A CUMBRIAN based charity which carries out lifesaving emergency medical care has inducted several new south Cumbrian doctors, meaning they now cover all corners of the county. 


Joining BEEP Doctors is Dr Douglas Davies, an anaesthetic and intensive care doctor based in south Cumbria and north Lancashire and Dr Chris Moss from Kendal, who works in emergency medicine with an interest in pre hospital and mountain medicine.


Dr Theo Weston, founder of the charity, said: “We’re really excited to welcome all our new doctors on board, but particularly those based in south Cumbria, which means we have a presence in that area for the first time.  


“This significantly increases the range in which we can provide enhanced pre-hospital care to the sickest patients across our region, from road traffic accidents through to life-threatening medical episodes. 


“By supporting our ambulance colleagues, we can significantly increase the chance of survival to our patients.”


BEEP Doctors began in 1994 with only three doctors covering a 15-mile radius around Penrith, but now there are 16 volunteer doctors on the team, coming from both general practice and emergency medicine backgrounds.


The charity’s unpaid medical professionals are able to treat the sickest patients on the roadside, in their homes or at work, and attend serious incidents in the county including road traffic collisions, farming accidents or other life-threatening medical emergencies, as well as major incidents.  


They have continued to respond to callouts throughout the pandemic when many have also been working in hospitals and within the local community.


BEEP Doctors is wholly reliant on donations from the public, and with the pandemic cancelling the usual fundraising activities support from volunteers and fundraisers, to help raise money to provide lifesaving medical and personal protective equipment, has never been more urgent. 


Dr Weston added: “Our fundraising efforts have been blighted in 2020, so like all charities we are looking at ways we can generate extra income to support our life saving work going forward.  


“We’re kicking off 2021 with a new campaign to drive our fundraising forward and look to raise £145,000 for new life saving monitors to equip all our volunteer doctors and give more patients the chance of survival.”