Nine golden codes: improving the accuracy of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) dispatch—a retrospective, multi-organisational study in the East of England

Table 2 Patients attended by HEMS in the East of England (2016–2019) who received a HEMS-level intervention/drug/diagnostic (HLIDD), n = 8967. Only including HLIDD received by > 400 patients

HLIDD	N	%
Endotracheal tube	3883	43.3
Advanced analgesia	2576	28.7
Conveyed by helicopter	2463	27.5
PHEA	2194	24.5
POCUS (Cardiac)	1070	11.9
Gastric Tube	1047	11.7
Procedural sedation	867	9.7
Oesophageal Temperature Probe	842	9.4
Intravenous antimicrobial	771	8.6
Thoracostomy	651	7.3
Intravenous electrolyte	643	7.2
Splintage	558	6.2
POCUS (FAST)	513	5.7
POCUS (Lung)	492	5.5
Radial arterial line	471	5.3

HLIDD HEMS-level intervention/drug/diagnostic (complete list at Additional file 1); advanced analgesia includes intravenous fentanyl and inhaled methoxyflurane (Penthrox); PHEA prehospital emergency anaesthesia (drug-assisted intubation); POCUS point-of-care ultrasound; gastric tube includes oro and nasogastric decompression tubes; intravenous electrolyte includes magnesium, calcium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate; intravenous antimicrobial includes coamoxiclav, ceftriaxone, and acyclovir

ISSN: 1757-7241