St John Ambulance London To Appear In Major TV Documentary

A LIFESAVING children's service provided in partnership with St John Ambulance London is set to feature in a major new TV series.

A number of highly trained staff of St John Ambulance London District will soon be seen in the eight episodes of a new series coming to air in May, entitled Children's Emergency.

To be shown on BBC One from Tuesday 4th May (being broadcast at 10.35pm), the programmes will chart how St John Ambulance uses its state of the art vehicles and expert "specialist trained "crews to work as an integral part of CATS (Children's Acute Transport Service) to provide rapid transportation of clinical teams and critically ill children.

Every year thousands of children fall seriously ill, but there is only a limited number of hospitals with paediatric intensive care units across the UK.

Children's Emergency charts the exceptional journey of CATS, a unique service designed to take the skills and high-tech equipment of a paediatric intensive care unit from the hospital and 'on the road'. This highly specialised team operates around the clock 365 days a year to make sure that critically ill children in Britain get the life-saving treatment they need in the best possible intensive care facilities.

The highly trained staff from St John Ambulance London has been working with CATS on this provision since 2004 and has created an outstanding partnership which has made such a difference to thousands of children and their families.

Len Bamber, CEO of St John Ambulance London said: 'Our work with CATS is a world class example of agencies working in partnership to the greater good of all the community with the specialist trained St John Ambulance London team working hand in hand with top paediatric services across London and the United Kingdom.

'Their combined efforts ensure swift safe transportation of critically ill babies and young children in life threatening and highly charged situations.

'We are delighted that this programme will demonstrate their outstanding work and that it will go some way to recognise the dedication and skill of the excellent men and women who spend so much of their time helping to save young lives across the country."

CATS Clinical Director Dr Andy Petros, said: 'Moving a seriously ill child is high risk but is sometimes the only option. Our people must combine top medical expertise with the ability to provide emotional support to the parents involved in the emergency operation.'

Every year St John Ambulance London transports some 1200 children and its vehicles will typically travel around 100,000 miles as part of their work for CATS.

St John Ambulance London has 4,000 members, with a strong youth contingent meeting at divisions around the capital.

The organisation also delivers first aid training courses for businesses and individuals throughout Greater London.