Scotland’s charity Air Ambulance has been so successful in its three short months in operation that a Scotland without it is already “unthinkable”.
Chief executive Gavin Davey believes that the country can boast a first class charity air ambulance helicopter to rival the 32 equivalents operated by 18 charitable trusts south of the border.
“Our 100th tasking was a significant milestone for us and it could not have been achieved without the strong partnerships that have been put firmly in place,” he said.
“We have been working in harmony with the Scottish Government, Scottish Ambulance Service and Bond Air Services to add considerable value to the national emergency network with the prime purpose of helping those in need all over Scotlandby saving lives and relieving pain.
“Our paramedics and pilots often face the unexpected in terms of aviation and clinical conditions when they deploy. Their qualities have become the hallmark of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance: professionalism, reliability, flexibility.
“Going forward, the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance team will turn the significant impact we have had during the last 13 weeks into a sustainable air ambulance service.
“A Scotland without SCAA now seems almost unthinkable we need to be around for years to come.”
Mr Davey said the charity had been “heartened by the genuine gratitude” of many of the casualties and their families.
Lead air paramedic John Pritchard said the busy workload to date had proved both “challenging and rewarding”.
“Helimed 76 has been very well utilised and we’ve been really heartened by the very positive and warm reception we have enjoyed across the whole country from both the public and the other emergency response assets that we work alongside at incidents including first responders, land ambulance crews, trauma teams, GPs and receiving hospitals,” he said.