We’re delighted to welcome a fantastic array of speakers from across the pre-hospital emergency care sector. Read more about their knowledge and experience and what they will present on.
This page will be updated as more speakers are added.
2026 Presentations
Beyond the Crash: Multidisciplinary Working Across the Road Injury Chain of Survival
What happens in the minutes, hours and days after a road traffic collision determines whether a patient survives, how they recover, and the long-term impact on their life. Yet care is often delivered in silos, with critical decisions made by different professionals who rarely have the opportunity to explore the whole system together.
This session takes a system-wide view of post-collision care, using the Road Injury Chain of Survival as a framework to explore each stage—from early recognition and rescue through to hospital care and rehabilitation. Through a combination of short expert insights, real-world case discussion and patient perspectives, we will examine what the evidence tells us, what actually happens in practice, and where the gaps remain.
Bringing together clinicians, fire and rescue services, and wider system partners, the session will highlight how multidisciplinary working can improve outcomes, reduce delays to definitive care, and address inequities in treatment.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how their role fits within the wider system, and practical ideas for improving care at each stage of the chain.
What happens in the minutes, hours and days after a road traffic collision determines whether a patient survives, how they recover, and the long-term impact on their life. Yet care is often delivered in silos, with critical decisions made by different professionals who rarely have the opportunity to explore the whole system together.
This session takes a system-wide view of post-collision care, using the Road Injury Chain of Survival as a framework to explore each stage—from early recognition and rescue through to hospital care and rehabilitation. Through a combination of short expert insights, real-world case discussion and patient perspectives, we will examine what the evidence tells us, what actually happens in practice, and where the gaps remain.
Bringing together clinicians, fire and rescue services, and wider system partners, the session will highlight how multidisciplinary working can improve outcomes, reduce delays to definitive care, and address inequities in treatment.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how their role fits within the wider system, and practical ideas for improving care at each stage of the chain.
Dr Lauren Weekes is our host for the day. She has been part of Devon Air Ambulance since 2020, initially joining as a Critical Care Doctor before being appointed Medical Director in 2024. Lauren’s connection with the organisation extends back to 2010 through her work as a volunteer BASICS doctor, reflecting a long-standing commitment to pre-hospital emergency care. In her current role, Lauren balances clinical anaesthesia at University Hospitals Plymouth, with operational shifts at Devon Air Ambulance and strategic leadership as Medical Director, where she is responsible for maintaining and developing high standards of clinical care and ensuring the organisation’s medical services evolve to meet patient needs.
Tania has been Joint Operations Director at Devon Air Ambulance since 2025. Her portfolio includes Clinical Operations, Flight Operations and IMPACT, together with some wider responsibilities across Devon Air Ambulance. Prior to joining Devon Air Ambulance, Tania gained extensive public sector and leadership experience, working for the Metropolitan Police for more than two decades in both regional and national roles. This included counter terrorism, neighbourhood and partnerships and firearms policing. Tania is now focused on supporting the development and success of the operational capability and success of Devon Air Ambulance.
Captain Hamish Findlay will be presenting on 'The operational challenges of operating HEMS helicopters'.
Hamish joined the Royal Navy after leaving school and served as a Seaking helicopter pilot for 10 years. During this time he took part in training exercises in Norway and the USA followed by operational deployments in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. On leaving the Navy Hamish flew helicopters for the police in London and Exeter before joining Devon Air Ambulance in 2022. Alongside his duties as a line pilot he also delivers Crew Resource Management training to the operational crews and the wider organisation.
Hamish joined the Royal Navy after leaving school and served as a Seaking helicopter pilot for 10 years. During this time he took part in training exercises in Norway and the USA followed by operational deployments in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. On leaving the Navy Hamish flew helicopters for the police in London and Exeter before joining Devon Air Ambulance in 2022. Alongside his duties as a line pilot he also delivers Crew Resource Management training to the operational crews and the wider organisation.
Dr Iona Taylor has been volunteering as a lifeboat crew member at Torbay for the past four years. Torbay RNLI is one of the busier stations across the UK with two boats (an all-weather and inshore boat) they received 132 call outs in 2025. With a clinical background as an A&E doctor, a fellow of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and more than eight years’ clinical A&E experience, she has a strong nautical background having completed five ocean crossings and logged over 30,000 sailing miles, volunteering for several sailing charities and has just commenced a new job as a cruise ship doctor for Carnival UK.
Colonel Duncan Parkhouse OBE is an anaesthetist and military doctor with more than 30 years’ service in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He has deployed on over 20 operations worldwide, held senior clinical leadership roles, and advanced trauma care for deployed forces. A long-standing SAMF member, he champions compassionate support.
