Air Ambulance attends RTC in Formby

FOLLOWING a road traffic incident on the junction of Kirklake Road and Woodlands Road, Formby, lead to a large emergency services response, just before 4pm, on Saturday, 3 December 2022. The response started after a blue Mercedes crashed a garden wall of number 55 Kirklake Road. As emergency services attended the original incident, a second incident occurred within that location. These incidents lead to the North West Air Ambulance landing in Duke Street Park, in just before sunset. The EC135 aircraft then remained on site for over an hour before heading back to base, leaving the rescore crew to go with the patient to Hospital.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service told the media that:- "Crews were alerted at 3.53pm, and were on scene by 3.57pm. 2 fire appliances attended, as well as the search and rescue appliance. On arrival, crews found that a vehicle had collided with a wall. The driver of the vehicle was still inside and was extricated by fire fighters. 1st Aid was then provided at the scene before the driver was handed into the care of Paramedics and taken to Hospital for further treatment."

Both incidents are not being treated as suspicious, despite suggestions on some social 'news sites' locally, as images of the Police cordon and rumours circulated online, at the time.

This is the footage of the EC135 aircraft taking off from Duke Street Park, in Formby.

If you can, please show your support for the amazing efforts made by this life saving charity, by donating to the North West Air Ambulance today. Please visit:- NWAirAmbulance.Org.UK.

UCLan's Holly Buck named Student Doctor of the Year

A University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) undergraduate has been named Student Doctor of the Year. Holly Buck, a 4th year on the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, claimed the top prize from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

23 year old, Holly wants to become a GP when she qualifies, telling the media that:- "I was really amazed and honoured to be even nominated for such an award, so to hear my name read out and to win it was so special, I was ecstatic and on top of the world!"

The former Runshaw College student has overcome more than most to get to this stage in her academic life. Aged 11, Holly was diagnosed with tonsillitis 12 times in a year and that led to her contracting glandular fever. Sadly, for the previously fit and sporty teenager, it left her with chronic fatigue syndrome, and she was admitted to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in Liverpool.

The knock on effect of the illness on her Schooling meant she only attended around 20% of her classes in Years 7 and 8 at Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy. Her mother had to take time off work to collect her School work and teach her at home.

Holly, from Southport, said:- "I was so poorly and to go from competing in athletic competitions for my county to not being able to wash my own hair was really debilitating. I slowly built up my strength and managed to get A*s and As in my GCSEs."

While she was about to undertake her high School exams, her mum was diagnosed with double breast cancer.

"With being under Alder Hey's care until I was 18 and going to support my mum with her breast cancer appointments, I spent a lot of time around medical professionals. Seeing the work they did certainly inspired me to want to become a Doctor." said Holly.

Holly, an aspiring GP, has an enormous passion for her future career as a Doctor. She said:- "Being able to provide care, support and empathy to patients is as a truly honouring and rewarding profession and I'm extremely grateful to be able to call it my career."

As a former Alder Hey patient, Holly's award serves a dual purpose; recognition that young people can overcome significant adversity and become compassionate and resilient Doctors, but also provide an enormous inspirational example for others. To this day, the Hospital refers patients to Holly and she is able to recount her story to them, providing them with hope and courage in taking forward their own aspirations of becoming a Doctor.

Holly travelled to the RCGP Inspire Awards ceremony in London with her dad and brother as her mum was recuperating from surgery. She added:- "I was incredibly shocked to be nominated and then to meet the other outstanding students on the night and to be among such highly important figures in the medical world was very special."