The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity — part of a network of 21 air ambulance charities in the UK — is a lifeline for critical care in Gloucestershire when the most traumatic incidents happen.
The charity's high standard of response to emergencies across six counties has been recognised at the highest level this 2024, with two of its bases receiving an 'outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The CQC — the government-appointed independent regulator of health and social care in England — inspected the charity's headquarters and airbase at Cosford in Shropshire and its airbase at Tatenhill in Staffordshire in August and September 2023.
The commission revealed in a report published in January that both services had been judged to be 'outstanding' overall, while they also received the highest possible rating for being safe, responsive, effective and well-led.
A review of its Strensham airbase, located just over the county border in south Worcestershire, is currently underway.
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity chief executive Hanna Sebright commented: 'We are extremely proud of the ‘outstanding’ CQC rating for Cosford and Tatenhill, which we achieved just 19 months after our initial CQC registration.
'This fantastic achievement, highlights our commitment to the patients we treat within the communities we serve, providing the best pre-hospital care to those in critical need.'
With a target of responding to calls by air or land within 10 minutes, the charity works alongside emergency services to protect the lives of around six million people across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
The charity, known for its bright red helicopters, is one of two air ambulance charities which serve the county — Great Western Air Ambulance is the other critical care responder and is recognised by its green and blue helicopters.
With three air ambulances operating from its bases alongside a critical care car fleet, all of which are manned by paramedics, the charity is well placed to reach all corners of the region in emergency situations.
Each year it costs £13-£14 million to maintain its three aircraft and provision of a life-saving service.
The charity receives no funding from the government or National Lottery for its daily missions and relies entirely on donations from the public and businesses to keep its vital services going.
For more information and to find out what you can do to support the charity, go to midlandsairambulance.com/gloucestershire.
