Air Ambulance charity's costs spike as callouts increase
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance were called to more than 1,100 incidents during 2023 - an increase of 10.6 per cent - costing £4.5 million
Wiltshire's Air Ambulance charity says an increase in callouts means the cost to provide their lifesaving service continues to spike.
They were called to more than 1,100 incidents during 2023 - an increase of 10.6 per cent - costing £4.5 million.
This represents a rise in costs of 11 per cent from their previous annual fundraising target.
Twenty three percent of their missions in Wiltshire and Bath were for cardiac issues, with road traffic collisions making up a fifth of callouts.
Charity chairman Rob Kevan explained: “We continue to build resilience within our aircrew rota, with more pre-hospital doctors now on board than ever before.
“In addition, we remain committed to advancing the training and development of our critical care paramedics and trainee critical care paramedics.
“However, in our endeavour to enhance our patient care, with investment in clinical upskilling we have to contend with rising costs, including fuel and utility bills, and those associated with our Devizes charity shop.
“Subsequently, our fundraising need has risen to £4.5 million each year, which put into greater context means generating over £12,000 every single day.”
"This is a huge challenge"
He added: “This is a huge challenge for our very dedicated charity team but one I am confident they will rise to, as they have done many times in the past, especially seen during the Coronavirus pandemic and more recently as we go through this Cost-of-Living crisis.”
Last year alone, the charity was called to 1,167 incidents across Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas.
The charity carried out its lifesaving work 181 times in Bath during the year, attending 96 incidents and airlifting/escorting patients to the Royal United Hospital on 85 occasions.
With its airbase in Semington, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s helicopter can fly to the centre of Bath within just four minutes.
Subsequently, the charity is called to Bath more than any other air ambulance resource, attending over two-thirds of all incidents.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance receives no regular direct Government funding or National Lottery grants, so relies on the generosity of the public and local businesses to continue its lifesaving work.
The charity operates up to 19 hours a day, 365 days a year. On average, its aircrew will respond to three lifesaving missions every day.