Great North Air Ambulance Service

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is expected to be more than 50 per cent busier as the start of summer officially begins.

Today marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and the first day of summer, meaning the charity is entering its busiest period.

Last year between 21 June and 23 September, the critical care team from GNAAS responded to 563 incidents in the North East, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumbria, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Since 2022, the charity has been awarded a rating of ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission and has made significant progress in its operations.

GNAAS began operating seven nights a week in the North East in January this year and hopes to offer the same level of service in Cumbria in the near future, where it currently operates four nights a week.

Outside the UK, GNAAS has been working alongside Manx Care, based in the Isle of Man, to trial a new service to transfer seriously injured or unwell patients by helicopter from the Isle of Man directly to the UK for emergency medical treatment.

In addition, the charity has employed three dispatchers who monitor emergency calls at their air desk to identify which patients most need GNAAS’ help, and then coordinating an appropriate response alongside the ambulance service.

Andy Mawson, director of operations at GNAAS, said: “In the summer, we’re 52 per cent busier than we are during the winter months and through our improvements in dispatch we’re getting to more patients that really need us, and we’re doing more missions and we’re delivering more critical care.”

The charity does not receive government funding and needs to raise £7.7m a year to remain operational. To help support them during the summer months, they have launched a fundraiser on Facebook and are appealing to the public to donate to GNAAS.

Mr Mawson said: “We’re so aware that everybody’s struggling now with the cost of living, and in our sector it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to raise the funds that we need to continue to save lives.

“Aviation fuel for example has trebled in price over the last 18 months, and against this backdrop of rising costs I hope that you’re proud that we’ve been able to deliver 24/7 care in the North East and we’re now operating four nights in Cumbria.

“We will soon be providing 24/7 care across the region but we need your help more than ever.

“We recognize how much everybody is struggling, but no matter what you can do for us, however big or small, it’s gratefully received, and we just want to continue making you proud.”

To donate towards GNAAS’ Facebook fundraiser, visit: https://www.facebook.com/donate/815868753018394/

About GNAAS

• The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) is a charitably funded air ambulance service which provides life-saving care throughout the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Isle of Man.
  
• They operate two helicopters 365 days a year and also operate a night-time service in the North East and Cumbria on rapid response vehicles.
  
  
• The aircraft cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles and on board are specialist doctors and paramedics who effectively bring the hospital to the patient.
  
  
• The level of skill and expertise of the on-board team mean they respond to the most critically ill and injured people, giving them the best chance of survival.
  
  
• GNAAS is a progressive organisation which has pioneered pre-hospital care in the region.
  
• The latest techniques, equipment and drugs are constantly being evaluated to ensure the charity can provide the best care possible for their patients.
  
  
• 2022 marked the service providing 20 years of life-saving care. Throughout this time, they have responded to more than 23,500 incidents across the region, with road traffic collisions being the most frequent type of incident responded to by the team.
  
  
• They do not receive Government funding and must therefore raise £7.7m a year through public donations to remain operational.