We are joining forces with the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service to bring advanced critical care to more people on the Island who need it – saving and improving more lives every year.

Starting in September 2024, select Isle of Wight paramedics have been seconded to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, where they receive enhanced critical care training and work alongside our experienced doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics on board our helicopter and in our emergency response vehicles.

Once these paramedics have completed their training they will return to the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, where they will use their enhanced skills to treat critically ill and injured patients across the Island.

Delivering the highest standard of care

To ensure that Island residents receive the best possible care in their hour of need, this programme will help the selected paramedics manage complex and critical emergencies, such as major road traffic collisions or cardiac arrests, and will add to the Island’s already developed critical care paramedic service.

Each paramedic will receive hands-on training for treatments that are typically available only in hospital settings: emergency surgical procedures, anaesthetic techniques and life-saving therapies, as well as advanced trauma care, clinical decision-making and critical emergency procedures.

Additionally, they will have access to simulation training, postgraduate education at St George’s University and supervised anaesthetic training at University Hospital Southampton.

Heather is part of the first cohort of Island paramedics to join our team.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Paramedic Clinical Lead, Nick Gray, said:

“At Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, we share the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of clinical care for Islanders, precisely when they need it most. This training collaboration marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership. Through closer teamwork, our clinical teams are already seeing faster response times and enhanced collaboration — outcomes that will undoubtedly lead to even better patient care.”

Isle of Wight Ambulance Service Medical Lead, Dr John Pike, said:

“Partnering with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is already providing direct life-saving benefits to Island patients.  Combining both organisation’s ethos and determination for exceptional critical care and spreading the experience and knowledge of the critical care teams through combined training can only further improve patient care.  We are delighted to be taking this next step to formally partner with our regional critical care experts.”