Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance reports over 1,400 missions in 2021

The UK’s Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) has announced that 2021 was its busiest year on record, with the charity carrying out over 1,400 missions over the past 12 months.

This represents a significant leap in mission numbers for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire-based provider, with just 1,095 missions flown in 2020.

The figures are also up from the 877 incidents responded to in 2019, in part because of LNAA’s move to providing 24-hour coverage in February 2020.

The 2021 numbers were driven by significant demand during the summer months, which included 330 emergency responses for the charity in June and July alone.

In response to the anticipated summer demand, LNAA acquired the use of a second helicopter between June and August to respond to incidents on the Lincolnshire coast, enabling the organization’s primary helicopter to respond to call-outs elsewhere.

The figures reflect LNAA’s ongoing expansion of operations

The growing number of missions also reflects LNAA’s expansion over the past year, which included the opening of its new headquarters near RAF Waddington, Lincoln. The organization moved into the purpose-built facility in April, bringing charity staff and crew together under one roof for the first time.

LNAA also began providing onboard blood plasma provision for the first time this year, following a £24,000 gift from the Henry Surtees Foundation.

“Just like many other charities, we went into 2021 not knowing what to expect,” said LNAA CEO Karen Jobling. “We had projects that were underway before the first lockdown, so we had to dig in and keep going on those fronts, keeping in mind that they were all foundations for the future of the charity. This is what has enabled us to reach more patients this year.”

Jobling added that: “With each mission costing on average £3,500, it comes at a cost. It is only because of the generosity of our supporters that more patients have been helped by a crew with the highest skills and standards in pre-hospital care. Everyone here at LNAA would like to send all of our wonderful supporters our whole-hearted thanks.”