2020: A year of challenge and achievement for Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance reflects on how its supporters, volunteers, crew and staff have kept its life-saving service fully operational throughout a challenging year.

Before the world was hit with Covid-19, the charity was heavily focused on becoming a 24/7 operation, allowing them to deliver life-saving critical care day and night. When the pandemic hit in March, these plans were temporarily scaled back due to the impact of Covid-19 as crew members were called to support the NHS during the first national lockdown.

As a result of the pandemic, the charity has had to review every aspect of its operation. Pilots, paramedics and doctors are dealing with the complexity of wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to keep themselves, and patients safe. With the help of generous supporters, the crews have remained on the frontline throughout the crisis, delivering critical care to adults and children involved in road traffic collisions, falls, industrial accidents and patients in cardiac arrest. The crew experienced one of the busiest summers on record, with 348 missions between July and September alone.

Remaining on the frontline meant that LNAA were able to help patients like Joshua, who broke his back in several places after his motorcycle was in collision with a car in June. Joshua was airlifted from the scene in Skellingthorpe, Lincoln, to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre in just 13 minutes and has said that he wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the air ambulance.

Joshua and his partner Chelsea welcomed their son Lorenzo to the world on 16^th July, the same day Joshua turned 25-years-old, and just a few days after his release from hospital. It wasn’t until around two weeks later that Joshua was able to pick his baby son up.

He said: “I had to relearn to walk because there’s so much metal in my back and because my wrists were broken I couldn’t hold him. It’s been hard but the experience of the generosity of people and the care I had from the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance along with those at QMC has been unreal. I can’t even describe how thankful I am to be honest.”

Crew members and CEO Karen Jobling say ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped raise funds for the charity this year

David Martin, Director of Fundraising, said: “2020 has been a year like no other, and it’s certainly been one that we’ll be happy to say goodbye to. Once the year is over, the one thing that will remain with us is the kindness and generosity that our supporters have shown throughout.

“We’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received during this time, when we’ve needed it more than ever. A huge thank you to everyone who spent hours fundraising, volunteering and spreading awareness of our service – your donations help us to save lives.”

In September, LNAA expanded its service by introducing a Critical Care Car (CCC) in Nottingham, helping to reach more patients in urgent need. This service has proved invaluable, with doctors and paramedics on board the CCC responding to 102 missions in the first few months of operation.

Doctor Paul Hancock said: “Our Critical Care Car in Nottingham carries the same life-saving equipment found on the helicopter, meaning that patients receive the same level of care as they would have if the helicopter had attended.

“Our clinicians are able to deliver specialist care at the scene including blood transfusions, advanced pain relief, and if needed, induce sleep to stabilize the most poorly patients. Having this CCC in Nottingham means that we’ve been able to reach patients in those areas where our helicopter is unable to land, helping to improve survival rates.”

As the charity looks ahead to 2021, crew and staff will be moving to a brand-new headquarters based off the A15, Sleaford Road, Lincoln. The project has largely been made possible through a one-off capital grant from government, funding which is only permitted to be spent on the new building.

CEO Karen Jobling said: “The development of a new headquarters has been a long-term ambition of the charity. Our new home will bring opportunities for our supporters, partner organisations and others to visit; training facilities to enhance the clinical care we can deliver; and a calming space for former patients to be reunited with the crew. But most of all, it will deliver a future-proof home for the vital service the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance delivers to the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

She added: “While this year has been far more difficult than any of us could have imagined, we are now focusing on what the future holds. One thing we do know is that we have received an incredible amount of support over the last year. A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who has supported us; you’ve kept the helicopter flying, the Critical Care Cars on the roads and our pilots and clinicians in crucial PPE throughout the pandemic.

“No matter what 2021 brings, we’re committed to delivering life-saving care when people need us the most. This can only happen with your support.”

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is an independent charity. Although the charity works closely with the NHS, LNAA does not receive any government funding for our day-to-day operations. The service relies solely on generous donations from members of the public to remain operational.

If you are able to donate or fundraise for this life-saving service, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk