Cornwall Air Ambulance has launched a two-year programme with South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust that sees doctors flying on board the county’s emergency helicopter service for up to four days a week.

Eight Education Support Physicians (ESPs) have been recruited. All have served either in the military or in other helicopter emergency services, here and abroad.

The group includes GPs, emergency doctors, intensive care specialists and anaesthetists, so providing a diverse mix of backgrounds and broad spectrum of skills.

The physicians will fly with the paramedic crew for at least three days a week for the next two years, and on ground will assist the paramedics in developing clinical knowledge and skills at the Newquay airbase.

This is designed to increase the critical care skills of the aircrew paramedics.

The two-year education support programme will cost Cornwall Air Ambulance £200,000, which is being funded by generous bequests.

However, the 700 plus missions that Cornwall Air Ambulance attends each year, as well as the 100 plus missions attended in the critical care cars, are funded solely by donations from organisations and individuals. The emergency service costs more than £3 million a year to operate and receives no direct government funding.