AN OXFORDSHIRE-based air ambulance crew is hoping their TV debut will show how committed they are to saving lives.

Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance is set to star in Sky 1’s documentary Air Ambulance ER tomorrow night.

Camera crews followed the ambulance, a Eurocopter EC135 based at RAF Benson, for four months last summer for the programme.

The ambulance crew, made up of a pilot, a doctor and two paramedics, was briefly featured in last week’s opening episode of the six-part documentary series but is set to be the focus of tomorrow’s show.

In the first episode the focus was on crews from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight but featured a cameo appearance from the Oxfordshire-based crew.

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Clinical lead Dr Syed Masud, 42, who lives in Stanton Harcourt, said: “TVACAA is thrilled to be part of Air Ambulance ER.

“We hope this shows how 365 days a year we are committed to being there to save lives. There is a high level of medical expertise and equipment on the helicopter which means we are able to bring the hospital to the roadside in the quickest time possible.”

Tomorrow night’s programme will see the team deal with a young girl with a potentially limb-threatening leg injury.

Dr Masud said: “It shows how we get her fears mediated and get her safely on to the helicopter. He added: “She’s fine now, she’s done really well.

“You have to form a relationship with patients very quickly to alleviate their fears. She gave me one of her loom bands which I’m wearing during the programme.”

Dr Masud, who was recently named Emergency Medicine Consultant of the Year by the Oxford School of Emergency Medicine, said: “People should expect to see the blood and gore, and the air ambulance dealing with very serious injuries and the critically ill. It’s a well-balanced programme and shows all aspects of our job.”

On board paramedic Lisa Brown said: “This series highlights how crucial the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) are, especially when it comes to the most critically injured or unwell and where time is of the essence and patients need specialist medical intervention fast.’’ A camera crew from Tern TV followed the crew and producer Louise Say said: “The programme combines glossy cinematography with fantastic characters and cutting-edge medicine.

“The film crew was there every step of the way, from the moment the red phone rings, to the treatment of patients at the scene and their transfer to hospital.

“Back at base they filmed the lighter moments of this close-knit team – anything from making a cuppa to cleaning.”

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