Two people have been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision that prompted an air ambulance response in County Durham on Sunday morning.
Emergency services were called to the B6278 in Stanhope, near Bishop Auckland, shortly before midday on 31 August. The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) helicopter was dispatched from its base in Eaglescliffe, arriving at the scene in just 16 minutes.
Despite the rapid response, the air ambulance was not required for patient transport, with both casualties instead being taken to University Hospital of North Durham (UHND) by road ambulance.
Emergency Response
A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance Service confirmed their involvement in the incident, stating: “The critical care team worked closely alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat the patient. The patient was taken to hospital by road ambulance with GNAAS’ critical care team accompanying them.”
The North East Ambulance Service provided further details about the response, with a spokesperson saying: “We were called to a road traffic incident on Sunday 31 August at 11:55am on B6278 in Stanhope, Bishop Auckland.”
“We dispatched two ambulance crews and were supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service. Two patients were taken to University Hospital of North Durham (UHND) by road.”
Air Ambulance Response
The Great North Air Ambulance Service operates from two bases – Progress House in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton-on-Tees, and Langwathby near Penrith in Cumbria. The charity covers an area of more than 8,000 square miles across the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.
The service flies three Dauphin helicopters and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with critical care teams consisting of specialist doctors and advanced trauma paramedics. The Eaglescliffe base, from which Sunday’s response was launched, serves as the charity’s headquarters and houses both operational teams and administrative staff.
About the Location
The B6278 is a key route through Stanhope, a market town in Weardale, County Durham. The road connects with the A689, the main route through the Durham Dales, and serves as an important link between Stanhope and surrounding villages.
Stanhope, situated approximately 20 miles west of Durham city centre, is known as the gateway to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town features several amenities including the Durham Dales Centre and serves as a hub for the surrounding rural communities.
Critical Care Capability
When the GNAAS team attends incidents, they bring hospital-level critical care directly to the scene. This can include advanced procedures such as emergency anaesthesia, blood transfusions, and complex medical interventions that would typically only be available in a hospital emergency department.
The decision to transport patients by road rather than air can be based on various factors including the patient’s condition, weather conditions, and the proximity of suitable hospitals. In this case, with University Hospital of North Durham being relatively close to Stanhope, road transport with the critical care team accompanying the patients was deemed most appropriate.
Ongoing Impact
The incident serves as a reminder of the vital role played by both air and road ambulance services in responding to emergencies across County Durham’s rural areas. The Great North Air Ambulance Service, which relies entirely on charitable donations, requires £8.5 million annually to maintain its life-saving operations.
No further details about the condition of the two patients or the circumstances of the collision have been released at this time. Durham Constabulary has not yet confirmed whether they are investigating the incident.
The B6278 has since reopened to traffic following the emergency response and subsequent clear-up operations.
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