The Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) is celebrating another monumental achievement, highlighting its unwavering dedication to supporting critically ill babies and children across the UK.
On 31 March 2025, one of the lifesaving national charity’s helicopters took to the skies to complete its 1,000th patient transfer—a landmark moment that highlights TCAA’s pivotal role within the paediatric and neonatal care sector.
Since its inaugural flight in 2013, TCAA has been a beacon of hope, providing a high-speed, dedicated transfer service for young patients requiring specialist care. Partnering with 11 NHS Clinical Partner Teams, the charity ensures that even the most vulnerable patients have timely access to the care they need, when they need it most. These collaborations include vital work across the East Midlands and beyond with the dedicated Children’s Medical Emergency Transport Team (CoMET).
The 1,000th transfer involved the dedicated CoMET and TCAA team working together to transport a young patient from Leicester to Newcastle, completing the journey in just one hour and 11 minutes by air—compared to three hours and 35 minutes by road—demonstrating the vital impact of TCAA’s service alongside its NHS partners.
CoMET Head of Service, Dr Georgina Harlow remarked: “The Children’s Air Ambulance provides crucial transportation and helps us at CoMET to be more flexible in our approach to the care we can give to babies, children and young people who have critical care needs in the East Midlands and nationally.”
“Having access to their clinically designed helicopter allows delivery of patient treatment whilst moving, instead of a road ambulance that may have to make stops during its journey from one hospital to another. The Children’s Air Ambulance is a team of dedicated individuals who are passionate about the service they provide and are a pleasure to work with.”
Reflecting on this significant milestone, Alfie Daly, Head of Operations at TCAA, said:
“Reaching our 1,000th patient transfer is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of everyone involved with the Children’s Air Ambulance. I am immensely proud of our entire team—from the airdesk team and crew members to our skilled pilots and all those working tirelessly across the charity.
“Our commitment to enhancing paediatric and neonatal inter-hospital transfers is evident in our recent investments and helicopter modifications, including our bespoke incubators, which have significantly increased the number of neonatal patients we can assist. The collaborative efforts with our Clinical Partner Teams, such as CoMET, enable us to support countless families during their time of need.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on our mission to help even more critically ill babies and children, and we are deeply grateful to our loyal supporters whose generosity makes our work possible.”
TCAA’s achievement builds on more than a decade of innovation, from bespoke incubators that enhance neonatal care to pioneering in-flight clinical offerings such as ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and nitric oxide. These advancements ensure that TCAA continues to lead the way in aeromedical transfers, equipping NHS clinicians with the tools needed to deliver world-class care in the air.
As a charity reliant solely on public donations, TCAA’s accomplishments are powered by the generosity and support of the community. Each mission costs an average of £3,600, and the charity’s work would not be possible without the commitment of its supporters.
With every donation, TCAA can continue its vital work and move closer to the next 1,000 patient transfers, ensuring that it remains a lifeline for young lives in need.
To donate and support the Children’s Air Ambulance, visit the website and help fund the next lifesaving flight, www.childrensairambulance.org.
