MIDLANDS Air Ambulance Charity is to be awarded £1million from banking fines which will mean the charity can pay for a multi-million pound upgraded helicopter air ambulance to support patients.
The charity, which covers Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and other parts of the Midlands, heard of the news as it was announced in the chancellor of the exchequer, Philip Hammond’s autumn statement in November 2016.
Currently in ownership of one EC135 helicopter, based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, the charity leases two further EC135 models from Babcock Mission Critical Services, based at Tatenhill airfield in Staffordshire and Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire.
Bosses have now made the strategic decision to purchase a larger helicopter and lease just one further aircraft to further develop its operational service in advanced pre-hospital patient care. The charity says this will improve its long term sustainability by further reducing overall operating costs.
The new H145 helicopter, costing in the region of £7million, provides a great number of benefits including a larger interior so young patients can be flown accompanied by a parent or the elderly with a carer or spouse, and will enable improved medical equipment to be carried on board to treat more complex emergencies.
Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “The injection of funds via the banking fine comes as very welcome news at the charity as it will help further enhance our vitally important emergency service. The allocation has enabled us to place an order for an upgraded H145 helicopter, which will cost in total approximately £7million.”
“The new helicopter will be built over the next 18 months and will become operational in 2018. It is positive news for us at the charity and the communities we serve as it will ultimately benefit our patients for generations to come.”
The announcement follows extensive lobbying by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Association of Air Ambulances.
The additional air ambulance charities who were awarded from the banking fine fund were Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, Devon Air Ambulance Trust, Great North Air Ambulance Service Charity, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance Trust, Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, MAGPAS Air Ambulance Charity, The Air Ambulance Service, Wales Air Ambulance Charity and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
For more information about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity visit www.midlandsairambulance.com or call 08008 40 20 40.
