Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity undertook a record number of missions during 2024, including 47 in Melksham.
Overall, missions reached an all-time high of 1,343, marking a 15% increase on the previous year and surpassing the previous record of 1,238 incidents attended in 2020.
A total of 341 patients were transferred to local hospitals (up from 292 in 2023), with the majority taken to the Royal United Hospital in Bath (109), Southmead Hospital in Bristol (82) and the Great Western Hospital in Swindon (72).
The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity’s dedicated aircrew, consisting of pilots, critical care paramedics and doctors, are operational up to 19 hours a day all year round. During 2024 they attended, on average, four daily missions.
The charity’s helicopter was deployed for 619 (46%) of the missions, with the remaining 724 incidents attended to by critical care cars.
Cardiac emergencies accounted for the highest number of callouts (326), representing around a quarter of all missions. Other incidents included 287 medical emergencies, 190 road traffic collisions, 72 sporting incidents, and 58 assaults.
A total of 182 incidents involved children, while 32% of all missions (438) took place at night.
Doctors were on board for more than half (51%) of all missions attended, an increase from 33% in the previous 12 months.
The aircrew delivered 68 pre-hospital emergency anaesthesias, 32 blood transfusions and 55 procedural sedations. In addition, the LUCAS CPR machine was used 80 times throughout the year and 12 regional nerve blocks were administered.
Chief executive David Philpott said, “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 to better reflect its operational area.
David said, “For the first time, we attended over 100 missions in Bath in a single calendar year. This represents around nine per cent of all 2024 missions and once again demonstrates the importance of our work to the city.”
To find out more about Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, visit wiltshirebathairambulance.org.uk
