Donation of two new critical care cars to air ambulance charity

The charity unveiled the Volvo XC90s on Wednesday (March 25) thanks to funding from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to supporting air ambulances.

CEO Karen Jobling said: “Our Critical Care Cars had gone beyond their operational life and could no longer meet the demands placed on them as emergency vehicles. We are delighted and grateful to the HELP Appeal as these new cars mean we can continue to deliver the best possible care to patients.”

The cars, which enable crews to respond in more built-up areas or when weather prevents the helicopter from flying, will provide improved reliability, helping to keep the crew online and ready to respond, says the charity. They have been built with a bespoke layout and more space for the crew’s vital equipment.

The cars provide a round-the-clock emergency response with one of the cars dedicated to Nottingham. This all supports the LNAA’s ability to respond on average, to four missions each day and last year, crews were called to 1,608 emergencies.

The new cars also support the charity’s planned expansion, enabling crews to reach more patients.

Each car carries exactly the same clinical equipment as the helicopter, delivering the same level of care for every patient. This includes advanced monitoring, critical care drugs, airway management equipment and specialist intervention equipment used by the clinicians. By mirroring the helicopter’s kit, the cars enable the crew to deliver the same high-level interventions no matter how they arrive on scene.

The HELP Appeal has been providing grants to air ambulances and hospitals for almost 17 years.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “We are very pleased to support Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance by funding these Critical Care Cars helping to ensure their life-saving teams reach critically ill patients quickly by road when flying isn’t an option.”