Wiltshire Air Ambulance has saved countless lives since it began operating in 1990. It is a registered charity providing an essential Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in Wiltshire and surrounding counties.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance is operational up to 19 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is called to, on average, three incidents a day in its helicopter and Rapid Response Vehicles (cars). Incidents include cardiac emergencies, road traffic collisions and sporting accidents.
Its paramedics are trained in critical care and, together with the specialist medical equipment they use, it enables them to deliver gold standard medical care to patients.
The charity moved to its new airbase in Semington, near Melksham, in May 2018. This was a significant milestone as it brought together the charity’s helicopter, operational, fundraising and administrative teams on to one site and on land the charity owned for the first time in its history, securing its future.
The charity relies on donations to continue saving lives. It is not funded directly by the Government and receives no National Lottery grants. It costs £3.75 million a year to keep Wiltshire Air Ambulance operational, that’s just over £10,000 per day. Income from its lotteries was just over £1 million in the last financial year (2017/18) and is a key part of the charity’s fundraising strategy.
