North West Air Ambulance announces plans to operate 24/7

10:00pm Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

The air ambulance in action The air ambulance in action

THE North West Air Ambulance has announced plans to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The charity made the announcement in its latest charter stating its commitment for the future.

It said it aimed to operate the 24/7 service to support North West residents during the hours of darkness by 2016, saying that if necessary it would increase its fleet of helicopters.

Currently the charity operates flights in daylight hours only.

Chief executive Lynda Brislin said: “While we help over 1,200 people who are in real need each year, there is still more we can do.”

The charity last month spent a quarter of a million moving its bases from airports at City Airport, Manchester, and Blackpool Airport to the University Hospital of South Manchester, Wythenshawe, and Royal Preston Hospital.

Doctors in each of the hospital’s A&E departments are now able to fly onboard the air ambulance to incidents where patients require specialist treatment.

Ms Brislin said: “Being based at key trauma hospitals and having expert clinicians on hand for serious incidents will help to further increase patients’ life chances.”

The service needs to raise in excess of £4.2m each year in order to keep its two air ambulances flying.

Comments (5)

1:35am Thu 4 Oct 12

kazz says...

Absolutely brilliant. Some of you might not know that 'north west ambulance' is not funded by the the government. The capital it has is purely raised through charity and i believe giving money to this charity is well worth it. I just hope and pray that it raises more awareness so more people can donate and it can help save more lives
Absolutely brilliant. Some of you might not know that 'north west ambulance' is not funded by the the government. The capital it has is purely raised through charity and i believe giving money to this charity is well worth it. I just hope and pray that it raises more awareness so more people can donate and it can help save more lives kazz

2:36am Thu 4 Oct 12

peely says...

Sounds good as long as its not abused and used to pick up the Saturday night drunks and druggies who occupy the majority of ambulance service time.
Sounds good as long as its not abused and used to pick up the Saturday night drunks and druggies who occupy the majority of ambulance service time. peely

8:26am Thu 4 Oct 12

frank says...

maybe we should fund our MP's with jumble sales and give this essential service the money it needs.
maybe we should fund our MP's with jumble sales and give this essential service the money it needs. frank

9:26am Thu 4 Oct 12

mavrick says...

A service like this should have government funding. It is an emergency service.
A service like this should have government funding. It is an emergency service. mavrick

11:18am Thu 4 Oct 12

cathedral citi says...

mavrick wrote:
A service like this should have government funding. It is an emergency service.
Totally agree! It's an essential service! Watching 'helicopter heroes' on tv, it brings home the importance of the air ambulance in today's hectic lifestyles!
[quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote: A service like this should have government funding. It is an emergency service.[/p][/quote]Totally agree! It's an essential service! Watching 'helicopter heroes' on tv, it brings home the importance of the air ambulance in today's hectic lifestyles! cathedral citi

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