There was a “staggering” increase in emergencies for the region’s Air Ambulance, as the specialist doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics responded to 2,544 calls for help in 2024—the most in a calendar year for the lifesaving charity.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance had an almost 40% year-on-year increase in deployments in 2024, with cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, accidental injuries and medical incidents, such as critical seizures and asthma attacks, accounting for more than 80% of the service’s call-outs.
Southampton (659), Portsmouth and Southsea (258), Basingstoke (131), Fareham (121), Gosport (116) and Eastleigh (100) were the most frequent areas for incidents that required critical care from the service.
For the first time in its history, the teams responded to more patients by road in its emergency response vehicles than by helicopter (53%-47%), largely owing to an increase in call-outs for its Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) response: more than 800 in 2024 compared to just 239 in 2023.
Specialist Paramedic Lead, Mark Durell, said:
“The past year has been remarkable for our service. The incredible growth for our CCP response highlights the increasing demand for our expertise and the trust ambulance crews place in us to deliver advanced care to patients across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
“The rise in requests for attendance for our helicopter and road-based teams means we’re reaching more patients than ever before, ensuring that lifesaving interventions are available when they’re needed most.”
Richard Corbett, the charity’s CEO, said:
“Every year demand for our service surges. While it can paint a desperate picture for all of those patients involved, the more patients we can get to the more chance they have of making it home to their friends and family.
“I am immensely proud of the response from our crew members, charity team and army of volunteers who continuously rise to the challenge. Not forgetting the enormous role everyone who has supported us plays—your generosity saves lives.”
The charity is currently aiming to raise £3.6 million towards its Operation Airbase appeal, to help with the relocation of its airbase and headquarters to a site near Southampton Airport.
