Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) crews responded to 28 incidents over just three days (17 to 19 June) treating patients involved in incidents from road traffic collisions to stabbings.
It follows a busy first half of the month which has seen the doctor-paramedic crews responding to, on average, six missions a day through June, compared with a usual average of four missions a day.
Incidents over the weekend also included a shooting, a house fire and medical and cardiac emergencies.
A total of 19 patients were treated at the scene with treatments including delivering anaesthetic, blood transfusions and surgical interventions.
The crews responded to 12 missions on the helicopter and 16 on the two Critical Care Cars, one of which is dedicated to the Nottingham area. And the signs are that this trend is set to continue through the summer months.
Paramedic Chris Steele said: “We are currently experiencing a huge surge in demand for our critical care resources, beyond that I have ever seen in my time at LNAA.
“We are working closely with the local ambulance service and other emergency services such as the Police, Fire and Rescue, HM Coastguard and Mountain Rescue and it is our advanced training and skills that collectively allow us to provide the very best enhanced pre-hospital care to the patients in the counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.”
2022 is set to become the busiest year on record since the service began in 1994.
Already the number of incidents attended are 11 per cent higher than the same time last year, which was LNAA’s busiest year to date.
This increase is set to rise further as the helicopter currently flies from 7am to 10pm daily but soon will have the ability to fly through the night until 2am, the only fully night capable air ambulance in the entire East Midlands region.
This surge so early at the start of summer is a stark reminder of the need for the LNAA. And the team know that without the support of the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, they would not be able to deliver such a dedicated and life-saving service.
Doctor Mike Hughes said after that busy June weekend: “I would like to thank the people of both counties not only for their donations, without which we would not be able to operate, but also the people who meet us, who are always friendly and offer help without hesitation when we fly or drive into their lives.”
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT LNAA
LNAA receives no regular direct funding from the Government. It needs to raise £8 million this year to deliver its life-saving service every hour of the day. It is thanks to the generosity and goodwill of supporters throughout the area that they can provide such a critical care service.
For more details on how to support this vital work, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk
About The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance in Numbers
- £8 million: The current cost of funding to keep the service operational each year.
- 169: Thanks to tremendous public support, we fly an AgustaWestland 169 helicopter – a top of the range Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) aircraft offering head to toe access to patients in flight. Our crew also carry blood on board, allowing them to deliver potentially life-saving blood transfusions at the scene.
- 205,755: The number of missions the air ambulance has flown since the service began operating in 1994.
- £3,500: The current cost of each mission.
- 24/7: We provide a 24-hour service, 7 days a week, enabling our clinical crew to give more people than ever the very best chance of survival. This level of care ensures that we are at the forefront of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in the UK.
- 3,500: The number of square miles the service covers across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
- 2,500,000: The number of people the air ambulance provides medical support to across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
- 216mph: The aircraft can reach a top speed of 216mph and has a cruising speed of 180mph; over three times faster than a land ambulance.
- 20: The number of minutes it takes the air ambulance to reach the furthest point in its catchment area.
- Four: The average number of callouts a day.
