About SWIFT Medics

Swift Medics are volunteer doctors living and/or working in Wiltshire.

We provide out of hospital emergency medical care in Wiltshire at the scene of serious accidents or sudden severe medical conditions such as cardiac arrest, severe asthma or meningitis.

At the scene of an emergency there are a certain number of patients who benefit from the type of care traditionally provided IN hospital. This may include provision of strong painkillers or a pre-hospital anaesthetic, lifesaving surgical procedures such as tracheostomy, re-inflation of collapsed lungs or treatment for multiple limb fractures. Perhaps the most important role is the medical management of an accident scene, prioritising & organising the treatment of a number of casualties is one of SWIFT Medics’ most important jobs.

The aim of SWIFT Medics is to provide and maintain a very high standard of this type of care throughout Wiltshire. Our standards are regulated by ourselves, the Great Western Ambulance Services & the Care Quality Commission.

We tie in with the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and regularly staff the aircraft with a volunteer doctor. We are however a separate & independent charity from the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Currently the state is unable or unwilling to fund this level of care in Wiltshire. SWIFT Medics receive no funding from the NHS, the doctors’ time is not paid for, the initial and ongoing training is funded by the charity or the doctors themselves. Almost all (estimate 98%) of our equipment is paid for by the charity. A small amount of consumables are replenished from the Great Western Ambulance Service from their own stock however much of the specialised equipment & drugs used by SWIFT Medics doctors are not available from the ambulance services & are therefore funded by the charity.
 

 

COSTS TO PROVIDE EACH ADDITIONAL DOCTOR
Immediate care course (1 week)	£1200
Police response driving course (3 weeks)	£2100
Defibrillator monitor	£2000
Personal protective equipment (overalls, helmet, boots etc.)	£1000
Pre-hospital anaesthesia course (3 days)	£500
Capnograph (monitoring anaesthetised patients)	£1900
Emergency care starter kit	£1500
Total	£10200