Derbyshire air ambulance reflects on busy year despite £2.2million income loss

Air ambulance (aircraft and critical care car)

Despite the most challenging of years, which included the projected net loss of income of at least £2.2million, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance was called to 3,410 missions in 2020 as the service remained fully operational in providing vital support to the NHS.

As a result of the lockdowns, there were fewer cars on the roads but both crews remained busy being tasked 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 ten per cent, sports three per cent and industrial two per cent.

CEO Andy Williamson said: “The pandemic has had a significant impact on so many including our own lifesaving charity.

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

“Despite these losses and the multiple lockdowns, our 24/7 lifesaving service celebrated its 40,000th mission milestone last year, and has continued to remain on the frontline, fully operational for those who need us.”

To continue to deliver care, the charity is set to bring two brand new replacement aircraft online imminently. These are able to perform out-of-hospital surgical procedures by the roadside.

Mr Williamson added: “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.”

The charity has again had to temporarily close its chain of 56 stores during this third national lockdown, and community fundraising events remain on hold until the foreseeable future.

The charity is urging the public to continue supporting them through donations, virtual fundraising events, and by shopping with them online.

Anyone wishing to support the service can visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045 999.