The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity has announced a remarkable milestone in its operations, revealing that the charity undertook a record number of emergency missions during 2024.
New statistics indicate that the total number of missions reached an astounding 1,343, marking a significant 15% increase from the previous year and surpassing the previous high of 1,238 incidents attended in 2020.
The charity’s dedicated aircrew, consisting of skilled pilots, critical care paramedics, and doctors, were operational up to 19 hours a day throughout the year, averaging four missions daily.
Among the regions served, Swindon topped the list with 243 missions, followed by Bath (117), Chippenham (109), and Trowbridge (90). A notable 341 patients were transferred to local hospitals, an increase from 292 in 2023. The majority of these transfers were made to the Royal United Hospital in Bath (109), Southmead Hospital in Bristol (82), and Great Western Hospital in Swindon (72).
The charity's helicopter was deployed for 619 of the missions—representing 46%—with critical care cars attending the remaining 724 incidents. Cardiac emergencies accounted for the highest number of call-outs, totaling 326 and constituting approximately a quarter of all missions. Other significant incidents included 287 medical emergencies, 190 road traffic collisions, 72 sporting incidents, and 58 assaults. 182 of the incidents involved children, and 32% of all missions (438) occurred at night. For the first time, more than half (51%) of the missions included doctors on board, a significant increase from 33% in the previous year.
In addition, the aircrew provided 68 pre-hospital emergency anaesthesias, 32 blood transfusions, and 55 procedural sedations. The advanced LUCAS CPR machine was utilised 80 times throughout the year, and 12 regional nerve blocks were administered.
Chief Executive David Philpott commented on the statistics, stating: “It’s sad to report that demand for our medical expertise rose significantly across Wiltshire and Bath during the past year. None of this vital work would be possible without the incredible generosity of the public and local businesses, and we are extremely grateful for their ongoing commitment and support.”
In late 2024, the charity rebranded to include "Bath" in its name, a decision made to better reflect its operational area.
Mr. Philpott noted: “For the first time, we attended over 100 missions in Bath in a single calendar year. This represents around nine percent of all 2024 missions and once again demonstrates the importance of our work to the city.”
The aircrew also responded to incidents outside their primary operational area, covering areas including the City of Bristol, Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, and even into Wales.
In total, 23% of the incidents occurred beyond Wiltshire and Bath. As the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity continues to adapt and meet the growing demand for emergency medical services, the organisation remains committed to providing life-saving care to the communities it serves.
Want to know what’s on in Calne? Visit our local events page for listings and to find out how to add your own events for free. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news. Have you got a story for us? Email editor@calnenews.com.
