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Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
TAMWORTH, U K (tamworthherald.co.uk) - An upgraded helicopter which will support patients in Staffordshire is on its way to the Midlands Air Ambulance after the charity was given a £1 million boost from banking fines.
The charity, which covers six counties across the Midlands, heard of the news as it was announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond's autumn statement in November 2016.
The new improved helicopter will help save even more lives by saving time, as the crews will be able to respond to incidents even more efficiently.
Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: "The injection of funds via the banking fine comes as very welcome news at the charity as it will help further enhance our vitally important emergency service.
"The allocation has enabled us to place an order for an upgraded H145 helicopter, which will cost in total approximately £7 million.
"It is positive news for us at the charity and the communities we serve as it will ultimately benefit our patients for generations to come."
The new H145 helicopter will be built over the next 18 months, will become operational in 2018 and will provide a number of benefits.
These include including a larger interior, so young patients can be flown accompanied by a parent or the elderly with a carer or spouse and it will also enable improved medical equipment to be carried on board to treat more complex emergencies.
The announcement follows extensive lobbying by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Association of Air Ambulances.
The £1 million awarded for the upgraded helicopter has come from the Treasury, from the banking fines.
Councillor Ken Norchi, Mayor of Tamworth, is delighted with the money that has been put forward for the charity.
He said: "It is absolutely first class!
"I think this is excellent news as the NHS and the charity needs to get all the support they can to help save lives.
"The air ambulance is vital to the people of this town, we used to have three hospitals in Tamworth, no although our population has risen to under 100,000 the facilities have disappeared.
"We all know what is going on with the Sir Robert Peel so it makes this service even more important.
"They could be in the air three times a day or once in a week, but what matters is that they are there when we need them."
The charity currently owns one EC135 helicopter, based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire and leases two further EC135 models based at Tatenhill airfield and Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire.
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Updated 137 days ago Article ID# 3995956
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
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