On a warm day in late September, Tanya Moss, Deputy Head of Philanthropy at London’s Air Ambulance Charity, welcomed the Master and eight other Glovers to view one of the charity’s two air ambulances up close on its helipad, seventeen storeys above the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
After climbing the ramps to the helipad, the Glovers were rewarded with a striking view of helicopter G-LAAA at its centre and panoramic vistas of London stretching to the horizon in every direction.
Trip organiser Yvette Fletcher and the Master with Fireman Chris Sutton and G-LAAA taking off as the Glovers leave
Fireman Chris Sutton showed the visitors around the helicopter and explained the role of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). Unlike other UK air ambulance services, LAA focuses solely on trauma incidents. Its specially trained doctors and paramedics are authorised to perform surgery and other procedures at the scene, so patients are rarely transported by helicopter. The charity’s two helicopters are based at Northolt and take turns flying to the city helipad each morning to maximise availability. That day, they had already responded to five incidents and took off again as the Glovers were leaving. LAA also operates seven vehicles for use when the helicopters cannot fly, such as in fog or darkness.
Tanya stressed that, although LAA relies on NHS medical staff, it operates independently and depends almost entirely on donations to meet its £17 million annual funding requirement. She explained that this independence enables LAA to innovate, respond quickly to change and remain somewhat insulated from NHS budget fluctuations. She thanked the Glovers for their longstanding support and emphasised how highly LAA values its relationship with them.
Connect with us