An NHS paramedic has spoken of the remarkable work and 'vital service' he offers in his role within the health service.
Stephen Lee's current position is at Glasgow Airport, where he works as an Air Crew Paramedic on the Fixed Wing Aircraft - a role which he has held for five years.
Stephen's journey with the Scottish Ambulance Service started back in September 2004 as an Ambulance Care Assistant.
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He became a paramedic in 2008, based at Paisley Ambulance Station. He initially started at the Air Ambulance Service in 2009 before joining the training department prior to his current role.
Describing the air ambulance network as a "vital part" of the NHS, Stephen said: “Without this service remote and rural communities would not have access to the full range of hospital services.
“Myself and my colleagues provide that vital link in the service chain to ensure the health of the nation. Without this link, some remote and rural communities might not be able to continue, as the specialist care is centralised it's important that we move people to the centres for this care to enable remote and rural communities to grow and continue to function.”
His role includes attending routine transfers for patients attending clinics and planned hospital admissions, emergencies where the patient has been stabilised but require specialist care in another hospital, critical care retrievals with the adult, paediatric and neonatal teams.
He cited the variety of jobs he is sent on every day as the most rewarding element of his role.
Stephen added: “Hour to hour I do not know what is coming next.
"My duties are to ensure the equipment in the aircraft is serviceable, to liaise with the pilots regarding any aviation problems. I also ensure the safe loading of patients, equipment and the general safety of the cabin when in flight.
"It could be a maternity job from the Islands or a repatriation to Northern Ireland the work is challenging but very rewarding – I think it’s the best job in the Service. I also enjoy meeting the rural and remote crews who do a difficult job in challenging circumstances.
“I’m also flying across some of the most beautiful countryside every day while going to work, and I do enjoy working with the pilots, who are dedicated to what we do as a team.
"The highlights working as an aircrew Paramedic are many, some to do with things I have seen while flying such as flying into Edinburgh and seeing the Three Bridges across the Forth or flying up the Tay to land in Perth.”
The Scottish Ambulance Service Air Ambulance is celebrating 90 years of providing services to some of Scotland’s most remote and rural locations this week.
The first air ambulance mission was on May 14 1933 when a fisherman was evacuated to Glasgow from the Isle of Islay. There were several other flights that year, and in the years that followed.
For the year 2022/23, air ambulance crews attended 4185 incidents - an increase compared to the previous year (2021/22) of 3,924 incidents and 3076 the year before.
Scottish Ambulance Service Chief Executive Pauline Howie said: “The Air Ambulance Service is a vital lifeline for communities across Scotland and 90 years of caring for patients across Scotland is an amazing milestone.
“I’d like to thank all those Air Ambulance staff who have served patients over these years, and all those current staff who continue to provide the very best care to patients, often in the most challenging of circumstances.
“The air ambulance network ensures the very best health care to remote and rural communities, carrying our routine transfers, attending emergencies, and assisting with paediatrics and neonates and their families.”
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