LNAA paramedic speaks at East Midlands Major Trauma Network Conference

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) paramedic Danielle Gray was delighted to be part of the recent East Midlands Major Trauma Network’s annual conference held at Eastwood, Nottingham, which this year focussed on ‘The patient journey through the Major Trauma pathway, from zero hour to rehabilitation’.

Presenting the first talk, entitled “Zero Hour – the pre-hospital challenges; family and staff perspectives”, Danielle took the audience through a typical Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) day whilst discussing the multitude of aviation, clinical, geographical and environmental challenges that the crew face.

She said: “I included within my presentation the case study of a former patient of mine who sadly lost his life after a motorcycle accident in May, at the age of 22. I was able to discuss the challenges we faced with this case and what we do as a high-functioning specialist team to overcome these challenges and what we have learnt from them.”

“The patient’s parents attended the conference and kindly supported my presentation, explaining how they were supported by LNAA’s Patient and Family Liaison Officer, who they have formed a close bond with since the passing of their son. His mother bravely shared the family’s perspective of this incident, which demonstrated both raw emotion and gratitude and was commended by the audience.”

The conference covered other areas of the patient journey including the Trauma Unit and Major Trauma Centre perspectives as well as a presentation demonstrating some of the innovative research unfolding that may influence current and future practice in the care of major trauma patients.

Danielle hailed the event as a great success and summed it up by saying: “We had the chance to meaningfully network with other multi-disciplinary teams and acknowlegde that we are one big team involved in the care of major trauma patients.  Even though our individual roles, workplace settings and challenges may differ, each person involved in a major trauma patient’s journey all has a vitally important role to play in the progress towards the patient’s recovery.  There was an air of mutual appreciation and respect for each service and step in that process, which was also evident from the patient/family representatives.”