One of the benefits for ED doctors involved with HEMS is that is gives us a different perspective on our own speciality by observing it from the outside.

During one recent job, I delivered a moderately unwell trauma patient to a trauma centre. The patient was unwell enough to require pre-hospital radio notification and was met by a team in resus. The hospital in question deals with a lot of trauma, and deals with it well.

On this occasion however, the ED was heaving, and on arrvival I got the impression that the receiving team had been cobbled together at the last minute out of all available resources. Everyone looked busy and stressed. There was not a clearly identified team leader. On our arrival, there was a request to get the patient onto the ED bed immediately, although no immediate intervention was required.

The result?

-A flurry of activity  –…