The air ambulance charity that serves the Bristol region said it responded to more than 2,200 people in need of urgent critical care in a record-breaking year in 2024. In addition, more babies, children and teenagers were in need of urgent care, making up nearly a fifth of all call-outs.
The stark figures from the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) show that the number of people in urgent need of critical care in 2024 has increased by 15 percent when compared to 2023. Serious medical-related incidents accounted for 55 percent of all missions in 2024, while trauma-related injuries accounted for the remaining 45 percent.
Across the region, which includes Bristol, Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and parts of Wiltshire, the specialist crew responded to 2,272 people, of which 501 people (22 percent) were in cardiac arrest. The next most common type of incident responded to were road traffic collisions (338 people).
During 2024, more young people, including babies and children, were in need of urgent critical care. Dispatches to young people have risen year on year for the last three years with 2024 marking the biggest number of incidents involving young people (379 people or 17 percent of all call-outs).
It was also the busiest year for call-outs in Bristol. A total of 656 people needed urgent care from the GWAAC team, an increase by 119 people from 2023 in Bristol, representing 29 percent of all the regional call-outs. This was followed by:
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Gloucestershire – 621 call-outs
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South Gloucestershire – 345 call-outs
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North Somerset – 277 call-outs
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Wiltshire – 124 call-outs
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Bath and North East Somerset – 123 call-outs
GWAAC also responded to 126 incidents that were outside of the region, including in Somerset and Wales.
GWAAC, which began in 2007, has an EC135 helicopter and three critical care cars which give urgent aid to those in need. The specialist crew can give the patient some treatment before getting to the hospital, which can be lifesaving.
Tim Ross Smith, GWAAC’s Operations Officer said: “We’re now seeing six patients a day on average within our operating hours. Demand generally across the NHS is up and we’re getting more requests for assistance from our local land ambulance crews on top of the traditional air ambulance call-outs for incidents like road traffic collisions and cardiac arrests.
“This could be due to the outreach work our crew are doing, educating land paramedics, but also because, over time, our ambulance service colleagues have an increased recognition that our team can support more nuanced decision making in complex situations.”
Each mission for the charity costs on average around £2,200 to attend. If each mission were to have cost £2,200, then just shy of £5 million would have been spent to give urgent critical care. The charity does not receive any funding from the government or from National Lottery.
CEO Anna Perry says, “I’m very proud that our specialist crew has been able to help a record number of patients in urgent need of critical care in 2024. Everyone who supports GWAAC has worked really hard to raise the funds needed so we could be there to help keep families together.
“But we do have a tough challenge ahead of us, especially with operating costs rising by around 10% over the last year and additional costs coming our way such as increased employer National Insurance Contributions. However, we’re hopeful that our local community will recognise the support we need from them due to this increased demand and will help us be there for those who need us in the future.
“There are so many ways you can support us, from donations to volunteering to buying something from our shops. Thank you to those who have supported us in the past and to those who will support us in the future, you are helping save lives.”
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