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Developer of Medical Observation and Simulation System, smots, celebrates Successful Start to Air Ambulance Fundraising Campaign
Scotia UK plc, developer of the Scotia Medical Observation and Simulation System, or smots, has raised over £5,000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) at the end of the first year of a unique fundraising scheme.
The smots system is already in use in UK hospitals including Papworth, The Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, The Royal London, Guy's and St Thomas', as well as leading hospitals in Europe. It consists of a camera with loudspeaker and microphone that is placed in an operating theatre or simulation centre to enable clinicians to demonstrate procedures to fellow professionals in real-time anywhere in the world.
The highly portable and wireless system also offers an advanced simulation monitoring capability which is proving highly effective as a training tool for clinicians, enabling them to complete an increased number of their required training hours in simulation rather than actual medical emergencies. This allows them to hone their skills in the real but safe environment of a simulation, whether this is, for instance, at the scene of a road traffic accident or of a procedure to be carried out in a simulation operating theatre.
Gordon McLoughlin, sales director of Scotia UK plc, set up the scheme to raise funds for the EAAA on learning that air ambulance charities in England and Wales receive no government or National Lottery funding. The company makes a donation to the charity for each smots unit installed and, at the first anniversary of the scheme, in January 2009, just over £5,000 had been raised. The company intends to continue with its fundraising efforts this year.
Scotia UK is also building a closer relationship with air ambulances services in other countries and has just completed a project with the Finnish simulation centre which supports the country's HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) training.
The EAAA operates a 365 day life-saving service across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. It receives no government or National Lottery funding and has to raise £3 million per year to keep its two air ambulances flying and to provide the advanced medical equipment they carry. It is entirely dependent on fund-raising and contributions from members of the public.
Commenting on its fundraising for the EAAA, Gordon McLoughlin commented: "As a resident of East Anglia, a region with many remote and inaccessible areas, I'm well aware of the value an air ambulance service can bring.
"The clinicians working aboard air ambulances are the embodiment of what smots is all about - they often have to work under great pressure and in difficult conditions. Effective training in these types of situations will enhance their performance and enable them to save more lives. This embodies everything that smotsTM tries to achieve in terms of sharing latest thinking, experience and best practice under pressure.
"We all have a responsibility to help to sustain this vital service, especially in the difficult economic climate we face today. It's good to know that our contribution makes a tangible difference to the EAAA."
Simon Gray, Executive Director of the EAAA, added: "The support we're receiving from Gordon and his team is fantastic, especially at a time when so many are having to tighten their belts. We're also impressed by the smotsTM system as a potential training aid for our own clinicians and are keen to explore how air ambulance charities across the UK could benefit."
The EAAA's first aircraft, Anglia One, provides a dedicated service to Norfolk and Suffolk while the second, Anglia Two, crewed by clinicians from emergency medical charity Magpas, provides the service for Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. In July 2008, EAAA and Magpas agreed to plan a merger in order to create the most advanced emergency care service in the UK.
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