Wiltshire Air Ambulance completes helicopter review
Thursday, 03 March 2022
![The yellow and green helicopter landed with its rotor blades turning on a hospital helipad on a grey day. The yellow and green helicopter landed with its rotor blades turning on a hospital helipad on a grey day.](/media/2663/waa-supply-covid-26.jpg?rxy=0.44654248532788976,0.27300094849272133&width=1200&rnd=133335621425770000)
It follows a review by our charity’s board and leadership team, which formed part of our three-year strategy launched last August.
We have used our existing Bell 429 helicopter since becoming a standalone operation in 2015.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance director of income generation and communications Barbara Gray explained: “As part of our three-year strategy, we said we would hold a review into our helicopter.
“That has now been completed and we’ve decided that given the unknown economic impact of the global pandemic, it is not the right time to make a change.
“In 2025 the helicopter will be ten years old and that feels like the right milestone to review the situation again.”
We have already increased the number of doctors on shift, which also featured in the charity’s three-year strategy.
The aircrew has been strengthened by three hospital doctors - Maria Smith, Rosie Furse and Reuben Cooper – who had previously provided ad-hoc voluntary shifts for several years.
There are also succession plans being drawn up as our chairman is due to step down in 2023, and our chief executive retires a year later.
For the 2021-22 financial year, our charity’s annual income target increased to £4 million, the equivalent of around £11,000 a day.
Barbara added: “With fuel and energy bills rises, plus national insurance increases and the cost of living going up, we know it’s going to be a tough year.
“However, we need your support more than ever, whether that’s through playing our lottery or raffle, by leaving a gift in your will or by joining our regular giving scheme.
“Without the generosity of the general public and local businesses, we wouldn’t be where we are today and with your ongoing support we can continue to be there for the people of Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas.”
An update from Barbara
Our latest missions
Find out where we have been carrying out our lifesaving work across Wiltshire, Bath and surrounding areas recently.
Location: Gloucester
Attended in: Helicopter
Crew Attending![Paramedic Adam Khan Paramedic Adam Khan](/media/55bbqnjw/adam-khan-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621318870000)
Adam Khan
Critical Care Paramedic
![Dr Rosie Furse Dr Rosie Furse](/media/tccpxofi/rosie-furse-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335624011030000)
Rosie Furse
Critical Care Doctor
![Pilot Elvis Costello Pilot Elvis Costello](/media/pyjhc5ji/elvis-costello-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621405970000)
Elvis Costello
Line Pilot
Location: Westbury
Attended in: Helicopter
Transported to: Southmead Hospital, Bristol
Crew Attending![Trainee critical care paramedic Enda Doran Trainee critical care paramedic Enda Doran](/media/dn5jsiao/enda-doran-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133549944586870000)
Enda Doran
Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
![James Hubbard James Hubbard](/media/rgtn2zle/james-hubbard-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621378730000)
James Hubbard
Critical Care Paramedic
![Pilot Simon Gough Pilot Simon Gough](/media/gtqpvkcc/si-gough-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621442470000)
Simon Gough MBE
Line Pilot
Location: Warminster
Attended in: Helicopter
Crew Attending![Trainee critical care paramedic Enda Doran Trainee critical care paramedic Enda Doran](/media/dn5jsiao/enda-doran-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133549944586870000)
Enda Doran
Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
![James Hubbard James Hubbard](/media/rgtn2zle/james-hubbard-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621378730000)
James Hubbard
Critical Care Paramedic
![Pilot Simon Gough Pilot Simon Gough](/media/gtqpvkcc/si-gough-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621442470000)
Simon Gough MBE
Line Pilot
Location: Chippenham
Attended in: Helicopter
Transported to: Royal United Hospital, Bath
Crew Attending![A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic](/media/aaolsruf/matt-metcalf-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133396824717630000)
Matt Metcalf
Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
![Dr Rosie Furse Dr Rosie Furse](/media/tccpxofi/rosie-furse-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335624011030000)
Rosie Furse
Critical Care Doctor
![Pilot Elvis Costello Pilot Elvis Costello](/media/pyjhc5ji/elvis-costello-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621405970000)
Elvis Costello
Line Pilot
Location: Chippenham
Attended in: Car
Transported to: Royal United Hospital, Bath
Location: Frome
Attended in: Helicopter
Crew Attending![Paramedic Sophie Holt Paramedic Sophie Holt](/media/a5fiqulr/sophie-holt-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621350430000)
Sophie Holt
Critical Care Paramedic
![A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic](/media/aaolsruf/matt-metcalf-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133396824717630000)
Matt Metcalf
Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
![Dr Rosie Furse Dr Rosie Furse](/media/tccpxofi/rosie-furse-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335624011030000)
Rosie Furse
Critical Care Doctor
![Pilot Elvis Costello Pilot Elvis Costello](/media/pyjhc5ji/elvis-costello-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621405970000)
Elvis Costello
Line Pilot
Location: Bristol
Attended in: Helicopter
Location: Weston-super-Mare
Attended in: Helicopter
Location: Corsham
Attended in: Car
Crew Attending![Paramedic Sophie Holt Paramedic Sophie Holt](/media/a5fiqulr/sophie-holt-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621350430000)
Sophie Holt
Critical Care Paramedic
![A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic](/media/aaolsruf/matt-metcalf-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133396824717630000)
Matt Metcalf
Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
![Dr Jono Holme Dr Jono Holme](/media/aidfwjqm/jono-holme-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335623951630000)
Jono Holme
Critical Care Doctor
Location: Bath
Attended in: Car
Crew Attending![Paramedic Sophie Holt Paramedic Sophie Holt](/media/a5fiqulr/sophie-holt-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335621350430000)
Sophie Holt
Critical Care Paramedic
![A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic A photo of a trainee critical care paramedic](/media/aaolsruf/matt-metcalf-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133396824717630000)
Matt Metcalf
Trainee Critical Care Paramedic
![Dr Jono Holme Dr Jono Holme](/media/aidfwjqm/jono-holme-new-website.jpg?width=50&height=50&rnd=133335623951630000)
Jono Holme
Critical Care Doctor
![The Bell-429 helicopter on the helipad with a rainbow in the sky behind The Bell-429 helicopter on the helipad with a rainbow in the sky behind](/media/2486/helicopter-rainbow-2.jpg?width=1920&height=0&rnd=133335621249970000)
![Three paramedics walking towards the helicopter which has landed on a hospital helipad. Three paramedics walking towards the helicopter which has landed on a hospital helipad.](/media/3106/photo-2022-11-28-14-25-11.jpg?width=1920&height=0&rnd=133335621298570000)
Get in touch
Have you been airlifted by us?
If you or someone you know has been airlifted by our team, it would be great to hear from you. We can arrange for a visit to the airbase for the chance to meet our pilots, paramedics and doctors.