The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance responded to a 40 percent rise in missions last week but fears that the busy summer ahead could be impacted by falling income.

Using the Ambucopter and Critical Care Car, our crew responded to 27 emergency calls between Monday 22 and Sunday 28 June, up from 16 the previous week. Missions ranged from treating a burns victim on scene to being called out to 10 RTCs, five of which involved motorbikes.

On Wednesday 24 June, the crew responded to four incidents, two of which involved motorbikes. One rider, who suffered potentially life changing injuries in a collision with a car near Doddington, was taken to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for immediate surgery after receiving critical care from our crew at the scene. Our crew flew the nine miles in under five minutes and were able to land just metres from the incident. Just a few hours later the crew responded to another RTC involving a motorcycle and van at Caenby Corner. Both rider and pillion passenger needed treatment at the scene with clinical interventions being carried out on the rider.

With a crew on standby 24 hours a day for the busiest part of the week (Thurs, Fri and Sat), they attended seven night missions which involved an RTC, three medical emergencies and a fall. On Friday 26 June, the Ambucopter was dispatched at 9.43pm to a 22-year-old man in Spalding, who had suffered multiple flash burns. The crew arrived in just 15 minutes, a journey that could have taken up to an hour by land, and returned back to base at 11.25pm.

The charity has felt the financial impact of Covid-19 through June in particular, a period which would usually have seen a summer of fundraising activity in full swing across our two counties.

CEO Karen Jobling said: “This snapshot of missions really gives an insight into the life-saving work the fantastic crew does. This was a really busy period and, as lockdown is eased and the summer approaches, we worry that we may become even busier. All of this is with this backdrop of falling donations.

“The last few months have been far more difficult than any of us expected so we are incredibly grateful to each and every one of our supporters. Without their generous donations over the last few months, who knows where we’d be.

“Moving into the summer, we are pulling together plans for a phased reopening of some of our shops but community fundraising events remain suspended for now.

“We won’t be able to recoup the losses we’ve absorbed so far and so there does remain a risk to our ability to deliver this life-saving service 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Our absolute priority is to ensure your life-saving service continues. If you’re in a position to donate, please consider the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. Thank you and stay safe.”