Gemma shares this latest news on behalf of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance. Ed
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance have flown to their 8,000th mission.
The crew who responded to the milestone mission on Wednesday evening (1st August) were Dr Liz Shewry, Specialist Critical Care paramedics, Mike Funge and Oliver Saddler and Pilot Marcus Doyle.
Since the first flight 11 years ago, the Charity’s Critical Care Teams 
respond to seriously ill or injured patients across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Doctors, paramedics and pilots make up the Critical Care Teams, with the Charity team constantly fundraising to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives.
As well as having the Air Ambulance, the Charity also provides a Critical Care Team Vehicle. The Volvo XC90 is staffed with Specialist Critical Care paramedics and doctors who carry the same equipment as the Air Ambulance; both deliver the same level of care that you would expect from a hospital emergency department.
The car can reach patients where the Air Ambulance may not be able to land, such as city centres.
Only possible thanks to generosity of local community
Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, Alex Lochrane said:
“We are proud to have been able to deliver this life-saving service to so many people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. 8,000 call-outs means we have been able to reach 8,000 people in their hour of need. This is only possible thanks to the generosity of the local community.
“We are not government funded. Our Charity is run entirely on donations from the community, for the community.
“I am truly grateful to anyone who puts some pennies in one of our collection pots, plays our Charity Lottery, donates monthly or takes on one of our fundraising challenges. Any donation, big or small, makes such a difference.”
The milestone comes as the Charity experienced it’s busiest month of the year so far, with 164 call-outs recorded in July.
Visit the Charity website to find out how you can support them or to donate.
