NI Air Ambulance secures extra £1 million funding as callouts increase 20%

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Robin Swann has announced £1 million of new funding for the region’s air ambulance. It comes as the charity run service said its taskings had increased by around 20%.

With around 12% of the air ambulance’s callouts related to farming incidents, the service has become a lifeline for Northern Ireland’s rural communities.

Making the announcement, Minister Swann said: “Since this service was launched over three and a half years ago, it has become a critical component of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service’s emergency response.

Many people who have had life-changing injuries, and whose lives have been at risk following significant trauma, have benefitted from the expertise of skilled clinicians who bring advanced critical care to the scene and rapidly transport their patient directly to the regional trauma centre for ongoing emergency care.

“I am grateful to those individuals and businesses who have continued to support this service through charitable donations.

“To date, this has proven to be a successful and sustainable model delivered in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, but I also recognise the impact that the pandemic has had on the ability of our charity partner to raise funds in its customary manner.

“This £1 million payment will assist Air Ambulance NI with the challenges they are currently facing and assure the ongoing success of the funding partnership that delivers this valuable service. ”

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Welcoming the announcement, Ray Foran, who chairs the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland charity, said: “Air Ambulance NI is delighted to receive a funding package to help us continue to deliver pre-hospital emergency care to those in most need. Air Ambulance NI has experienced an increase in taskings by almost 20%.