New HEMS Elective Opportunity

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The Faculty has arranged with Essex and Herts Air Ambulance for 2 successful medical student applicants to spend a 4-6 week elective experiencing a HEMS based PHEM system. This was trialled earlier this year and worked well.

The periods currently available for 2020 are:

• 17 February - 17 May
• 8 June - 12 July 
• 3 August - 27 September
• 12 October – 20 December

Each student will be allocated a different time slot to fit in with their elective program and spread the opportunity across the year.

What you can expect from this elective placement:

1. Inclusion in daily training exercises with the duty crew.
2. Attending and contributing to governance meetings.
3. Observation shifts on EHAAT helicopter and rapid response cars with the duty crew.
4. Completion of an audit or other project on an element of HEMS work.
5. Spending time with the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
6. Exposure to telephone triage and dispatch in the EEAST control center
7. Spend some shifts with a single crewed RRV/ASO
8. To offer the opportunity to report back to both the charity and the faculty in terms of elective report / experience and any projects completed therein
9. Spend time in Edinburgh during one of the FPHC Examination weeks (January or July) to gain a wider understanding of the underpinning organisation required to support PHEM as an entity in all its facets
10. A full induction and briefing program will be provided and full details will be discussed with the successful applicants.

What will be expected of you:

1. To be enthusiastic and interested in the activities you undertake

2. To be well prepared for any sessions where be teaching or instructing is involved.
3. Many individuals will have put a large amount of time and effort into ensuring your elective placement is possible, so you must be punctual and turn up to EVERY shift you have organised appropriately kitted out – PPE will be provided.
4. This elective placement relies upon your predecessor having made a good impression to allow the elective placements to continue, make sure you do not jeopardise this opportunity for the next student

How to Apply for this Elective:

• In 200 words or less explain why you would like to undertake this elective and what skills you can offer.
• In 200 words or less discuss the following : what are the advantages and drawbacks of a HEMS response in the United Kingdom?
• In 200 words or less write a trauma moulage (training) scenario you would feel comfortable instructing – this should not be HEMS based.

Any applications exceeding the maximum word count in any section will immediately be disregarded – the word count applies to the body of each section including any headings.

If you are successful in this part of the application process you will receive a phone call from someone associated with the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, who will conduct a short interview with you to assess if you are an enthusiastic individual who will be suited to this exciting elective opportunity.

This is a competitive process – the final decision will be made by a panel comprising previous successful elective students, the Chair of the FPHC Student Committee Executive an FPHC Office Bearer and a Senior Member of this year’s elective placement organisation with whom a substantial part of this elective is undertaken.

The Faculty of Pre-hospital Care is pleased to offer a £125 bursary to each of the successful students. Details on how to access the bursary funds will be noted in the confirmation letter.

Please send your completed application electronically to fphc@rcsed.ac.uk to be received by 1600 on Friday 5^th July 2019. Please attach evidence that you are currently a student at a UK medical school and are eligible to undertake the elective if you are successful. We will also require your (mobile) phone number in order to contact you for the interview.

The decision will be made and the successful applicant notified no later than Friday 19^th July 2019.