Air ambulance called to county incidents more than 750 times

THE air ambulance attended more incidents in Leicestershire than any other area in the region in 2020.

The Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) was called to more than 2,000 missions in 2020.

It remained fully operational in providing support to the NHS when it mattered most, despite the most challenging of years, which included the projected net loss of income of at least £2.2 million.

The service, along with the Warwickshire and

Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), worked around the clock over the past year and, despite the financial impact from the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity has continued to provide frontline, critical care across its five counties and further afield.

The crews of the two services were sent on a total of 3,410 potentially lifesaving missions last year via helicopter and critical care car, with DLRAA responding to 2,043 of the call outs.

Leicestershire was the most served county, with 765 incidents. As a result of the lockdowns, there were fewer cars on the roads but both crews remained busy.

They went to more medical incidents (33 per cent) than road traffic collisions (28 per cent), with the “other” category, consisting of assaults, self-harm, and mental health incidents, accounting for 24 per cent of missions, falls 10 per cent, sports 3 per cent and industrial accidents 2 per cent.

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on so many, including our own lifesaving charity,” said chief executive Andy Williamson.

“We have faced a projected net loss of income of at least £2.2 million for the months April to June last year, and worryingly we have started 2021 with another lockdown.”

To continue to deliver, the charity will be bringing two new aircraft online soon, which will continue to have critical care paramedics and doctors on-board.

These are able to perform out-ofhospital surgical procedures, from thoracotomies and caesareans to amputations by the roadside - so support for them during this time is crucial, the charity said.

“As a charity, our mission is clear – to continue providing leading pre-hospital emergency care to our patients and to support the NHS.

“But in order to do this we need the support of people within our communities now more than ever before,” Andy said.

To support the service, call 0300 3045 999, or see the website: