Number of 'after dark' landing sites tripled in Torbay
Six new floodlit landing sites are being created for the Devon Air Ambulance to use at nights in Torbay – to speed up emergency response times.
Last updated 24th Mar 2021
It creates nine sites to easily land in for the air ambulance when it’s dark.
Nigel Hare, Operations Director at Devon Air Ambulance, said: “The enhanced and critical care provided by our clinical teams means we are able to deliver an increasing range of life saving treatments at the scene of an incident that traditionally were only available in a hospital.”
The six new community landing sites will be located at Steps Cross Park, Cricketfield Road Recreation Ground, Quinta Playing Fields and Torquay Recreation Ground in Torquay, White Rock Playing Field in Paignton and Galmpton Football Club. These sites will be added to the three sites already in operation at Brixham Rugby Club, Paignton Rugby Club and Foxhole Community Centre (in Paignton).
Mr Hare added: “ By helping to establish this network of strategically located night landing sites, we will be able to operate more quickly by air into the communities of Torbay when it is dark, bringing these enhanced skills and interventions to benefit local patients during those crucial early stages of their injury or medical emergency.
“Where patients have complex or specialist care needs, these sites will also enable us to fly them direct to the hospital that can offer the patient the best chance of a successful outcome, just as we do during daylight.
“As a service we are dedicated to developing the pre-hospital care that we can provide and by working in partnership with Torbay Council we look forward to helping more patients from Torbay during their time of need.”
Kevin Mowat, Director of Place, Torbay Council, said; “The first priority for any council is keeping its communities safe.
“We are happy to have worked with Devon Air Ambulance and our local communities to identify and invest in six new night time community landing sites. These new sites will ensure those within Torbay that are seriously ill or involved in an accident that require critical care will benefit from a speedy response by Devon Air Ambulance.”
Toby Russell, Community Landing Sites Officer at Devon Air Ambulance added: “Our work with community groups in Brixham and Paignton, to establish three existing night landing sites, has already helped us reach and treat 20 patients in Torbay, during the ‘hours of darkness’, since November 2016.”