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HAMPSHIRE, U.K. — HAMPSHIRE’S new air ambulance service has got off to a flying start and on its second day of operation the airborne medics were de-ployed to a road accident at Up Somborne.
The helicopter paramedics helped a land-based ambulance crew and a hospital doctor treat a man whose car overturned in the village on Monday afternoon. He suffered minor injuries and didn’t need hospital treatment.
A South Central Ambulance spokesperson said it was thought from the initial call that the accident was more serious than it was and this was why the air ambulance was used.
Sunday morning’s launch of the Thruxton-based air ambulance saw the 20-month dream of the charity behind the flying medics finally come true.
Project support officer Andrew Howkins said: “It all started after a serious accident in the Romsey area involving a mini-bus and a car. Dr Charles Deakin (a former air ambulance doctor in London now medical director of South Central Ambulance Service) contacted my wife Nicola and asked her to set up an air ambulance in Hampshire. It took a while to do but we finally got there. I think the service is going to get used quite a bit.”
“We had a couple of shouts on Sunday and on Monday the air ambulance was used to take a man to Salisbury Hospital after he was run over by his own lorry in Southampton Docks. He was quite seriously injured.”
Charity bosses say that it will cost around £65,000 a month to keep the yellow Bolkow 105 DBS chopper in the air.
The helicopter, leased from Bond Air Service in Gloucestershire, is manned by a pilot and two South Central Ambulance paramedics and is able to carry a maximum of two patients to hospital at a time. It will not fly at night.
Mr Howkins said Thruxton was the ideal base for the air ambulance. “Thruxton gave us a hanger and it has its own fire brigade. They have been very, very generous to us. Thruxton airfield is a very good place for the pilot to get airborne and get going.
“It’s not central but the helicopter can reach Cowes on the Isle of Wight within 16 minutes.”
“We looked at keeping the helicopter at Southampton Airport but the problem is it’s very busy. We needed instant access to the skies and we would not have it at Southampton.
Mr Howkins said the weekly lottery draw was an important fundraiser as the charity relies on public donations and does not receive any cash from government or lottery funding to provide the new medical service.
His wife, Nicola who is the charity’s operations director said: “The charity is extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the appeal and made it possible for this life-saving service to become operational, this is only the beginning and we will need continued support to ensure this vital service is there for us. Dr Charles Deakin worked on the Hampshire and Isle Air Ambulance project for about 10 years and he was at the launch on Sunday morning. He’s been brilliant. "
Borough councillor Neville Whiteley who has been calling on Hampshire’s local authorities to put financial backing into the live-saving service said a new dawn had begun.
“It’s a wonderful achievement. A lot of hard work has gone into creating this wonderful facility. I hope the people of Hampshire will appreciate it. There’s a big need for it. I hope parishes in the Test Valley will take a more proactive role and support the air ambulance like West Tytherley has. I am money for the air ambulance will keep on coming in now that it is airborne. It’s very good value for money and the air ambulance will help save lives,” said Mr Whiteley who represents the borough’s Dun Valley ward.
The official launch of the air ambulance will be held at Lord Montagu’s Beaulieu estate on July 17 and the charity is staging an open day at Thruxton Airfield on August 21 for lottery members and the general public. A contestant from the ITV1 show Britain’s got Talent will be there.