when I got the chance to thank the crew that saved my life.”
“I am very honoured to receive this award and hope to continue to push the boundaries of paramedic practice and set up pathways for others.”
Vicki Brown, Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care
Advanced Practitioner in Critical Care, Vicki Brown, won the award for her drive, enthusiasm and trailblazing work in carving a career pathway for paramedics in the UK.
Charity Staff Member of the Year – highly commended
Strategic Partnerships Manager, Joe Hughes, was recognised for spearheading initiatives in 2022, including GWAAC’s Public Access Defibrillator programme.
Volunteer of the Year – highly commended
Great Western Heartstarters Volunteer, Pino Giannitti, was celebrated for teaching CPR and defibrillation to around 900 people in six months.
As a token of the nation’s thanks and as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, these medals were awarded to frontline emergency services workers who met certain criteria.
All GWAAC Advanced and Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care, our Pilots, and most of our Doctors received the award.
“We were all really honoured and excited to receive our medals which commemorated such a special and momentous occasion.”
James Yates, Specialist Paramedic in Critical CareWe were commended for our work
medicine. These techniques are rarely done in pre-hospital environments so this essential course enabled the crew to practice without pressure, giving them confidence in their abilities.
In September, GWAAC’s fourth Clinical Symposium brought together medical professionals to share knowledge in PreHospital Emergency Medicine.
The event took place in Aerospace Bristol’s museum, with an array of expert speakers and exhibitors, including a demonstration by the GWAAC Critical Care Team.
“Seeing the Critical Care Team in action was truly a sight to behold. They ran the case like a well-oiled machine. It was very inspirational to see!” Dr
Zain Mitha – Junior Doctor, Intensive Care UnitIn November, 25 of GWAAC’s clinical team attended a training day to give them hands-on practice of some of the most difficult surgical procedures in emergency
We participated in a 12-month national study to collect data on patients who undergo a pre-hospital thoracotomy; a surgical procedure to gain access into the chest. The project aims to build up a picture of which patients benefit from the procedure and which patients don’t.
In August, GWAAC and Avon Fire & Rescue Service came together for a day of training in crucial rescue techniques. They shared best practices with South Western Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team and student paramedics from the University of the West of England.
“Training with colleagues from multiple services is invaluable in ensuring that the best care can be delivered to patients in a timely manner.” Dr Jules Blackham, Critical Care Doctor
The six-month study looked at whether inserting a plastic tube for airway management in cardiac arrest patients generates aerosols that contain COVID-19 particles.
GWAAC participated in regular meetings to discuss research at a national level. The sharing of information enables us to use the results of research trials to influence our own practice.
In June, Critical Care Doctors, James Tooley, Ed Valentine and Andrew Heavyside, along with Specialist Paramedics Pete Reeve, Callum Sutton and Matt Robinson, volunteered to teach first responder care to groups of civil servants and diplomatic staff in Kyiv in Ukraine.
Around 60 people received medical training covering themes such as how to stop bleeding, using a tourniquet, giving CPR and the triage process. The crew left them with individual trauma kits and empowered them to share the training with others.
“We encouraged them to pass on their new skills to as many people as possible. We gave them the knowledge, the confidence and the medical supplies to deal with things. And they were just so very grateful.” Pete Reeve, Air Operations Officer and Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care
In June, Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care, Pete Reeve and Matt Robinson, provided scenario training to North Sea Oil Rig Nurses and Winch Paramedics, refreshing their skills for dealing with difficult medical incidents.
Matt ran a medical scenario on an elevated rig with a rope rescue technician to simulate a medical incident involving climbing across platforms. Then Pete ran a scenario with a casualty from an explosion in a confined space.
“We had lots of positive feedback from the airway sessions. The training gave them context and experience of using their skills in a practical session — knowing how and when to apply them.”
Matt Robinson, Specialist Paramedic in Critical CareWe implemented new clinical techniques and equipment to improve pre-hospital critical care for patients.
We introduced blood gas testing and analysis at the scene of the emergency, to give a quick and accurate diagnosis and to help our clinicians decide the best treatment for patients.
We implemented clinically advanced infusion pumps which provide a steady, constant flow of drugs to the patient – providing a better outcome than small regular doses.
We undertook a complete review of how our crew pack and carry their growing array of specialist equipment. We developed a bespoke bag system containing a series of pouches with everything required for a task in one place. This modular approach will make it easy to use and save time on scene and during replenishment, ultimately improving the way we care for our patients.
We purchased four new Butterfly IQ+ ultrasound machines. The new lightweight, cutting-edge technology provides sharp images on a screen to help diagnose injuries and serious medical conditions. The crew can determine the best treatment for the patient before hospital, give targeted treatment to alleviate suffering and more closely monitor patients.
Dr Richard Jeavons, Deputy Medical Director“Ultrasound is an invaluable tool for us, and the technology used changes rapidly. We needed to change our old equipment to stay cutting edge. The new Butterfly machines are the leading ultrasounds and will enable us to continue to deliver the best care we can to patients.”
During 2023, we plan to:
• Open four more charity shops
• Expand our defibrillator programme, placing 80 more defibs across our region
• Grow our Great Western Heartstarters and Blunt Truth programmes, teaching at least 10,000 people lifesaving skills
• Bring our new operational kit bags into service
• Increase our service provision by extending our hours of cover to 02:00 from April
Our long-term aspirations are to:
• Provide a 24/7 service
• Formalise the working arrangements of Doctors
• Develop a Patient Liaison Service
• Develop our Outreach Programme, training SWASfT land crew how and when to use GWAAC and how to prepare for our arrival
• Take part in a national trial to assess the benefits of carrying whole blood rather than different blood components
• Improve the environmental sustainability of our buildings
• Explore options to increase collaboration with other organisations working in our sector
• Create a centre where supporters, volunteers, staff and crew can meet, learn, relax, work and raise the vital funds we need
We need your support now more than ever. Without you, our crew would not be there. Together,
save local lives. Set
Any
Once you have remembered your loved ones, you can choose to support us well into the future by leaving a gift in your will. If you want to find out more visit www.gwaac.com/gifts-in-wills or contact us at info@gwaac.com