Busiest year on record for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance had an almost 40% year-on-year increase in deployments in 2024 (2,544 compared with 1,842 in 2023), with cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, accidental injuries and medical incidents, such as critical seizures and asthma attacks, accounting for more than 80% of the service’s callouts. 

Southampton (659), Portsmouth and Southsea (258), Basingstoke (131), Fareham (121), Gosport (116) and Eastleigh (100) were the most frequent areas for incidents that required critical care from the service. 

For the first time in its history, the service responded to more patients by road in its emergency response vehicles than by helicopter(53% compared with 47%), largely owing to an increase in callouts for its critical care paramedic (CCP) response: more than 800 in 2024 compared with just 239 in 2023.  

Specialist Paramedic Lead Mark Durell said: “The rise in requests for attendance for our helicopter and road-based teams means we’re reaching more patients than ever before, ensuring that lifesaving interventions are available when they’re needed most.”

Richard Corbett, the charity’s CEO, said: “Every year demand for our service surges. While it can paint a desperate picture for all those patients involved, the more patients we can get to, the more chance they have of making it home to their friends and family.”

The charity is currently aiming to raise £3.6 million towards its Operation Airbase appeal, to help with the relocation of its airbase and headquarters to a site near Southampton Airport.

The HELP Appeal recently donated £300,000 to the Operation Airbase appeal.