Turf is cut at new Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance headquarters

Ella Burgess-Wood with chief executive Karen Jobling and pilot Llewis Ingamells.

Karen Jobling, Chief Executive Officer at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, said: “Our day-to-day operations are solely funded by donations so when we were successful in securing a capital funding grant for this new build, it was a real boost and at a time when we needed it.

“Being able to bring staff and crew together under one roof, and future proof the Charity’s work, is something everyone is really looking forward to as we work on some major projects such as our continued trial of 24/7 operations and our move to clinical independence.

Once complete, the HQ will have its own purpose-built hangar with space to enable on-site engineering, along with housing for the Charity’s Critical Care Car benefitting from direct access onto the road network for faster response times. There will also be an enhanced training facility for the crew.

The air ambulance performed a flypast to mark the event.

Captain Llewis Ingamells, Chief Pilot at the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance said: “Years of work have gone into this, from finding an operationally perfect piece of land through to the full design of a state-of-the-art day and night capable heliport, operations building, maintenance hangar and much needed new offices.

“One of the things the crew enjoys the most is meeting patients and supporters and this move will make it much easier to welcome visitors and introduce them to the crew, the helicopter and also to the charity staff working behind the frontline operation, showcasing just what goes into keeping us operational.

“It will be sad to leave RAF Waddington where the support we’ve had has been fundamental to the success of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance over the last 25 years, but with our efforts in trialling a move to 24/7 operations, our advancement in clinical care and equipment, a bespoke facility is fundamental in our success for a rapidly advancing operation.”