Wiltshire Air Ambulance annual running costs hit £4 million

The charity has revealed its three-year plan

Author: Jack Deery and Matt HutchinsonPublished 3rd Sep 2021

Wiltshire Air Ambulance has announced its annual running costs have risen significantly, as it unveiled a new three-year strategy.

The charity's fundraising target, which was £3.75 million per year, has now hit £4 million.

The funding is required as the Air Ambulance plans to enhance its clinical delivery by investing in additional training, as well as increasing its number of pre-hospital consultants.

The charity's hosting a series of events at their base in Semington for National Air Ambulance Week

The new strategy also reveals:

• The charity is taking steps to futureproof itself, including investigating the possibility of replacing its existing Bell 429 helicopter in the next three to five years, along with succession plans being arranged for its senior team and Board of Trustees.

• Wiltshire Air Ambulance aims to embrace a digital culture, including advancements in patient care and paper-free record keeping for both clinical and aviation operations.

• The charity wishes to enhance its journey for patients and their loved ones, as Wiltshire Air Ambulance intends to research the possibility of employing someone to a dedicated patient liaison role.

• The charity is committed in its aim to educate every child in Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas in lifesaving skills, such as CPR, through its Emergency Awareness Training programme.

'Everyone has a part to play in our future'

Wiltshire Air Ambulance director of income generation and communications, Barbara Gray, said: “In the past 18 months we have already adapted and coped with the very real clinical and financial challenges the Coronavirus pandemic has thrown at us - and I’m extremely proud of our response.

“The long-term impacts of the virus remain unknown; however, this new three-year strategy is vital for the charity as we continue to consolidate and build again as life begins to get back to normal.

“Everyone has a part to play in our future, from staff, clinicians, volunteers, stakeholders and our donors".

The Air Ambulance was called to 1,238 incidents during 2020 - a record for the charity.

It simultaneously saw its fundraising income hit by £500,000 due to cancelled events, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the first half of 2021, there was a further 5% increase in the need for the Air Ambulance's lifesaving service.

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