A FUNDRAISING campaign by a Stratton GP and a local paramedic to help emergency colleagues with training has proved so successful, the target has been reached ahead of schedule.

Two years ago, BASICS Emergency doctor and Stratton Medical Centre GP Angus Macdonald and paramedic Rich Hoult decided to raise money, motivated by the increasing complexity of ‘prehospital’ emergency medicine and the demands on emergency staff to remain highly skilled

The campaign aimed to buy a sophisticated ‘STATMAN’ training manikin. It was so successful that they reached their target ahead of schedule.

Resultant training has been so popular that doctors and paramedics from as far as Exeter and Truro have travelled to join them.

Angus said: “The campaign has been a great success. We have changed our name to North Coast Prehospital Emergency Medicine Education (NC-PHEM) and created a committee. We are even helping BASICS doctors and paramedics in South Cornwall create a similar organisation.”

Rich said: “The public know about ‘basic life support’ but paramedics and BASICS doctors use ‘advanced life support’ to treat really sick patients. We are proud of the lifesaving difference our project has made in the community and grateful for the many kind donations allowing it to happen.”