John Penrose MP has warmly welcomed the news that the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has received a £1 million grant from the Libor funds announced in the Autumn Statement.
John met with senior charity representatives on Monday in Parliament to hear about the charity’s lifesaving work in our area and discuss how he could help secure the long term future of the charity.
During 2015 the Critical Care Team attended 1,655 jobs, by helicopter and critical care car. Of these 57 were in Weston-super-Mare.
GWAAC’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing Emma Carter said: “We are very grateful to John Penrose MP’s ongoing support for us especially his help in securing the grant from the Libor funds. Whilst this is a welcome one off boost that will help to secure GWAAC’s long term future we still rely on the support of the local people we serve to meet the £2.3 million we need to provide our service each year.”
GWAAC work to the Gold Standard Critical Care Model, which means they rush a Critical Care Paramedic and Critical Care Doctor straight to the scene. They arrive no more than 20 minutes later, anywhere in the region. Their average flight time is just 12 minutes.
From pre-hospital blood transfusions to roadside amputations or treating cardiac arrests, it’s the skill and dedication of GWAAC’s team that means one patient in five – a patient otherwise expected to die – survives.
To continue to save lives across the region we cover GWAAC need to raise £2.3million a year.
Each of their life saving missions costs £2,000. It costs £50 alone just to lift the helicopter off the ground, and for each minute the rotor blades turn it costs £15.
To show your support, or to find out more visit www.gwaac.com.