£22k funds life-saving equipment for air crew
Bath’s air ambulance has been given a £22,000 donation so it can buy five new critical bloodwarming machines.
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) provides critical care and air ambulance services for the people of Bath and North East Somerset.
Their crew consists of critical care doctors and specialist paramedics who bring the skills of a hospital emergency department direct to those in urgent need.
As part of their extensive kit, they carry blood and fresh frozen plasma together with the equipment necessary to give a blood transfusion at the scene of an incident.
And now, The County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country that funds NHS hospital helipads, has funded five new critical blood-warming machines.
As a charity, GWAAC receives no day-to-day funding from the NHS or Government, and relies on generous grants and donations to raise the money needed to provide their lifesaving service.
GWAAC’S chief executive Anna Perry said: “We’re so grateful for grants and donations such as this one that allow us to purchase vital kit for our crew to give patients the best possible chance of a positive outcome.
“Without support like this, we simply couldn’t make a difference to so many lives and families across the region, so on behalf of all of our communities – thank you.”
Since the launch of GWAAC in 2008, the charity has been fortunate to have a strong partnership with the County Air Ambulance, receiving almost £4million in funding.
This has helped to develop the charity’s operations and make significant advances in pre-hospital emergency care for patients in GWAAC’S region.
Robert Bertram, chief executive of the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal said: “The charity has a very strong connection with GWAAC, having provided funding during its first few years.
“Through our HELP Appeal we have funded helipads at Bristol Royal Infirmary and Southmead Hospital, which have helped to save many lives.
“We’ll always go where we are needed most and GWAAC urgently needed our support. We are pleased that we can continue helping them to save the lives of critically ill patients.”