Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has reassured the people of Staffordshire that it continues to serve them.
Its CEO, Hanna Sebright, spoke out after the announcement this week that Stoke Air Ambulance, which has never been operational, is closing.
Hanna Sebright, CEO, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
She said:
"To minimise the risk of misinformation and rumours at this time, we want to be very clear: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has served the people of Staffordshire, including Stoke, for the past 35 years and we continue to serve the people of Staffordshire.
“There is no organisational or operational connection between the two charities, nor has there ever been. They are entirely separate. It is important to note, too, that Stoke Air Ambulance has never operated as an air ambulance service.
“We have been contacted by a number of people who supported this failed venture, and we would like to express our sincere sympathy to those affected.”
Hanna gave this reassurance as Midlands Air Ambulance Charity prepares to unveil its first Manifesto this autumn.
The document marks 35 years of operation. It charts the organisation’s growth from a single helicopter, flown five days a week and chained to a tree overnight in 1991, to today's 24/7 lifesaving service, rated 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, responding to around 4,000 callouts a year across six counties (Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire) serving a population of around 7m people.
The Manifesto will set out Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's vision for the future, framing it as a “strategic regional asset” and outlining key priorities and ambitions for the years ahead.
Hanna added:
"It is important to remember that Midlands Air Ambulance Charity receives no government or NHS funding. Instead, we rely entirely on our generous private donors for the £20 million a year that keeps our 24/7, year-round service running.
"As we mark 35 years of saving lives and improving recovery outcomes for patients, we have reasons to feel proud, and as we look to the future, we are ambitious to build on this strong foundation and protect this strategic regional asset for many decades to come."
