Ready to take off seven days a week (From This is Hampshire)

Ready to take off seven days a week

10:43am Thursday 20th December 2007 in

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THE Thruxton-based Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is now operating seven days a week.

Until now the service, which relies on charitable donations, has only been able to fly five days a week.

But thanks to support from people across the two counties the service is able to extend to a full week, 365 days a year.

Nicola Hawkins, director of operations, said: "The generosity of the people across the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has enabled this vital life-saving service to become seven days a week ands now we will be able to save more lives.

"The charity is very grateful to everyone who has supported the new air ambulance service, which relies solely upon the generosity of the local communities with no support from the Government or national lottery."

Since its launch on 1 July this year the service has been mobilised to more than 200 incidents across the two counties and has attended patients with chest pains, sporting injuries, involved in road accidents and hospital transfers.

The service has also taken on two full-time pilots. Previously it was supported by a rota of pilots from Bond Air Services.

The charity is continuing to appeal for donations because it needs £65,000 to keep it in the air every month.