The Perth-based charity-funded helicopter air ambulance is extending its operational hours.
Starting this weekend, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) will operate a 12 hour shift each day, adding two hours to its current life-saving service.
SCAA, supported by public donations, has committed funding to cover the additional £150,000 needed to extend its operations for its first year. This includes the cost of recruiting a sixth paramedic to support crew shifts.
SCAA chief executive David Craig said increasing their operating hours by 20% could result in more lives saved across Scotland.
“Since 2013, SCAA has responded to hundreds of time-critical emergencies across the whole of Scotland, 10 hours a day, seven days a week,” he said. “When a shift ends, however, so does our response capability.
“Thanks to the generosity of a very supportive public in Scotland, we now have the resources to extend our crew’s shift to their maximum 12 hours.
“This has the potential to see us respond to even more emergencies within that expanded timeframe.”
Mr Craig said the impact of the new hours would be reviewed constantly and fully assessed after six months
He stressed that they were only able to operate due to the continued generosity of the public.
“SCAA can fly expert paramedic care quickly to the scene of any emergency and airlift patients rapidly to advanced hospital care but we can only do so if the public continues to support us as they have to date,” he said.
“Their generous donations mean we can now provide an enhanced life-saving service for the people of Scotland.”
The charity has to raise more than £2 million a year to keep the rapid-response service in the air. Tasked through the 999 system, SCAA works alongside the Government-funded air ambulances to provide cover across the whole of Scotland and its islands.
Andy Moir, Head of the Air Ambulance Service in Scotland, said the charity operation fulfilled a vital role.
“The additional availability each day brings extra resilience to the service and offers the potential to save and improve even more lives,” he said.
