Air ambulance to fly at night after donations see operations extended

The charity hit a major milestone as it expands its operations into the hours of darkness for the first time.

The Stourbridge-based charity has been at the heart of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operations across the Midlands for more than 23 years - an area of six million people and the biggest covered by any similar air ambulance service.

But, until September last year, it could only operate during 14 hours of daylight during the summer months and just 10 hours during the winter months.

Despite the restrictions, the three aircraft run by the service - funded by public donations - have carried out up to eight missions a day.

But research showed there was demand for an extended service and, backed by generous donations from local individuals, communities and businesses, the charity is now able to operate 14 hours a day throughout the year, transporting patients between lit helipads to the area's specialist trauma hospitals in the hours of darkness.

Latest figures show that in the first four months of after-dark flights, the charity completed 38 patient transfers where the aircraft had been on a mission after official sunset, – a third of the flights were undertaken by the helicopter based at RAF Cosford, which mostly covers the West Midlands and Shropshire area.

Air operations manager Becky Tinsley said this latest milestone was another step towards providing an operational service throughout the night.

She said: "As well as providing crucial HEMS support throughout the day, being able to fly between lit hospital helipads within our extended operating hours throughout the year is significant for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

"This has only been possible due to the tremendous support we receive from the public, and the hospitals that have provided lit helipad landing sites, but there is still a long way to go in improving the lit helipad network across the region.

"After considerable clinical and operational research into the increasing demand for the service, we have invested a portion of the public's donations to make this possible and we are delighted to have seen such a benefit so quickly.

"Undertaking full air ambulance missions at night is part of our strategic plan but we cannot achieve this goal without further aircrew training, equipment and a more robust lit helipad network, which is why the continued support of the public is required, now more than ever."

The extended hours mean the service can carry out another 100 missions a year thanks to the extended operating hours during darkness.

Becky Tinsley added: "A patient's chances of recovery are proven to be dramatically increased if they are able to receive urgent medical attention within 60 minutes of injury or sooner, which is known as the golden hour.

"Our mission is to help ensure that as many people as possible receive treatment and being able to transport patients in a way never before possible during the hours of darkness is absolutely vital."

For more information about the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity visit the website, www.midlandsairambulance.com, or telephone the office on 0800 8 40 20 40.