Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance moves closer to launching 24/7 emergency service
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance service has progressed with plans to launch its 24/7 emergency service.
Since announcing their commitment to providing the 24/7 Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), the ambulance has responded to many overnight missions.
Currently Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) only attends incidents between the hours of 7.00pm and 7.00am but this is soon set to change across the two counties – to help save more lives.
Captain Tim Taylor, pilot at LNAA, is regularly on-call to fly the Ambucopter during the nights. He said being available 24 hours a day means his team can respond to many more incidents and ensure individuals receive the help they need as quickly as possible.
"We have worked tirelessly over the last few months to undertake and learn the processes involved by using Night Vision Goggles and other illumination systems that the aircraft is now fitted with. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that once we are flying 24/7, we will be one of only three Air Ambulance charities in the UK operating a helicopter 24 hours a day," he said.
The region’s life-saving air ambulance celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and hopes to become operational around the clock. The medical team will help approximately 438 additional patients over night each year.
During the transitional period, the Air Ambulance’s critical care team will be on-call to provide 24 hour care at least three days per week. Next month, operational days for a 24-hour service will increase to four days a week.
Karen Jobling, chief executive officer at LNAA, said it is clear to see that there is a need for their services all hours of the day.
"By operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we hope to treat approximately 438 additional patients every single year. Our patients are the heart of everything we do here at the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, so if we are able to help over 400 more people who are suffering from the most serious illnesses and traumatic injuries, then this proves to be an incredible development for our charity."
The charity receives no direct government funding, meaning it solely relies on the support of local communities to keep the Ambucopter flying.
"Vitally, the charity will need to raise even more funds, as the cost to provide a 24 hour HEMS service will increase from £2.5 million per year to around £4 million," added Karen. "We can only make this remarkable step forward with the help of our local communities and we cannot thank them enough for their incredible support."
LNAA has attended over 20,000 incidents over the last 25 years. During this time it has airlifted thousands of patients to hospital, helping them to receive the vital care they require.
If you would like to make a donation or find out more about the life-saving work of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, visit ambucopter.org.uk.
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