Yorkshire Air Ambulance grounds one of its helicopters to redeploy key medical staff at hospitals

As the situation regarding Coronavirus intensifies across the region, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) have taken the difficult decision to re-deploy some of their key medical personnel to allow YAS and the NHS to provide as much frontline care as possible.

The move will see all YAA Doctors concentrate on their frontline roles from today, which are Consultants in emergency medicine, anaesthesia and critical care, ensuring their primary roles are focused upon in their respective hospitals.

Along with this, a small number of the YAA’s highly skilled Critical Care Paramedics will be re-deployed to support YAS frontline personnel working on ambulances.

This means that the YAA, for a temporary period, will be operating only one of their Air Ambulance helicopters from their airbase at Nostell, near Wakefield, in the heart of Yorkshire.

Peter Sunderland, YAA Chairman explains: “In the midst of this unprecedented crisis, the YAA wants to do everything it can to support the NHS and YAS in their fight against COVID-19. It is important that everyone does their part, including us.

“As the cases of COVID-19 rise, it also increases the pressure on the NHS. We know that YAS anticipates a significant increase in 999 calls across the region and by redeploying our Doctors and a small number of our Critical Care Paramedics back to their respective hospitals or ambulance operations, we can do our bit to support the frontline effort.”

“This means, for a temporary period, we will be operating only one of our two helicopters from our Nostell airbase, with a crew of two Critical Care Paramedics and a Pilot.

"We would also strongly reinforce the government’s message to stay at home during this crisis, and stay local to your home for your daily exercise period.

"Travelling further afield in cars to places like forests or moorlands can increase the risk of possible unnecessary accidents such as RTC’s or falls where our services might be required. With a reduced service currently available from the YAA, it’s vitally important we are available for the most urgent cases.”

The YAA will be operating a daily shift from 7am to 7pm from their Nostell Airbase until the Doctors and Paramedics are able to re-join them: this is under regular review.

Nick Smith, Executive Director of Operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust added: “We are operating in an unprecedented situation and coronavirus is presenting the whole NHS with arguably the greatest challenge it has ever faced.

"This means that we have to be flexible and resilient in our approach to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"Whilst it has been a difficult decision to temporarily re-deploy some of the clinicians on the region’s air ambulance operation, it’s the right thing to do for the circumstances we find ourselves in.”

“It is no secret that we have seen a huge downturn in fundraising incomes and activities in the last couple of weeks. #

"A calendar packed full of summer events and activities has virtually been wiped out, with an estimated loss of income for this period alone being in the region of £400,000 plus.

"We have now closed our Head Office in Elland, and the rest of the team are working at home for their own safety. They are working extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure we are ready to get straight back to our fundraising activities once things start to get back to some normality, and we’re also taking the opportunity to explore and plan some new projects for the future.

“We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for everyone, but if anyone wishes to make a small donation to support us at this time, it would be very gratefully received and can be done safely and securely via our website: www.yaa.org.uk/donate.