Importance of TCAA highlighted

One of the stories in the news today that caught our interest, is the news that children's heart surgery units across the country will be finding out their future this week.

To give you a bit of back ground to the story, there are currently ten units in England but the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) is meeting today to discuss the future of them.

It is thought that four of the units will cease to do surgery, with the aim to concentrate the surgery on fewer but larger centres.

Regardless of the decision of the JCPCT, this reiterates just how important and vital The Children’s Air Ambulance will be when it launches its service at the end of this year.

Alex Toft, Director of Operations for TCAA said:

“The news of the possible closure of some of the children’s heart surgery units reiterates what an important and lifesaving service The Children’s Air Ambulance will prove to be.

"No matter what the decision of the JCPCT, The Children’s Air Ambulance will help ensure that children across the country suffering heart problems, as well as other life threatening illnesses and injuries, receive the specialist paediatric treatment they need as quickly as possible.”

Some of our blog readers may be aware of the work that The Children's Air Ambulance (TCAA) intends to do. But for those of you that don't, here's a bit of an insight....

TCAA will transfer critically ill children from general hospitals to Paediatric Intensive Care Units across England and Wales. It will enable children to receive the lifesaving, specialist treatment and care that they need as soon as possible, cutting transfer times.

Our fundraisers are currently working hard across the country to ensure that we have the money needed to launch the helicopter at the end of this year. The helicopter will be based at Coventry airport, right in the heart of England allowing for a fast transfer to and from anywhere in England and Wales.

As well as reducing travel times, the air transfer service will also allow NHS specialist clinical teams to travel with the child – ensuring both a safe and quick journey.

If you are interested in finding more about how this vital service will help save lives, please take a moment to visit our website, by following the link on the left.

Alternatively we'd love to hear your thoughts on this story so why not leave a comment on this blog post.