Increased demand for our lifesaving work in Bath during 2023
Monday, 01 January 0001
A total of 1,167 missions were undertaken by Wiltshire Air Ambulance during 2023. The charity carried out its lifesaving work 181 times during the year, an increase of 8.3% on the previous 12 months.
The aircrew were called to 96 incidents (up from 83 in 2022) in the city and its surrounding areas, as well as airlifting/escorting patients to the Royal United Hospital 85 times (84 in 2022).
With its airbase in Semington, near Trowbridge, Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s helicopter can fly to the centre of Bath within just four minutes. Subsequently, the charity is called to Bath more than any other air ambulance resource, attending over two-thirds of all incidents.
“These latest statistics show the need for our lifesaving service has sadly increased in the past 12 months and we could not do it without the amazing donors and local businesses who help raise the funds required to keep our air ambulance flying and saving lives.
As it says on the side of the helicopter, we are funded by you, flying for you, and we are extremely grateful for all the support we receive from the people of Wiltshire and Bath."
Richard Miller, safety and ground operations manager
A total of 292 patients were transferred to local hospitals (up from 263 in 2022), the majority of which to Royal United Hospital, Bath (85), Southmead Hospital, Bristol (69) and Great Western Hospital, Swindon (57).
The largest number of call outs were to cardiac emergencies – 274, which equates to around a quarter of all missions. There were 231 road traffic collisions attended, plus 237 medical emergencies, 60 sporting incidents and 47 assaults.
A total of 157 incidents involved children, while 34% of all missions (397) took place at night.
Bath was the second most visited area in 2023 with 96 incidents, behind Swindon (181). The charity also attended 85 missions in Chippenham and 70 in Salisbury.
Other areas where the team were called to attend include: Amesbury - 14; Bradford-on-Avon - 13; Calne - 25; Chippenham - 85; Corsham - 24; Cricklade - 3; Devizes - 65; Malmesbury - 18; Marlborough - 32; Melksham - 51; Pewsey - 11; Royal Wootton Bassett - 17; Tisbury - 1; Tidworth - 6; Trowbridge - 68; Warminster - 38 and Westbury - 28.
The aircrew were also tasked to incidents outside of its operational patch, including in counties such as Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Somerset and Worcestershire. In total, 24.6% of the incidents were outside of Wiltshire and Bath.
View our 2023 mission stats
In 2023 we undertook 1,167 missions.
2023 proved a busy year for our aircrew, as we saw a 10.6% increase of missions across Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas,
See how many times we were called out to your area by clicking the mission map below.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Did you know?
It costs £4.5 million a year to keep the air ambulance flying. We receive no regular direct Government funding or National Lottery grants, so rely on generous donations from the public and local businesses to continue our lifesaving service.