Region's Air Ambulance flew over 1,000 missions last year despite losing millions in income - The Leamington Observer

Region's Air Ambulance flew over 1,000 missions last year despite losing millions in income

Leamington Editorial 16th Jan, 2021   0

THE REGION’S life-saving Air Ambulance service flew well over a thousand potentially lifesaving missions in 2020 – despite a challenging year in which the charity lost millions in income.

The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) responded to 1,367 callouts last year, 396 of them in Warwickshire.

This was despite the Air Ambulance charity – which also runs the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance – projecting a net loss of income of at least £2.2million.

As a result of the lockdowns, there were fewer cars on the roads – but both crews were kept busy, called out to more medical incidents (33 per cent) than road traffic collisions (28 per cent). The ‘other’ category – consisting of assaults, self-harm, and mental health incidents – accounted for 24 per cent of missions, falls 10 per cent, sports three per cent, and industrial two per cent.




Charity CEO Andy Williamson said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on so many including our own lifesaving charity.

“We have faced a projected net loss of income of at least £2.2million for the months April to June last year, and worryingly we have started 2021 with another lockdown.


“Despite these losses and the multiple lockdowns, our 24/7 lifesaving service celebrated its 40,000th mission milestone last year, and has continued to remain on the frontline, fully operational for those who need us.

“As a charity, our mission is clear – to continue providing leading pre-hospital emergency care to our patients and to support the NHS – but in order to do this we need the support of people within our communities now more than ever before.”

The charity will soon bring its two new replacement helicopters into service. They will continue to carry Critical Care Paramedics and doctors who are able to perform out-of-hospital surgical procedures.

The charity has again had to temporarily close its 56 stores for the third national lockdown, and community fundraising events remain on hold.

The public can continue supporting the Air Ambulance through donations, virtual fundraising events, and by shopping with them online.

Visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999 for more information.

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