Family hope air ambulance will be tribute to Dr Hinds

An emotional letter released in memory of the late Dr John Hinds has expressed a desire that his dream of an air ambulance service for Northern Ireland be realised.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jul 2015, 17:54 BST
Dr John Hinds and his partner, Dr Janet Acheson, in Australia last year. Dr Hinds was lecturing at the SMACC (Social Media and Critical Care) Gold conference and working with the Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Media Service.INPT20-099Dr John Hinds and his partner, Dr Janet Acheson, in Australia last year. Dr Hinds was lecturing at the SMACC (Social Media and Critical Care) Gold conference and working with the Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Media Service.INPT20-099
Dr John Hinds and his partner, Dr Janet Acheson, in Australia last year. Dr Hinds was lecturing at the SMACC (Social Media and Critical Care) Gold conference and working with the Greater Sydney Area Helicopter Emergency Media Service.INPT20-099

The Tandragee man, respected across the medical profession and motorcycling world for his commitment to improving emergency trauma services, died following an accident at the Skerries 100.

A letter released last week and signed by his family and partner, Dr Janet Acheson, has called for a continued drive towards achieving his dream that “Northern Ireland should have a first-rate trauma network with a doctor-led helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) at its core, so that our survival rates are improved and more lives can be saved”.

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It expressed the need for continued support to the Motorcycle Union of Ireland medical team and request for patience until an official trust or charity fund is launched to support Dr Hinds’ vision.

“It remains our dearly-held wish that John’s unique call-sign of ‘Delta 7’ is once again heard over the ambulance service airways as the HEMS helicopter is cleared to land on the helipad of the roof of the Royal Victoria Hospital, or in a field or country lane to provide life-saving medical intervention to anyone in need,” stated the letter, released to the media on Monday.

“Until then, and while we heal, we would reiterate Dr Fred MacSorley’s call for people to make a commitment to go and donate blood so that others may be saved or, in our case, buy enough time to say goodbye to a loved one (#one4hinds text BLOOD80061).

“John’s teaching and lectures live on through SMACC (Social Media and Critical Care) and we hope he continues to encourage and inspire resuscitationists and trauma medics to be the best they can be.

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“While we now need time and space to grieve for John in private, we passionately believe in maintaining his dream that Northern Ireland should have a first-rate trauma network with a doctor-led helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) at its core, so that our survival rates are improved and more lives can be saved.”

A special tribute was paid to Motorcycle Union of Ireland medical colleagues and the staff of Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital as “we could not have asked for anything more during the few heart-wrenching hours we spent with John before he passed”.

Thanks were also made to the biking fraternity, An Garda Siochána, the PSNI, North Armagh Motorcycling Club, media, supporters and Ian Smith and staff at John Smith Funeral Directors.

It was signed ‘Dr Janet Acheson, Dermot, Josephine, Peter & Colin Hinds’.

Related topics:Northern IrelandIreland