The MAAC Academy has welcomed its first cohort of clinicians to the Out-of-Hospital Advanced Life Support (OH ALS) course, developed by the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) to support healthcare professionals working in pre-hospital emergency care.
Fifteen clinicians attended the inaugural two-day programme at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s airbase and headquarters in Shropshire on 4th and 5th September 2026, gaining practical experience in managing critically ill patients and cardiac arrest situations outside of hospital settings.
Adapted from the established Advanced Life Support programme, OH ALS focuses on the unique challenges of delivering emergency care in dynamic and often resource-limited environments. Through a combination of expert-led teaching, hands-on skills stations, high-fidelity simulation and interactive workshops, delegates developed both technical and non-technical skills, including leadership, communication, teamwork and decision-making under pressure.
The course brought together GPs, paramedics, newly qualified paramedics and student paramedics, with delegates travelling from across the UK to learn from a multidisciplinary faculty made up of experienced clinicians who regularly deliver emergency care in pre-hospital settings.
Emily Browne, Associate Director of Education at The MAAC Academy, said: “Pre-hospital care presents unique challenges, so it’s important that clinicians have opportunities to develop their skills in an environment that reflects the situations they may face in practice.
“By combining expert teaching with realistic scenarios, OH ALS allows delegates to put their knowledge into action, challenge their thinking and learn from the experiences of others. This practical approach is central to what we want The MAAC Academy to offer: education that is relevant, engaging and grounded in real-world experience.”
For Thomas Kerr-French, specialist paramedic at Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the opportunity to immediately apply theory through simulation was one of the programme’s most valuable aspects.
He said: “The course felt really accurate and realistic. It challenged me in ways you wouldn’t necessarily think about otherwise. Being able to hear a lecture on something and then go straight into a simulation and put it into practice is an amazing way to learn. It’s challenging in a way that builds your confidence. You’re being pushed by people who know more than you, but you know the team is there to support you.”
Bridie Benson, lecturer in Paramedic Science at the University of Staffordshire, said: “One of the most valuable things has been hearing from so many different people and drawing on their expertise and experience. You can take ideas from different clinicians and you’re constantly challenged to think in a different way.
“I’ve grown massively in confidence and feel much more comfortable managing these situations thoroughly. I would recommend the course 100 per cent.”
Following the successful first delivery, The MAAC Academy will run four further OH ALS courses in 2027, on 4th and 5th February, 12th and 13th April, 14th and 15th July, and 18th and 19th October.
The programme forms part of The MAAC Academy’s commitment to sharing Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s clinical and operational expertise with healthcare professionals, helping to strengthen clinical confidence, support effective decision-making and ultimately improve patient care.
To find out more about The MAAC Academy and its education and training opportunities, visit www.themaacacademy.com
