Jamie Pattison


Jamie Pattison

Jamie Pattison is an experienced Paramedic and adventure athlete specialising in pre-hospital care in remote, cold, and high-consequence environments. He joined Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team as Medical Officer at the age of 23 and now serves as Team Leader, leading teams that deliver advanced pre-hospital care in some of the UK’s most demanding terrain. Under his leadership, the team’s medical capability evolved significantly, with their response during the COVID-19 pandemic recognised through a national award for innovation and operational excellence. A self-described chionophile and proud Geordie, Jamie’s professional and personal focus lies in cold and mountainous environments. His expedition background includes work across Greenland, Australia, and other remote regions, providing medical support to film crews, scientific teams, and expeditions. In 2016, he was part of the winning team in the Iceman Polar Race, one of the world’s most extreme cold-weather endurance events. Jamie trained as a paramedic with the North East Ambulance Service before joining the Scottish Ambulance Service Special Operations Response Team (SORT), providing specialist medical and rescue capability across the north of Scotland. He currently works as a Winch Paramedic with Bristow Helicopters / HM Coastguard, delivering frontline UK Search and Rescue (UKSAR) helicopter medical care. Combining operational leadership, expedition medicine, and aviation SAR experience, Jamie brings a practical, evidence-based perspective on delivering high-performance medical care in extreme and austere environments.

Date unspecified
Location unspecified

Providing high-quality patient care in extreme and austere environments demands more than technical skill or adherence to guidelines. In mountain, maritime, aviation, and expedition settings, clinicians are required to make complex decisions with limited resources, environmental threat, prolonged timelines, and significant human factors at play. This lecture explores the core principles that underpin gold-standard patient care in extreme environments, drawing on real-world experience from mountain rescue, helicopter search and rescue, and expedition medicine. Rather than focusing on specific clinical algorithms, the session examines the foundations that allow teams to deliver safe, effective, and compassionate care when conditions are hostile, information is incomplete, and conventional systems are stretched. Key themes include: • Decision-making under environmental and cognitive load • Balancing ideal care with achievable care in austere settings • Human factors, teamwork, and leadership at the patient’s side • Risk management for rescuers while maintaining patient focus • Maintaining dignity, communication, and clinical standards in prolonged or exposed care The talk aims to provide attendees with a principle-based framework they can apply across disciplines, environments, and incident types supporting consistent, high-quality care even when conditions are far from ideal. This session is designed for clinicians, team leaders, and rescue practitioners seeking to refine their practice beyond protocols and build resilient, adaptable approaches to patient care in the world’s most challenging environments.