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2020 – Another busy year for Your Local Air Ambulance

Despite the most challenging of years which included the projected net loss of income of at least £2.2million, your local air ambulance was called to over 3,400 missions in 2020 as it remained fully operational in providing vital support to the NHS when it mattered most.

The Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, (DLRAA) along with the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) worked tirelessly around the clock over the last year, and despite the financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity has continued to provide frontline, critical care across its five counties and further afield.

The dedicated crews were tasked to 3,410 potentially lifesaving missions last year, via aircraft and critical care car, with Leicestershire again being the most served county.

As a result of the lockdowns, there were fewer cars on the roads but the crews remained busy being tasked to more medical incidents (33%) than road traffic collisions (28%), with the ‘other’ category – consisting of assaults, self-harm, and mental health incidents – accounting for 24% of missions, falls 10%, sports 3% and industrial 2%.

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on so many including our own lifesaving charity,” explained charity CEO, Andy Williamson. “We have faced a projected net loss of income of at least £2.2million for the months April to June last year, and worryingly we have started 2021 with another lockdown.

“Despite these losses and the multiple lockdowns, our 24/7 lifesaving service celebrated its 40,000th mission milestone last year, and has continued to remain on the frontline, fully operational for those who need us.”

To continue to deliver their clinical excellence, the charity will be bringing their two brand new replacement aircraft online imminently which will continue to have Critical Care Paramedics and Doctors on-board. These clinicians are able to perform out of hospital surgical procedures from thoracotomies and caesareans to amputations by the roadside – so support for them during this time is crucial.

“As a charity, our mission is clear – to continue providing leading pre-hospital emergency care to our patients and to support the NHS – but in order to do this we need the support of people within our communities now more than ever before,” added Andy.

The charity has again had to temporarily close its chain of 56 stores during this third national lockdown, and community fundraising events remain on hold until the foreseeable future.

The charity is urging the public to continue supporting them through donations, virtual fundraising events, and by shopping with them online.

To find out more on how you can support your local air ambulance during this time, please click here.