Children’s Air Ambulance announces another remarkable year of vital transfers in 2024

The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) has announced another exceptionally busy year in 2024, transferring 200 critically ill babies and children across the UK, ensuring they receive the specialist care they urgently need. This marks the second consecutive year the charity has completed 200 missions, the highest number of missions in its history, highlighting the continued demand for its pioneering and vital service.

As a national service, TCAA is transforming paediatric and neonatal care by providing high-speed transfers for babies and children in need of care. With each flight designed as a flying intensive care unit, the charity is able to transfer young patients to specialist hospitals that are better equipped to provide the level of care they require.

In 2024, the TCAA team flew a total of 297 hours and 11 minutes, saving precious time when it mattered most. The service worked in partnership with 11 Clinical Partner Teams, ensuring that each transfer was seamless and provided the best care for the young patients.

A key milestone last year was the successful use of bespoke incubator systems in 75 transfers. Since launching these incubators in December 2022, they have made a profound difference in improving neonatal care, enabling TCAA to safely transport the most vulnerable babies to where they need to be.

Last year also saw a significant achievement with the 400th mission milestone of carrying a parent onboard—a touching reminder of how the charity values the vital bond between families and their children, especially during challenging times. And the good news didn’t stop there. In 2024, the charity proudly reached its 1,000th mission, a momentous achievement that further underscores its pivotal role in paediatric and neonatal care nationally.

“The 1,000th mission is a significant milestone for the Children’s Air Ambulance,” said Chris Bailey, Associate Director of Operations at the charity. “It demonstrates the trust placed in us by families and our Clinical Partner Teams across the country and reinforces the essential service we provide, day in and day out. We are continually exploring ways to enhance our services and increase our support to the NHS and the clinical teams we work alongside, to ensure we are there when families need us most.”

In addition to this milestone, 2024 saw the launch of extended flying hours from 08:00 to 22:00, enabling the service to be even more accessible to families, offering more opportunities for time-saving transfers; another huge operational achievement.

The charity also made significant progress in strengthening its partnerships across the NHS by visiting all 11 Clinical Partner Teams, ensuring the highest standards of care during every mission and optimising the logistics of patient transfers. Furthermore, the next phase of modifications to TCAA’s aircraft continue to enhance its operational capabilities, ensuring that each flight meets the complex needs of critically ill children and babies.

TCAA’s continued success would not be possible without the generosity of its supporters, donors, and volunteers. Each mission costs £3,600, and it is only through the incredible support of those who believe in the charity’s vital work that the service can continue to operate.

Chris Bailey added: “Every year, we are amazed by the unwavering and passionate support from our donors, volunteers, and supporters, who enable us to continue this vital work. We couldn’t be there for families without their help, and we are incredibly grateful for the generosity that allows us to provide this essential service.”

The charity remains focused on its mission to continue keeping hope alive for young patients and their families. With ongoing developments and collaborations in the pipeline, TCAA is excited to continue making a significant impact in 2025 and beyond.