London's Air Ambulance appointed Coutts Charity Partner of 2012

Coutts’ Products, Services & Marketing Department has appointed London’s Air Ambulance as its Charity Partner for 2012. The charity was the outright winner, in a vote to all staff within the team, gaining 56% of the ballot.

Coutts’ Charitable Foundation has donated an initial amount of £5,000 to kick start the fundraising and staff have set themselves a target to raise £50,000 by the end of the year. They aim to do this through a number of events which will take place throughout the next 12 months, including a charity auction and poker night through to regular cake sales.

Sidcup Scout collects 19,000 used stamps to raise money!

14 year old Scout, Conor Bailey, of Sidcup Scout Group, was set a challenge to fundraise for a charitable organisation of his choice to gain his Community Challenge Badge.  Conor decided to collect used stamps as they can be converted into money donations for London’s Air Ambulance.  Not content on doing things by halves, Conor enlisted the help of all his friends and family and collected a whopping 19,000 stamps.

National Express Sponsorship of London's Air Ambulance Takes Off

 National Express Group, a leading bus, coach and rail transport provider, has launched a £25,000 annual sponsorship of London’s Air Ambulance.

Appointment of an Executive Director to Spearhead City Fundraising

 We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Julian Thompson as an Executive Director of the Charity.  Julian previously worked as a doctor on London’s Air Ambulance in 2010 and has returned to lead an enhancement of the capacity and funding of the service in partnership with senior figures in the City of London.

We believe that this is a fantastic opportunity to work with leading members of the City community to ensure that our Charity’s world class medical care can be maintained and developed to serve the Capital. There is synergy between the innovative and life saving care that London’s Air Ambulance provides and the dynamic success of London’s corporate community. 

We have moved!! For the first time in 23 years
To a 284ft helipad on top of the new Royal London Hospital

Today marked a moment in history when London’s Air Ambulance, the world’s leading air ambulance, began operating from its new home on top of the new Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.  The helicopter landed at 8.05am for service.  At 284ft high, the helipad is one of the highest in Europe and is almost the same height as Big Ben.  As well as amazing views over London it hosts state-of-the-art facilities for the crew.

The 28m2 rooftop helipad with an 80m walkway has flood and perimeter lighting, has a fire fighting system including fire-fighting and drainage-piping as well as an oil separator. The helipad is situated on top of the 17th floor of the new building. A super-fast elevator enables the patient to be transferred in just two minutes from the rooftop to the Emergency Department on the ground floor.

Moment in History!!
First helipad landing, gearing up for our move.

Yesterday marked a moment in history when we had our debut landing on our new helipad which is based on top of the new Royal London Hospital.  Although we are not officially moving until 14th December, we had to run some tests and training ahead of our first day of operation.  Needless to say everything went well and we are looking forward to the move next week. 

The new helipad, which is 284ft high, is almost the same height as Big Ben and one of the highest in Europe.  The new Royal London Hospital is home to the UK’s leading trauma and emergency care centre and a highly-acclaimed children’s hospital.  It will provide the people of east London – among some of the most deprived communities in the UK - with one of the best-equipped and most comfortable hospitals anywhere, reflecting at last the outstanding clinical excellence of staff.

Check out the landing on Youtube

Patient visits medical team who helped save her life

In May 2011 Emma Piper was hit by a car.  She has made a miraculous recovery and in November 2011 came to the Helipad with her Mum, Dad and sisters to visit Dr Neil Slabbert and Paramedic, Mike Bradfield, who flew to her aid.   Other members of the team who were working the day of Emma's accident were pilots Neil Jeffers and Johnny Crewsdon and Chief Fire Officer John Power who Emma also got to meet.  It was lovely to have Emma up on the pad with us.  It is great for the team who see their patients when they are very sick to see them doing so well.   We have also secured a new Doctor for the future with Emma's 6 year old sister expressing an interest.

At the forefront of medical innovation. 
BBC reports on Code Red protocol

On 18 November 2011, The BBC reported on Clinical trials that are under way in the UK of new blood transfusion procedures for patients with traumatic injuries. Dr Anne Weaver was interviewed about how the new transfusion procedures impact on the work of London’s Air Ambulance and our Code red protocol – which is what we use to pre-alert the hospital to make sure that patients we pick up from the roadside who are bleeding get the blood products that they require as soon as they arrive at hospital.

To read the full stories and watch Dr Anne Weaver’s interviews please follow links to BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15741800 & http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15775949

Out in force at the Lord Mayor's Show 2011

On 12th November 2011 we were delighted to take part in the Lord Mayor’s Show.  Thanks to the generous sponsorship from Saints, the airfreight haulage company, we were able to take part in the parade, where we showcased our service to hundreds of thousands of people.  We received an overwhelming response and were cheered on by the crowds. 

A mixture of patients, volunteers, LAA medical teams and children turned up in force to support us on the day and all were delighted to be the first to wear our new uniforms.  Our rapid reponse car was shined up and looked great in front of the impressive truck donated to us, along with amazing drivers, by Saints.

London’s Air Ambulance Warns of Recycling & Lottery Scam

Company called 'Air Ambulance Service' is not a Registered Charity

We would like to warn Londoners to be aware of a door-to-door company calling themselves the ‘Air Ambulance Service’. This is not a registered charity and London’s Air Ambulance is not receiving any donations from this service.

Dame Kelly Holmes Wishes Jordan Ultra Duo Good Luck

Our pilot, Captain Neil Jeffers, and doctor, Dr. Tom Konig, are soon to complete the ultimate endurance test, seeing them run 8 marathons in 6 days through the deserts of Jordan, in a bid to raise money for the charity.

To increase awareness and money for their feat they will be running the equivalent of one marathon at London’s Southbank in their desert gear today (16th August).  Colleagues and friends will set up at Potters Field, between City Hall and Tower Bridge, from 12pm (when the two start running) and will be there available to chat until they have finished their marathon. 

First Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine Professor in the UK

 Dr. David Lockey, London’s Air Ambulance Consultant & Trustee and Research & Development lead, was made Honorary Professor of Trauma and Prehospital Emergency Medicine by the University of Bristol. 

This is believed to be the only Professorial appointment in the UK in the new medical speciality of Prehospital Emergency Medicine.  The General Medical Council have now approved, as of 1st August 2011, Prehospital Emergency Medicine as a subspecialty of Anaesthesia and Emergency Medicine. 

Join our 5K Fun Run and dress up for a chance to win a Helicopter flight from Denham

Run, conga, skip or walk! Take part in our 5k Fun Run in Regent’s Park on 18th September.  The run is for people of all ages and levels and there is no minimum sponsorship, we just ask that you raise as much as you can. 

Fancy dress is encouraged, but not necessary, for this event and we are offering prizes for the best dressed, including a flight in the helicopter for the winner.  The flight will be from Denham airfield to the helipad on top of the Royal London Hospital in time for it to start its daily shift.  The lucky winner will also be given a tour of the helipad and will have the opportunity to meet our team who perform life saving operations at the roadside daily.

Nowegian Ambassador and Norwegian Air Ambulance visit

We were delighted to host a visit for His Excellency, Kim Traavik, The Norwegian Ambassador for London, in July.  He was joined by Steinar Sørlie, General Secretary of the Norwegian Air Ambulance and former Minister, and Professor Hans Morten Lossius, Research and Development Director of the Norwegian Air Ambulance.

The visit was arranged to hear about the recent research and development collaboration between us and the Norwegian Air Ambulance.

The agreement was signed recently in Norway and cements the already close tie between the two organisations.

Harold Wood's First Car Show Raises over £3,000

Despite mixed weather, well over 1500 local residents visited Harold Wood’s first ever car show, organised and run by the “Petrol Heads” of the local parish church, St. Peter’s. They raised a wapping £3,145 for us!

There was plenty besides cars to see and do, as 139 volunteers from St. Peter’s church, Harold Wood, ran food, face-painting, and bouncy castles. There were also a police car, ambulance and fire engine to play in, and Krispy Kreme donuts and Domino’s Pizza helped out too. Due to the success of the show, the organisers have decided to run it again next year on Saturday 16th June 2012 and have chosen us as the charity again. The event was sponsored by Allen Ford and Essex Audi car dealers.

Imogen Hicks and Draeger Medical team raise £3,600 on Wiltshire to Buckinghamshire run

In May 2008 London's Air Ambulance and The Royal London Hospital helped save Imogen Hicks’ life after a horrendous motorcycle accident, which left her disabled.

After returning to work and getting her life back on track, Imogen decided that she really wanted to give something back by raising money for London’s Air Ambulance so they could continue to help others like they helped her.



Imogen, with her friends and colleagues from Draeger Medical, decided to run the 85 mile Ridgeway footpath starting in Avebury, Wiltshire and finishing at Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire.  The 2010 event was so successful that they decided to replicate it in 2011.

Bringing LIFE to the Petchy Academy, Stoke Newington

London's Air Ambulance is currently working in partnership with a new and exciting company called LIFE.
Their vision is to deliver an ‘Emergency Lifesaving Skills on the Street’ programme into all classrooms across London. LIFE is an innovative company formed by healthcare professionals, who, together with London's Air Ambulance, believe that every child in London should be taught CPR. The programme is developed and taught by healthcare professionals, and teaches the students the skills needed when dealing with CPR, choking, wounds and bleeding. The first programme went live on Friday 1st July at The Petchey Academy, Stoke Newington, where the faculty of London's Air Ambulance and LIFE taught thirty students the skills needed when dealing with real-life emergencies.

The day was a huge success and London's Air Ambulance with LIFE look forward to delivering this programme to schools across London in the next academic year.
Commenting on the programme, one of the student’s of Petchy Academy said "I feel confident in my ability to help a person if they are in need".

To learn more about this new initiative please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A visit from the Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon

On Friday 3 June 2011, The Mayor and Mayoress of Croydon were invited to visit London's Air Ambulance at the helipad on top of the Royal London Hospital. This was a very enjoyable event and The Mayor and Mayoress learnt a lot about the type and severity of incidents that the air ambulance is called out to and the work that is involved with such complex injuries.
 
The Mayor and Mayoress were shown round by Stephen Armstrong and introduced to the crew.
 
London's Air Ambulance is one of The Mayor's chosen charities with Croydon Dyslexia Association as the other.

Man saved by London’s Air Ambulance to abseil on anniversary

On 7^th and 8^th May 2011, over 150 people will brave the 230ft leap off 20 Cabot Square in Canary Wharf to show their support for London’s Air Ambulance – the charity which runs London’s only Helicopter Emergency Service, saving the lives of seriously injured patients.

Adam Gage, 21, who was rescued by the London’s Air Ambulance team on 7^th May 2007, is taking part in the abseil with some of his family members.  Adam suffered a severe head injury following an accident.  London’s Air Ambulance was called to the scene, where they worked on him and then airlifted him to the Royal London Hospital.  Gill Gage, Adam’s Mother said: “Without the London’s Air Ambulance it is unlikely that Adam would have recovered, we as a family and all his friends will be eternally grateful.” 

July 7^th inquest findings

on behalf of London’s Air Ambulance, Dr. Gareth Davies, Medical Director and Chair of the Trustees, said:

“On the day of the 7^th July 2005 terrorist attacks, we believe that all the London emergency service units pulled together and worked incredibly hard.  We are very proud of the London’s Air Ambulance teams who were present on that day.  The Charity is also delighted with the supportive words from Lady Justice Hallett and the families of the victims. 

“As a result of these findings, we look forward to being more involved with emergency planning for London and, with the continued support from the public, we will keep providing this cutting edge service.  As always, we would like to thank everyone for their support.”

London and Norwegian air ambulance collaborate

London’s Air Ambulance, the Charity which runs London’s only Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, is pleased to announce that it has signed a unique research and collaboration agreement with the Norwegian Air Ambulance.

This agreement formalises the existing strong links between two long established providers of physician-led pre-hospital care. Both organisations are committed leaders in the field of quality improvement in pre-hospital care and place research and development high on their agendas.

London’s Air Ambulance has an international reputation for clinical excellence and has trained the majority of pre-hospital clinical leaders in the UK and many from overseas. It has pioneered advances in care and procedures which have been adopted across the world. The Norwegian Air Ambulance has a rapidly expanding research programme and a unique designated centre for training and development as well as strong links with Norwegian Universities.

Finance deal secured with new bankers

Financing deal secures the Helicopter for seven years

London’s Air Ambulance, the Charity that runs London’s only Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, is pleased to announce it has secured financing on its helicopter for the next seven years.   The deal, financed through Santander Corporate Banking, with the support of Virgin Group, will enable the Charity to concentrate its efforts on continuing to develop this vital service as one of the world’s leading Air Ambulance services whose clinical innovations have been adopted globally.  The Charity is also pleased to announce that it has appointed Santander Corporate Banking as its primary bankers. 

London’s Air Ambulance attends its 25,000th mission

London’s Air Ambulance, the Charity which runs London’s only air ambulance has today attended its 25,000^th mission.  The service, which has been in operation for 23 years, also celebrates a year of being a 24hr operation next month, in April 2011, thanks to the continued support of its sponsors and the London community.

London’s Air Ambulance provides pre-hospital care to victims of serious injury throughout London – serving the 10 million people who live, work and commute within the M25.  The service carries a Senior Trauma Doctor and a specially trained Paramedic, essentially bringing the hospital to the patient.  In serious cases the patient may not always be able survive the distance to hospital so operations need to be performed on scene.

Last year London’s Air Ambulance attended 1979 incidents, including 185 children under the age of 16.   London’s Air Ambulance is a pioneer of open heart surgery at the roadside for chest stabbings and in 1993 carried out this procedure which resulted in one of the world’s first survivors.  The service is now experiencing a survival rate of 18% in patients who are clinically dead as a result of this type of injury.