Air ambulance will make some night time flights during May

The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance will undertake some flights during the night this month after initially fearing they would be unable to do any.

The charity, which has warned it could be set to be without £3m worth of its normal funding to the COVID-19 crisis, had also previously announced there would be no night missions in May due to staff being seconded elsewhere within the health service or self-isolating.

But more crew members including doctors are now able to fulfil some shifts so the service will now be providing around 30 per cent of its usual cover this month.

LNAA CEO, Karen Jobling said: “It was absolutely right that some of our doctors returned to support the NHS in coping with the Coronavirus where needed and we are so proud of these members of the LNAA team.

“We’re delighted that some of these clinicians are now able to come back to us and provide front-line, pre-hospital critical care that helps to saves lives across Lincs & Notts. We, like everyone else, are reacting to an ever-changing picture and doing our best to plan ahead but we remain alert to the fact that things are changing on a daily basis.”

“We are on hand to provide mutual aid for neighbouring air ambulances where and when needed and remain committed to supporting the NHS in whatever capacity we can,” added Mrs Jobling.

The air ambulance had already launched a fundraising appeal to offset the loss of income due the virus which has led to closing the shops and cancelling vital fundraising activities which, over the spring and summer months, provide a significant boost to income.

Mrs Jobling said: “Thank you to all of the people who have donated to LNAA. Without the generosity of the people of Lincs & Notts, we simply wouldn’t be able to carry out the life-saving work we do. You really do save lives and help to keep us flying.”

If you can, please donate online at www.ambucopter.org.uk