The Midlands Air Ambulance is the only charity responsible for funding and operating three air ambulances serving the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. This constitutes the largest air ambulance operating region in the UK.
Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors are enthusiastic supporters of this charity and Neil Lorimer, partner and head of the personal injury department said “I act for a number of clients who have benefited from the services of the Midlands Air Ambulance, without which, many may not be here today.”
The charity are organising a 12 mile Walk4Life fundraising event on Sunday 4 May, Sophie Davies and Beth Harrison from the firm’s clinical negligence department, will be taking part – aiming to complete the full 12 miles.
Since 1991, the charity has responded to more than 40,000 missions averaging 2,000 per year, making it one of the longest established and busiest air ambulance organisations in the UK.
The charity’s three aircraft each carry a crew comprising pilot, two paramedics or flight doctors, plus full life-support medical equipment. Operating from strategically located regional air bases, the maximum flying time to hospital from anywhere in the region is less than 15 minutes. The service operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
What is not widely known is that Midlands Air Ambulance receives no Government or National Lottery funding. Each time the air ambulance undertakes a mission it costs the service £2,500, meaning in excess of £6 million is needed each year to keep its three Air Ambulances operational, which is donated entirely by the public and local businesses, with four in ten of those helped funded by gifts in wills.
If a patient reaches hospital within 60 minutes of injury (referred to as the ‘Golden Hour’) their chances of survival are dramatically increased. That is why the rapid response of the Midlands Air Ambulance is so vital in an emergency situation.
The charity is fortunate to count on tremendous public support and good will, but never takes this for granted. Winning and keeping hearts and minds is an essential and constant challenge. That is why it regards the real ‘helicopter heroes’ as not only the flight and medic crews, but those often unsung ground heroes, its fundraisers.
Kay Kelly, partner and head of the clinical negligence department said “Lanyon Bowdler are delighted to be able to support two of our clinical negligence lawyers raise some much needed funds.”
