To mark our 16th year of flying and saving lives (1 July 2007), we’re launching our new Aftercare service.
For the past 16 years, we have responded to more than 17,000 calls for help. When the patient handover is complete, we’re ready for our next call. Now, we’re expanding our service to provide ongoing support beyond the scene of the emergency with our new Aftercare team.
Due to the severity of the incidents that we attend, we know that our patients can often be left navigating significant physical and emotional challenges, such as living with a traumatic brain injury or coming to terms with the loss of a limb.
Made up of experienced paramedics and nurses, our Aftercare team is here to support our patients, their loved ones and on scene bystanders. They are on hand to provide these patients with an explanation of the care they received, as well as ongoing support throughout their recovery.
The team is made up of two of our own paramedics, Tom Nickisson-Richards and Nicola Hawkes, and a senior hospital nurse, Nikki Harris, who each have a wealth of medical knowledge and experience.
Tom, said:
“Patients who have been treated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance have often experienced significant illness or injury. Not only have their lives been turned completely upside down, but the lives of their families have also been profoundly affected. Aftercare will provide a consistent point of support to these patients and their families, helping them to make sense of what happened. We’re extremely grateful to supporters of the charity whose generosity makes our vital new service possible.”
Dale Muffett from Portsmouth was treated and airlifted to hospital when he was hit by a car while out jogging on New Year’s morning in 2021. Dale has been working with the Aftercare team to help him understand what happened on scene.
Dale and his wife Rachael meeting the Aftercare team and specialist paramedic who helped save his life
Dale said:
“I have no memory of when I was injured and much of what happened to me was totally unknown. To be able to speak with the Aftercare team and then meet with the paramedic who saved my life was amazing. They answered all my questions and gave me a really good understanding of everything that happened to me on the day. It has helped me process what happened and has given me a huge appreciation for everything Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance did for me when saving my life.”
Meet the team and find out more by visiting our patient and family support page.
