More air time for the ambulance in the sky
A HELICOPTER dedicated to ferrying sick children from Welsh hospitals to other units for specialist treatment is to be available seven days a week from now on.
The Wales Air Ambulance celebrated its 16th anniversary on St David’s Day.
The charity’s latest aircraft helps youngsters like Elain James, who needed two emergency transfers at just 12 weeks old.
Extending the Cardiff-based helicopter’s operating hours from five days per week means all four of the charity’s aircraft will now run seven days a week, helping save more lives across Wales.
Elain, from Aberystwyth, was just 12 weeks old when she first needed to be airlifted to hospital.
Mum Bridget, 33, said: “Elain, who’s now seven, was born with a rare heart condition called Pulmonary Atresia, which affects the flow of blood through her heart valves.
“In the first few weeks of her life she needed to be taken to specialist hospital units in Cardiff and Bristol.
“At three months old, Elain suddenly collapsed at home and we needed to get her to the specialist unit in Cardiff, as they were the closest hospital equipped to deal with her condition.
“It would have taken more than three hours to get her there by road, which just wasn’t an option in my mind; she wouldn’t have made the journey.
“Instead, the Wales Air Ambulance got her there in just 30 minutes and Elain was seen by her specialists straight away, saving her life.
“Elain’s condition means she needs a feeding tube connected through her nose.
“When she was three she accidently pulled the tube out and we needed to act quickly to get it reconnected before the hole closed over.
“The helicopter got to us in minutes and the medics on board decided it best to fly her to Bristol Children’s Hospital.
“Being able to get her to hospital so quickly by air made a huge difference.”
All aspects of the Wales Air Ambulance – from the crew to the kit on board – are entirely funded by the Wales Air Ambulance, with no government or lottery funding.
Angela Hughes, chief executive of Wales Air Ambulance, said they had been keen to move to a seven day operation for some time.
She explained: “The fourth aircraft initially operated five days a week and was dedicated to providing urgent hospital transfers for babies, children and adults.
“By extending the service, we can now schedule more transfers, helping more people across the country. In Elain’s case, we were able to move her quickly so she could receive the specialist care she needed within a very short space of time.
“It’s so important for us to be able to offer this kind of service to children across Wales seven days a week.
“So we are delighted that we have been able to extend the operating hours in this way.”