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Baby Freddie
flies home in time for Christmas
THIS might not be a local
report, but we have been asked to run it to highlight this hidden
Air Ambulance Service charity's work. "The Children's Air
Ambulance is one of a kind", as it says on it's website
website. The Service runs the
UK's first and only dedicated helicopter emergency transfer service
for seriously ill children and babies, flying them from one hospital
to a more specialist unit, alongside their team of clinicians; a
journey usually made by land, though out the UK. In this case the
service was to help Anna Laker and her baby Freddie.
Anna was 33 weeks pregnant with her first child when she travelled
from her home in Kensington, West London to attend a friend’s
wedding in Leeds in October 2013.
With at least another month to go until her due date, Anna and her
husband had not yet finished decorating the nursery at home, or
purchased a car seat or buggy for their new arrival.
At 10pm on the evening of 7 October 2013, Anna was standing at the
bar at her friend’s wedding reception, chatting to some friends when
her waters broke without warning. She was immediately taken to Leeds
General Infirmary where doctors confirmed that she was in labour and
she would be having her baby much sooner than she had anticipated.
Little Freddie arrived just hours later, healthy, but very small. He
was taken to the Special Care Baby Unit where he was tube fed as he
had not yet developed his sucking reflex, essential for feeding.
Still shocked by the incredibly swift arrival of Freddie, Anna and
her husband were desperate to be allowed to return home to London to
be closer to the support of their friends and family.
It was agreed that Freddie would be allowed to return to Chelsea and
Westminster Hospital to continue his treatment. However, doctors
decided that he was far too delicate to endure the 5 hour journey by
land ambulance, so The Children’s Air Ambulance was called in to
help get Freddie home, working together with the Embrace Yorkshire
and Humber Infant and Children’s Transport Service, part of the
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
When babies are poorly or premature, they can deteriorate very
quickly, and can go from being simply unwell to fighting for their
lives within a matter of hours, so saving time transporting them
between hospitals is crucial. The Children’s Air Ambulance
helicopter can fly a baby around four times faster than a journey by
road. It is also fully equipped on board with a life support system
for poorly babies, including a ‘Baby Pod’ (a specially
adapted little incubator), medical gasses and essential monitoring
equipment. The charity helicopter has 2 pilots and has space for a
young patient and up to 3 clinicians from the specialist NHS
retrieval teams.
Anna said:- “It was a complete surprise when my waters
suddenly and dramatically went at the wedding and being so far from
home, with no stuff for the baby and in an unfamiliar hospital was
quite frightening. Although we received fantastic care at Leeds, we
were still a long way from home. We are so grateful to The
Children’s Air Ambulance as without them we would have been forced
to stay several hundred miles away from the support of our friends
and family, possibly for several weeks before Freddie would have
been well enough to travel by road.”
Pilots Steve Cannon and Paul Hogan arrived in the green tailed
Agusta 109 Grand helicopter and waited whilst doctors stabilised
Freddie and made him comfortable in the Baby Pod. With the
helicopter able to reach up to 200mph the journey to London took
just one hour and the pilots kept Anna and her husband informed of
their progress throughout the journey. Anna and her husband followed
by road. Freddie’s journey was so swift that he had arrived at
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and was settled in before Anna had
even been discharged!
Freddie is now at home in Kensington and ready to spend his 1st
Christmas with his family. He was discharged after two weeks in
hospital as soon as he had learnt to control his temperature and to
suck to be able to eat.
“We were very lucky as he didn't need any breathing support which
would be expected so early. He is now at home and we are enjoying
him very much and he is getting bigger every day.” said
Anna.
The Children’s Air Ambulance receives no Government funding, relying
entirely on public donations.
Part of The Air Ambulance Service
charity, it works in partnership with NHS paediatric care teams
offering a free of charge helicopter allowing babies to reach the
care they need quickly and safely.
If you would like to find out more
about this crucial service visit:-
thechildrensairambulance.org.uk. |
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Medical director
helps stop flu in its tracks
NHS staff are keeping
themselves and their patients safe from flu this winter with a major
vaccination campaign.
More than 60% of doctors, nurses and other frontline clinical staff
at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust have been vaccinated
since mid-October 2013. The Trust expects to have vaccinated at
least 75% by the time the campaign ends.
Among the staff being vaccinated was Mr Rob Gillies, Executive
Medical Director:- “Vaccinating keeps our staff safe and
working during the busiest time of year for the NHS. It keeps
patients safe too by stopping the virus being passed on. Our health
and well-being staff have done an excellent job vaccinating and I am
delighted to be among the 74% of doctors who have so far had their
jab. On the eve of Self Care Week that runs over 18 November to 24
November 2013, everyone can play their part in easing the pressure
on the NHS this winter by caring for themselves where appropriate.
You can stop flu in its tracks by getting the flu jab. Many people
are eligible for a free jab at their GP, including everyone over 65,
people with long-term medical conditions and pregnant women.
Otherwise coughs, colds, sore-throats, upset stomachs, general aches
and pains, and flu usually clear up on their own. Keep warm, drink
plenty of fluids and treat with over-the-counter painkillers such as
paracetamol. Ask your pharmacist for advice help. Contact your GP
for help with injuries or illnesses that won’t go away.”
Dr John Caine, chair of NHS West Lancashire Clinical Commissioning
Group (CCG), added:- “Looking after yourself can be as simple
as eating a healthy well balanced diet and ensuring you have regular
exercise. However, many people don’t realise the simple steps they
can take to look after themselves. By boosting how you care for
yourself, you can make a genuine positive impact on your physical
and mental health and wellbeing. We’re determined to continue to
signpost people to the right services, especially over winter when
demands can increase. People commonly visit their local GP over
something that can easily be treated by themselves at home with a
well-stocked medicine cabinet or some over the counter remedies at
their local pharmacist. Our advice would be to consider the right
option for you, especially when it is a minor illness or ailment.”
Praise for
city’s new cycle lane
A new path to improve
safety for cyclists is being created in north Liverpool; and has won
the approval of an Olympic cycling legend. The footpath, on Leeds
Street, between Vauxhall Road and Byrom Street, will be upgraded to
a segregated cycle and pedestrian path. It will link the Byrom
Street campus of John Moores University and the City’s Cycle Network
along Vauxhall Road. A link with the Connect2, cycling and walking
route Everton Park to the Mersey will also be made with a North to
South route, between Wellington Street and Dale Street. The project
will be wholly funded by the Department for Transport through the
Local Sustainable Transport Fund. Its introduction has been
praised by Olympic gold medallist Chris Boardman. He said:- “I
welcome any move which encourages people to us their bikes or take
up cycling, The introduction of cycle lanes such as the one at Leeds
Street, which increase safety and particularly encourage children to
cycle, is a very positive move and should be applauded.”
Councillor Tim Moore, cabinet member for transport and climate
change, said:- “This scheme will make it a safer route for
both experienced cyclists and those who are less used to travelling
on busy roads. It will also encourage people to take up cycling.
This is one of a number of cycling routes we will be creating
throughout the City. We want more people to take up cycling and
paths such as this will encourage them to get on their bikes. We are
committed to driving up cycling levels and promoting sustainable
transport across the City. Improvements to the cycling
infrastructure such as this support the work being done by such
project as the Choose Freedom hub which supports residents of
Everton and Kirkdale to access employment by bike, public transport
or walking.” |
