ONE of Herefordshire's volunteer flying doctors was called out to five separate road accidents in the county last Thursday.
Dr David Houston, a local GP based in Hereford, described roads on that day as "hazardous".
"The intermittent showers caused road surfaces to be extremely greasy,'' he said.
Dr Houston and Dr Malcolm Russell are both members of Mercia Accident Rescue Service and answer calls from West Midlands Ambulance Service when their special expertise is needed.
Usually, they attend two to three incidents a week, sometimes together.
But last Thursday, Dr Russell was out of the county and Dr Houston received the five calls for help during the day.
The most serious was at Aymestrey, where two cars had collided. Both drivers had minor injuries but a female passenger had potentially serious injuries.
A tricky rescue was needed, involving Dr Houston, paramedics, the police and members of the fire service.
"The emergency services provided excellent integrated management of the accident and performed outstandingly, yet again," said Dr Houston.
En route to the accident, the doctor stopped to provide assessment at another accident at Dorstone and to call an ambulance for someone with minor injuries. The other three incidents were at Dinmore Hill, Burley Gate and Shobdon.
The volunteer doctors from MARS are called out by the ambulance service to back up paramedics and provide advanced pre-hospital emergency medicine for casualties.
They are self-funding, raising money locally. Anyone wanting to know more or make a donation can do so through www.marsbasics.org.uk
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