Helicopter Emergency Medical Service

What HEMS does as a division for the NHS

The London Air Ambulance Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) provides rapid critical care for the most vulnerable patients in the most complex situations around London. With state-of-the-art aircraft, highly trained medical teams, and cutting-edge medical equipment, HEMS is dedicated to saving lives and improving patient outcomes while working alongside our colleagues in the London Ambulance Service.

The team, which can include an HEMS Doctor or Paramedic or both concurrently, performs advanced medical interventions, including but not limited to out-of-hospital surgical skills, blood transfusions, and advanced pain relief in time-critical, life-threatening situations. Common calls that HEMS will attend involve serious road traffic collisions, stabbings and shootings, and falls from heights where serious injuries have occurred.

The HEMS aircraft is equipped with the latest navigation and communication systems, allowing the medical team to reach patients quickly and safely, no matter where they are located in London. The aircraft is also equipped with a range of medical equipment, including a defibrillator, ventilator, and oxygen.

When not in the aircraft, HEMS also has access to an impressive fleet of vehicles that are well-equipped with cutting-edge medical equipment similar to that of the HEMS aircraft. Currently, we respond in either the HEMS Skoda Kodiaq, Helicopter or the HEMS Skoda Octavia.

How to get into HEMS and the requirements to join

To join HEMS you must wait for our recruitment cycle to open to be able to apply, Applications open on a regular basis.

The requirements to join HEMS are as follows:

• Must be a Paramedic (You must have completed your 1 week probation as a Student Paramedic)
• Must have completed the Paramedic Trauma Package
• Must have completed at least 1 HEMS CCP ride-along (https://forms.gle/6pra6hqKijVHNUq87)
• No NHS Warnings
• No Moderation Warnings/Bans within the last 6 weeks
• Must be a driven individual with high standards
• Must have Eagerness to develop and learn as a clinician

What are the progression routes within HEMS

We have many progression routes within HEMS. For those wishing to give back and act as a buddy for those aiming to join the division or even learn more about the division, we have our active HEMS Buddies team who provide ride-alongs for all those who request them, showing them what happens within HEMS and what calls we typically attend giving you more of an insight into HEMS.

Our training team acts as a perfect route for internal progression within the division as it provides a platform to train those entering HEMS and help to shape the future of the HEMS as a whole. It also provides you with the opportunity to apply for NHS Team Leader when applications are opened.

Further to this you can progress as a Critical Care Paramedic into becoming a HEMS Doctor. As a HEMS doctor our training provide you with the knowledge and ability to complete more surgical skills at the roadside, allowing you to do surgeries such as Thoracotomies, Thoracostomies & Amputations.

HEMS Doctors are capped within the Division, Applications will open when additional Doctors are required.

Requirements for HEMS Doctor:

• Be a CURRENT member of the HEMS team.
• 50 hours Deployed as HEMS
• No current Divisional Warnings
• No Moderation Warns/Bans within the last 6 weeks
• Positive mature attitude towards problem solving and mentorship
• Extremely clinically competent at CCP level
• Broad knowledge around providing clinical care to medical/trauma patients
• Experience at leading a team
• Must be trained in the Penetrating Trauma Package

What training we offer as HEMS

HEMS has a range of Training packages available at both HEMS Critical Care Paramedic Level and also at HEMS Doctor Level.

Critical Care Paramedic Packages:

Penetrating Trauma Package - In this course you will learn about the types of penetrating trauma and how to effectively treat each type.
TBI Management Package - In this course you will learn about how to effectively treat a patient with a Traumatic Brain Injury.

Fracture Management - In this course you will gain knowledge when dealing with cases of an open, complex or closed fracture.

HEMS Doctor Packages:

Structured Patient Approach Package - In this course you will learn about the approach towards a trauma patient.

Compartment Syndrome Package - In this course you will learn about the approach towards a patient suffering from compartment syndrome and how to perform a Escharotomy and Fasciotomy.

We also have a number of Self Learning packages which can be done in your own time, These are as follows:

Crush Injuries Package - In this course you will learn about how to effectively manage & treat crush injuries.

Hypovolemic Shock - In this course you will learn about how to effectively manage & treat Hypovolemic Shock.