The Genesis of the Cornwall Air Ambulance Service

From a Dream to a Reality

This book tells the tale of how a small group of like-minded individuals were persuaded by the author to agree create something that no other part of the National Health Service had ever achieved before – to introduce a novel new type of ‘flying’ ambulance.

It would carry skilled paramedics and their equipment to the distant corners of the county and revolutionised emergency pre-hospital care. The Cornwall Air Ambulance became the template for other regions of the UK to set up their own air ambulance units and today the nation has more than 30 in full-time operation. This book describes how the First Air Ambulance project emerged from an idea and became a reality.

A portion of the sale price of each book sold or downloaded (min one pound) will be donated to the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7052-8 (e-format)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-7051-1 (Print)

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Reviews

“Most people have heard of the Helicopter Air Ambulances operating in the UK, but how many people know that the ‘First Air Ambulance’ was set up in Cornwall in 1987.

This excellent little book tells us that the service didn’t just start by magic, its the story of the authors attempts to bring authorities, companies & people together to start the service.

We all need to thank the Health & Ambulance Heads at the time, for their understanding & foresight. The Helicopter company for their generosity & for understanding the vision, and all the other people involved. But most of all, we all need to thank Geoff Newman, who had the initial vision & worked tirelessly to make it come true.”

“As I know the author personally i took the opportunity to read his account which I found enlightening”

“I discovered this book after reading ‘For the Price of a Hat’ by the same author. As a retired Paramedic I found this true story fascinating and a testament to the author and his medical colleagues. To read how HEMS started in the UK and to look at how fundamental it has now become in Primary care, is a credit to Geoff and his efforts to ensure that the project kept pace. I have many friends who work as Critical Care Paramedic’s within HEMS in the West Country and will certainly be recommending it to them. Interesting reading for any emergency care worker or anyone intrigued to know how this essential medical resource came into being.”

“Air ambulances have only existed in the UK for just over 30 years and may never have come into being without the efforts of the author and his colleagues. This is a fascinating history of the first air ambulance service, complete with some great archive pictures. Thoroughly enjoyable.”

The Air Ambulance Operating Manual

The famous range of specialist books by the Haynes Manuals publishing house has just received a new manual to add to their already extensive range – The Air Ambulance Operating Manual. Written by Claire Robinson and centred on the Dorset Air Ambulance Unit the book provides the general public with a fascinating insight into how the air ambulance service in the UK came about and how it has developed. The book has a four-page feature on the genesis of the concept in the UK and introduces the man behind the original idea – Geoff Newman. Geoff in now retired and has his own collection of crime-thriller books written about the adventures of Cornish Detective, Jack Mawgan. Geoff has worked with the aviation departments of a number of Police Forces in UK as well as running both the original Cornish unit and the London Air ambulance a decade or so later and these experiences have produced a great deal of material for a novelist such as Geoff. The Haynes Manual and his own books are available via Amazon.