Research, Audit, Innovation and Development (RAID) Group
The East Anglian Air Ambulance Research, Audit, Innovation & Development (RAID) group collaborates across UK air ambulances, the NHS and universities to improve the field of Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine.
Our vision
The group’s vision is to measurably improve patient outcomes by developing new treatments, equipment and skills through trials, extensive research, evaluation and by using the latest cutting-edge evidence in PHEM. The group also supports us to monitor and continually improve our service.
We carry out original research and evaluation studies, collaborating across our network of other air ambulances, the NHS and universities to share knowledge. The group is made up of EAAA doctors, critical care paramedics and senior data analysts, some of whom have senior academic qualifications and appointments. There are also guest members on the group for certain projects – such as the clinical director of neuro critical care at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Our ultimate aim is to improve emergency care for all patients.
Key areas of research
Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A quarter of the medical emergencies EAAA attends a year are cardiac arrests. We’re keen to investigate our data to identify things which could improve these patient’s outcomes, and ultimately save more lives.
Traumatic Brain Injury: We’re currently looking at our data to identify how we could improve the care of patients with traumatic brain injury. This includes the care we provide at the roadside and also, in partnership with Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and the East of England Ambulance Service Trust, the recovery and aftercare of these patients.
Blood: Following the national RePhill blood trial, we have undertaken some audit work to support EAAA in developing its own system of providing blood to injured patients.
Aftercare: We’re really lucky to have such a well-developed aftercare team. We know how important their work is and are keen to do qualitative research to prove how much this helps patients and their families following an incident we attended.
Published research & posters
Review a selection of published research and research posters presented by RAID at academic conferences.
ERICA Arrest Trial
Sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is the most common mission for East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). Around one in five of our cardiac arrest patients survive, but across the country the rate of survival is below 10% - this condition needs new treatments to help improve survival rates.
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Uncontrolled Donation After Circulatory Death (uDCD) Trial
This study of organ donation following out of hospital cardiac arrest, also known as uncontrolled donation after circulatory death (uDCD), is led by a team from Cambridge University Hospitals in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST), East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), Magpas Air Ambulance and the Royal Free Hospital.
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BRAIN-FIRST Study
East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has launched a feasibility study to assess whether performing a minimally invasive blood test at scene for patients with a suspected head injury can help determine if they are suffering from bleeding in the brain.
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