PATIENT STORY Serious head injury


Amelia Pile is a typical three year old, who loves running around and playing games. However after a serious knock to the head she was critically ill and needed help fast.


Amelia with her parents and Dr Scott Grier A


melia was out with her parents when she fell, landing


on her head. The seriousness of her injuries were not immediately apparent, and she was taken to Cirencester Minor Injuries Unit for treatment. However not long after her arrival she started fitting, and her condition was deteriorating fast. She needed specialist help, and the decision was made to transport her to the Bristol Children’s Hospital. A land ambulance was called to take her, but time was of the essence We were called, and within four


minutes of the call Critical Care Paramedic Neil Hooper and Critical Care Doctors Scott Grier and Glyn Thomas were on their way to her. While in the air Neil spoke to the ambulance crew who had just left the minor injuries unit. The decision was made to meet them at South Cerney Airfield. The helicopter landed at the airfield 15 minutes later, and the crew found Amelia in the back of the ambulance. She was unconscious and needed airway support and oxygen. After their


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initial assessment of her the crew quickly decided to anaesthetise her, as she appeared to have a significant head injury. Critical Care Doctor Scott said:


“We performed the anaesthetic in the back of the ambulance to ensure Amelia stayed warm as it was very cold outside that day. We then transferred her to the helicopter (lifting her over a farm gate and rubble pile). Owing to her presumed


Back to her playful self


precious Amelia.” Amelia was lucky, her brain scans came back clear, and she was allowed home the next day. She has fully recovered, and has no lasting damage from her injuries. To show their gratitude the family visited the base to meet Scott, and Amelia enjoyed seeing the helicopter and sitting in the Critical Care Car with blues and twos. Scott said: “It was fantastic to


The helicopter landed at the airfield 15 minutes later, where Amelia was in the back of an ambulance.


head injury, we flew Amelia to the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital as this is the Paediatric Major Trauma Centre for the region.” Amelia’s mother Jemma


said: “Amelia was airlifted in an induced coma to the Bristol Children’s Hospital. This move definitely improved her chances of survival, and we cannot express our gratitude that we still have our


see Amelia looking so well when she came back to visit us and to talk to her parents and family about what had happened both at the time and afterwards. There is nothing more rewarding than meeting an ex-patient who was critically ill at the time of our first meeting. The medical team and pilot are delighted that Amelia is back to normal and enjoying life.”


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