by Lorna Gordon

It ’ s not unusual to see CareFlight helicopters in our area , flying to people in need of emergency assistance , going to places it is difficult for ambulances to get to , or when time is of the absolute essence .

I ’ m sure , like me , many of you hope that the person they are assisting has a

Ruth with her family .

good outcome , and perhaps you might say a prayer for them too .

CareFlight was set up in 1986 with just one helicopter and one doctor on duty . Since those humble beginnings it has expanded nationally and become one of Australia ’ s most trusted and reputable charities .

Each member of the team who fly out on CareFlight ’ s fixed or rotary wing

aircraft are specifically trained to deal with the situations they face ; pilots know how to navigate difficult terrain or landing areas and doctors have been trained in trauma response .

The events they are called out to are really varied and can be anything from car accidents to paediatric health problems .

This year saw the newest addition to the CareFlight team , a H145 helicopter , the first aeromedical aircraft of its kind in Australia . It came on board as the Mounties Care CareFlight Helicopter .

This new aircraft can fly up to 250 km / hr and can reach patients within an average of 18 minutes from tasking and has a reach as far away as the Central Coast or Blue Mountains from the Westmead base .

Dr Ruth Parsell , Deputy Medical Director of the rapid response service is one of the specialist doctors on call for CareFlight and is no stranger to dealing with emergencies .

She began her work in the medical area as a paramedic , which is where she met her husband , Brian , also a paramedic . While she enjoyed her job , she had always set her dreams higher . At school she hadn ’ t got the scores she needed in her exams to gain entry to study medicine at that time , so put that dream to the side .

When she was working as a paramedic the pathways to enter a medical degree opened up and Ruth decided to upgrade her medical knowledge and train to be a doctor .

“ After I joined the paramedics the

entry requirements to study medicine changed , you could start a science-based degree then switch to study medicine ,” she said .

“ I knew some very inspiring doctors at Liverpool Hospital and asked them questions about their jobs and decided to pursue a degree with the intention of specialising in emergency medicine when I finished .”

Ruth studied for five years at the University of Newcastle and then continued on to do her three-year doctor training and focused on her chosen field . “ After your initial three years you chose your speciality ; you can leave to become a GP or move on to specialist training . I chose to study emergency medicine , in Australia it ’ s still a young speciality , only becoming seen as a speciality in the 1980s ,” Ruth explained .

“ We are the ‘ jack of all trades ’ as when people come into the emergency room we have to be prepared for anything . Unlike most specialities we do extra training on anaesthetics as we may have to put people to sleep and attach them to a ventilator before they are moved on to the specific ward for their needs .”

Her work as a paramedic helped prepare Ruth for the world of emergency and trauma medicine , both as a CareFlight doctor and as her other role as a doctor in the emergency departments of Westmead and Nepean hospitals .

“ When I work in hospitals , I have a better understanding of the challenges faced by paramedics and the issues that