John Hinds

John Hinds (21 March 1980 – 4 July 2015) was a Northern Irish doctor known for his contributions to high-speed motorcycle trauma medicine. He was a consultant anaesthetist and intensivist at Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh.

Hinds was born on 21 March 1980 in Newtownards, Northern Ireland. From the age of seventeen, he was a motorcycle enthusiast. He studied at Queen's University Belfast and graduated with a medical degree in 2003.

In 2012 he gained his CCT, with dual accreditation in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine.

He had a voluntary role as part of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland's medical team and regularly provided medical cover for motorcycle racing events. Hinds joined the team in 2003. Hinds was one of two doctors who were mounted on motorcycles to provide a rapid response. He had a well-established partnership with his colleague Dr Fred MacSorley. The two rode as "travelling doctors", following the riders on the warm-up and opening lap of each race or practice session, to enable them to be on scene rapidly in the event of a serious incident occurring. They were also supported by response vehicles staffed by other doctors and paramedics.

He lectured in trauma science at the Queen Mary University of London.

Over several years, Hinds was a speaker at the Social Media and Critical Care Conference (SMACC), giving presentations such as "more cases from the races" and "Crack the Chest. Get Crucified"

Hinds campaigned for Northern Ireland to have its own air ambulance. In June 2015, he met Health Minister Simon Hamilton to discuss his concerns. Since his death, his widow has been campaigning for an air ambulance to be launched in his honour.

In August 2016, it was announced that Air Ambulance Northern Ireland will partner with the health service in Northern Ireland to provide the helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in Northern Ireland. The charity will work in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to provide the aviation side of the service and fund the non-medical costs of HEMS.

On the evening of 3 July 2015, Hinds was involved in an accident while providing medical cover at a Skerries 100 practice session. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin but died the following day from his injuries. He is survived by his spouse, Janet Acheson.

Hinds was posthumously awarded a BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero award, in recognition of his volunteering work in sport.

On 21 March 2016, the day that would have been Hind’s 36th birthday, the key findings of a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service consultation were announced. £4 million of funding had been granted towards the project. The plans are for an aircraft to be based at Belfast International Airport which will take the call sign "Delta 7", formerly assigned to Dr Hinds by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for whom he responded as a volunteer BASICS doctor.