Neonate Transfer System for Isle of Man Air Ambulance

The air ambulance service based on the Isle of Man, operated from Nobles Hospital in Douglas, is equipped with a Piper Chieftain aircraft. The service is often used to transfer sick babies to the mainland and back and following problems with previous transport equipment, the service needed to commission a new bespoke system which was to be more user-friendly and certified to aviation standards.

Neo-natal Aeromedical Transport Systems

Working with Nobles hospital, ParAid Medical developed and supplied a new incubator and trolley system that was compatible with three aircraft types and EASA (European Aviation Safety Authority) certified. The ParAid Medical incubator system sits in a frame and is designed to go on and off aircraft on a slide and glide system for transfer between aircraft and ambulance. It has proved very successful.

Paul McCann, lead nurse for neonatal services on the Isle of Man explained, “There was a great deal of thought and effort put into this development and the new system works superbly.” He continued, “Last year the system was in operation on fifty-five occasions for emergency evacuations and repatriation to the island.”

The new ParAid Medical equipment has many advantages over the previous stand-alone equipment. This had many limitations particularly in terms of manual handling issues as the equipment was very heavy at 128 kilos for lifting in and out of aircraft. It was also limited in its supply of gas and power and other vital sign monitors, such limitations overcome by the ParAid Medical solution.

Further information on ParAid Medical equipment for air ambulance flight services is available from ParAid Medical on 0121 706 6744