Midwives and doctors from our NHS trust have teamed up to deliver life-saving maternity skills training to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, enhancing emergency care for pregnant patients in critical situations.
Led by Midwife Caroline Lacy, with support from Beth Strong, Caroline Walker, Dr Laura McKie, and Dr Hannah Carden, the training took place in the hangar at Henstridge Airfield, where air ambulance crews were equipped with essential maternity care techniques.
Air ambulances are dispatched to the most serious incidents, where rapid, expert care can mean the difference between life and death. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance teams include consultant-level doctors and specialist practitioners, capable of delivering hospital-level treatment at the scene.
This new training ensures that crews are better prepared to respond to maternity emergencies, including complications during pregnancy, labour, or postnatal care—especially in remote or time-critical scenarios.
Clinical Lead for Maternity and Neonatal Services at Somerset NHS FT, Caroline Lacy, commented:
“I was introduced to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s training lead, Dave Martin, and we discussed the gap in provision of obstetric emergency training for ambulance and air ambulance services across Somerset.
“Although maternity emergencies outside of hospital are thankfully rare, the particular skills and knowledge needed to manage these emergencies has the potential to not only save lives, but also improve long term health outcomes.
“We agreed to run the training at the air ambulance’s airbase, facilitated by myself and our fabulous team of midwives and obstetricians Beth, Caroline W, Laura and Hannah, and the feedback from our air ambulance colleagues has been superb.
“It’s rare that our air ambulance colleagues need to care for someone who’s pregnant, but the training has given the crew the opportunity to really hone their skills on how to support both straightforward birth and obstetric emergencies, whether that be at home, a remote area, or side of the road.
“Spending the day with the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was an absolute privilege, as they are such an accomplished and inspiring team, and I’m already looking forward to visiting them again.
“We’re very happy to continue supporting their teams to provide safe maternity care when it matters most.”
The initiative reflects a growing emphasis on cross-specialty collaboration within the NHS, ensuring that frontline responders have the skills and confidence to manage complex maternity cases. It also highlights the dedication of NHS staff to improving outcomes for mothers and babies, wherever they are.
By sharing expertise with air ambulance teams, midwives and obstetricians are helping to bridge the gap between hospital and pre-hospital care, ensuring that patients receive the best possible support from the moment help arrives.
Image credit: iStock
