In our opinion, this collaboration, involving public sector and commercial organisations, is highly valued by all parties. It takes place with all staffing and associated costs absorbed by each respective body. Please visit our website or contact us to learn more. From Helicopter Rescue to the perfect F2 post www.mountainmedicine.co.uk Ysbyty Gwynedd Emergency Department in North Wales has worked closely with RAF Search & Rescue (SAR) colleagues since 2005. However, over the past two years, the working relationship between the ED, RAF Search & Rescue and their contracted civilian medical training provider (ORMS) has progressed to a new level. Here’s how it works... 2. Our ED hosts clinical placements for both student & experienced winchmen 1. Our medical students enjoy opportunities to observe the training of SAR rear-crew, and assist with their scenario-based training 3. ED doctors (especially our Clinical Fellows, whose job plan includes 20% pre-hospital activities) have opportunities to fly with RAF SAR 4. The Clinical Fellows are also encouraged to gain supervised teaching experience by supporting the ORMS faculty: paramedic tutors (qualified educationalists) provide individual feedback on each doctor-taught session 5. In return for supporting ORMS, ED doctors have opportunities to undertake training in technical rescue at “Outreach” (one of ORMS partners) alongside HART Teams & fire crew. Benefits to the Emergency Department These activities increase the attractiveness and quality of our Clinical Fellow posts, enhancing recruitment and bucking the national trend of middlegrade shortages. A highquality, fullystaffed, educationallyaware middlegrade tier quickly translates into improved supervision, teaching and support for SHOtier (F2, GPST, ACCS) ED doctors and medical students. This contributes to fantastic feedback from our trainees in GMC surveys and the immense popularity of our medical student placements. Benefits to RAF SAR Student winchmen benefit from high levels of support from doctors throughout their training as they prepare for the challenging and sometimes lonely responsibilities of a SAR medic. The links built through working with SAR also assists doctors and nonmilitary hazardous environment responders (e.g. Mountain Rescue teams) to integrate within prehospital services in the area. Dr Linda Dykes Major Ben Hall FS Gordon Watt FS Andrew Catterall Ian Thomas Alistair Read Main photo courtesy of www.targeta.co.uk