Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) crews responded to 28 incidents over just three days (17 to 19 June) treating patients involved in incidents from road traffic collisions to stabbings.

It follows a busy first half of the month which has seen the doctor-paramedic crews responding to, on average, six missions a day through June. This compares with a usual average of four missions a day.

Incidents over the weekend also included a shooting, a house fire, and medical and cardiac emergencies.

A total of 19 patients were treated at the scene with treatments including delivering anaesthetic, blood transfusions and surgical interventions. The crews responded to 12 missions on the helicopter and 16 on the two Critical Care Cars, one of which is dedicated to the Nottingham area. And the signs are that this trend is set to continue through the summer months.

Paramedic Chris Steele said: “We are currently experiencing a huge surge in demand for our critical care resources, beyond that I have ever seen in my time at LNAA. We are working closely with the local ambulance service and other emergency services such as the Police, Fire and Rescue, HM Coastguard and Mountain Rescue. It is our advanced training and skills that collectively allow us to provide the very best enhanced pre-hospital care to the patients in the counties of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.”

2022 is set to become the busiest year on record since the service began in 1994.

Already the number of incidents attended is 11 percent higher than the same time last year, which was LNAA’s busiest year to date. This increase is set to rise further as the helicopter currently flies from 7 am to 10 pm daily but soon will have the ability to fly through the night until 2 am. It will be the only fully night-capable air ambulance in the entire East Midlands region.

This surge so early at the start of summer is a stark reminder of the need for the LNNA.

And the team knows that without the support of the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, they would not be able to deliver such a dedicated and life-saving service.

Doctor Mike Hughes said after that busy June weekend: “I would like to thank the people of both counties not only for their donations, without which we would not be able to operate, but also the people who meet us, who are always friendly and offer help without hesitation when we fly or drive into their lives.”