New UK parliamentary group for air ambulances
The All Party Parliamentary Group Air Ambulances (APPGAA) will campaign for greater awareness of the issues faced by the air medical sector
Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) – a charity that gives support to UK-based air medical services – has announced a successful inaugural meeting of the APGAA.
The Group aims to campaign on and raise awareness of policy issues relating to the air ambulance sector, with the objective of enhancing the availability and standards of pre-hospital care in the UK. APPGAA ‘aims to engage political leaders and policy makers in discussions surrounding key issues’.
AAUK stated: “With the backing of government officials and industry experts, the APPGAA is poised to have a positive impact on the air ambulance sector.”
The organization is chaired by Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Courts. Other officials who attended the meeting included fellow MPs Stephen Metcalfe, Kelly Tolhurst, Scott Mann, Wendy Morton, and Henry Smith – alongside Air Ambulances UK Chair Heather Benjamin and CEO Simmy Akhtar.
“I am delighted to have the support of MPs as we move forward on key policy issues affecting our air ambulance community,” said Akhtar. “By working in collaboration, we can address national challenges and strive towards ensuring the best possible chance of survival and patient outcome for everyone in need of lifesaving pre-hospital care.”
A group of aerial firefighting organizations also formed a similar lobbying group in the US at the end of 2022