A woman has sustained serious spinal injuries after her vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with another car at the intersection of Barrenjoey Road and The Serpentine, Avalon Beach.

The driver, aged in her late 70s, was given initial treatment by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

CareFlight’s Rapid Response Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance at 10:30am and landed 15 minutes later in a Bilgola Beach oval where paramedics had transported the woman to meet CareFlight’s clinical team.

CareFlight’s specialist doctor and NSW Ambulance critical care paramedic performed a clinical assessment on the patient, including an ultrasound. They administered pain relief and undertook spinal precautions.

CareFlight’s clinical team provided ongoing treatment for the woman as she was transported with NSW Ambulance by road to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.