The History of the North West Pre-hospital Critical Care Charity
The roots of the North West Pre-hospital Critical Care Charity (NWPCCC) trace back to 1969, when Dr. Peter Aston, a General Practitioner in Bunbury, Cheshire, began responding to emergencies for the Cheshire Ambulance Service. Recognising the need for organised pre-hospital care, Dr. Aston formed a GP-staffed scheme in 1973. Named CRASH, the Cheshire Road Accident Scheme, it became a pioneering initiative registered with both the Charity Commission and the British Association of Immediate Care Schemes (BASICS). CRASH provided invaluable emergency care until Dr. Aston’s retirement around 2000.
A New Era: Resurrecting the Scheme
In 2002, during the fire service strikes, Dr. Graeme Spencer returned to Cheshire and began responding individually to emergency calls. Dr. Aston, keen to revive CRASH, reached out to Dr. Spencer. Inspired by his interactions with the Care Team (a BASICS scheme in the West Midlands), Dr. Spencer envisioned a new scheme that could serve both Cheshire and Shropshire, areas that were underserved individually. A key meeting at the Bhurtpore pub in South Cheshire between Dr. Aston and Dr. Spencer laid the groundwork for this revival.
Together with Dr. Adrian Marsh, Dr. Fliss Clark, Dr. Scott Beattie, and paramedics Ollie Ayles and Chris Cairns alongside Nurse Rob Fenwick, they officially restructured and rebranded CRASH as the Cheshire & Shropshire Immediate Care Scheme (CSIBASICS). The team also transferred and updated CRASH’s remaining funds and constitution, officially launching CSIBASICS in 2007.
Growth and Development
In its early days, CSIBASICS operated across two ambulance services, but as the team expanded, Cheshire emerged as the central hub for responders. Educational meetings, often held in local pubs, became a cornerstone of the scheme, providing training for members and local paramedics. The team also introduced one-day trauma and airway courses as fundraisers to support their work.
By 2009, CSIBASICS had grown significantly, with new responders like Dr. Mike Hughes and Dr. Jon Taylor joining. A major milestone was achieved in 2020 when the scheme welcomed its first paramedic responder. These paramedics, specialising in advanced or critical care, began working both solo and alongside doctors to deliver enhanced pre-hospital care to patients.
A New Identity: NWPCCC
While CSIBASICS thrived in Cheshire, the need for BASICS responders in other parts of the North West, such as Merseyside, Manchester, and Lancashire, became apparent. In 2022, following a request from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), the scheme evolved into the North West Pre-hospital Critical Care Charity. This expansion allowed the organisation to focus exclusively on NWAS and extend its coverage to all four counties under its remit: Cheshire, Merseyside, Manchester, and Lancashire.
Continuing the Mission
Today, NWPCCC boasts a team of doctors and paramedics providing life-saving care across the North West. The charity has responders in all four counties and continues to build on its legacy. Bi-monthly meetings in local pubs remain a cherished tradition, a nod to the scheme’s humble beginnings and the camaraderie that drives its success.
From its origins as CRASH in 1973 to its current role as a vital part of pre-hospital critical care in the North West, the charity’s journey reflects decades of commitment to saving lives and supporting communities.