GNAAS has busiest summer on record

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) had its busiest summer on record after being deployed to more than 600 incidents between June and September.

The charity’s critical care teams, which include a doctor and a specialist advanced trauma paramedic, are based in Eaglescliffe in the North East, and Penrith in Cumbria – both in England – and cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles.

From 21 June to 23 September 2023, they were activated to more than 600 incidents in the North East, North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumbria, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

This is an increase of more than 50 incidents compared with last summer, and it is expected this number will continue to rise as the charity aims to operate 24/7 in the foreseeable future.

Since January, GNAAS has been operating seven nights a week in the North East and hopes to offer the same level of service in Cumbria, where it currently operates four nights a week, soon.

Andy Mawson, Director of Operations at GNAAS, said: “We are responding to more and more incidents due to the expansion of our service, and we are fully committed to delivering 24/7 care to people in need across the region.

“We strongly believe that everyone should have access to hospital-standard care, no matter what time of day it is, but this is only achievable with the help and support of the public.”