Air ambulance costs rise to more than £5m a year

An air ambulance charity needs to raise more than £5m a year to keep up with the rising cost of delivering its lifesaving service.

Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity was called to a record 1,343 incidents last year, with doctors onboard for 51% of those callouts.

The charity said "sharp rises" in utility, fuel bills and the cost of critical care have increased financial pressure for the organisation.

"Ensuring we have the resources to deliver the best possible care is our priority," said medical director at the charity, Dr Maria Smith.

The charity first began serving Wiltshire in 1990, but expanded in 2024 to also become the official service for Bath.

Since 2019, critical care doctors have joined the crew to carry out procedures like treating heart wounds, carrying out caesarean sections and administering anaesthesia to patients.

Chief executive David Philpott said the demand for the air ambulance "has never been greater".

"To be able to attend the majority of our missions with doctors on board is amazing for the people of Wiltshire and Bath.

"However, that adds further cost pressures to deliver the enhanced clinical care a doctor brings.

"We are very fortunate that the people of Wiltshire and Bath have supported our charity for 35 years, digging deep to donate the necessary funds needed so we can continue to be there for those people who need us most," he added.

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