NARS – The Norfolk Accident Rescue Service
Did you know? The Norfolk Accident Rescue Service voluntary Doctor scheme recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Dr Drew Welch is a speciality trainee in anaesthetics and intensive care at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and a voluntary doctor for NARS. He said “we are extremely grateful to people of Norfolk for their continued support over the last 40 years as it’s the public who have helped to keep this vital service operating successfully”.
The Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) was established in 1971 as a General Practitioner immediate care scheme. GP’s were called to the scenes of road traffic accidents in their area and worked closely with ambulance crews to improve patient care. This service was voluntary and the doctors responded in their own cars. NARS soon became a charity and over the next 20 years began to recruit more voluntary doctors. Now NARS has nearly 20 specialist doctors and 6 Critical Care Paramedics and hopes to recruit more clinicians over the next 12 months.
“We provide additional pain relief and have specialist equipment designed for helping sick and injured children. Some of our members are trained to give anaesthetics outside of hospital. Our aim is to provide road-based emergency care to the people of Norfolk at any time of the day or night”.
This August NARS starting working in partnership with the East of England Ambulance Service Critical Care Car. The car – call sign ‘222’ – is based in Norwich and is normally staffed by paramedics with advanced training and additional equipment. Chris Neil is a Critical Care Paramedic for the Ambulance Service and a voluntary Critical Care Paramedic for NARS. “NARS has a fantastic working relationship with the Ambulance Service. The partnership means that teams of doctors and paramedics can work closely together so that seriously ill and injured patients can benefit from specialist care before they arrive in hospital”.
Pre-hospital care involves assessment and initial emergency treatment of patients at the scene and in transit to the most appropriate hospital. The aim of prehospital care is to relieve pain and improve the chances of a positive outcome for those taken acutely ill in the community. Qualified doctors and paramedics working for NARS are given additional training and equipmentin line with the latest research and clinical governance.
“We carry specially designed response bags equipped to cope with the most challenging of medical emergencies. Emergency ambulance crews call upon us to assist in the management of the sickest patients at home or at the roadside”.
It costs around…
- £2000 to train a doctor or paramedic in advanced pre hospital care skills
- £5000 to provide each responder with advanced equipment and drugs
- £300 to equip each responder with personal protective equipment
If you would like to know more about NARS, offer support or become a volunteer please visit them on Facebook, or contact NARS, Hunters Lodge,145 Spixworth Road, Old Catton, Norwich, NR6 7DU.
