Gloucestershire-based Bond Air Services (Bond) is delighted to announce the start of a new air ambulance operation for North West Air Ambulance in the Merseyside area.

The new service will be provided by a Eurocopter EC135T2 aircraft, which has been modified for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operations [Editor note – not specifically modified for this contract as the aircraft involved has been operated by Bond for Devon Air Ambulance for the last 10 years]. The aircraft joins the existing fleet of two aircraft covering the North West, which are based at Blackpool and Manchester.

The North West Air Ambulance Charity plays an important role in the delivery of HEMS operations, and the additional aircraft represents a significant step forward for the Charity, extending the level of medical cover to the wider Merseyside area.

Taking delivery of the aircraft, Lynda Brislin, Chief Executive Officer of North West Air Ambulance said: “I would like to thank everyone who has made donations to the North West Air Ambulance service, which ultimately has allowed us to add this helicopter to our fleet. We are delighted to see the new and extended service commence in partnership with Bond Air Services”.

Chris Greenhill, Managing Director of Bond Air Services said: “Our relationship with the North West Air Ambulance goes back 13 years and I am delighted that this successful relationship continues to develop. The service now operates three helicopters on active duty 365 days a year and the delivery of this aircraft demonstrates our commitment to the Charity and the people of the North West in delivering safe helicopter operations.”

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and this press release from North West Air Ambulance

The North West Air Ambulance Charity has announced that it will be adding a third helicopter to its fleet, which will enhance the life-saving service being provided to patients across the region.

The addition of the further aircraft will allow the charity to undertake more critical and intensive work at the scene of emergencies, allowing support of transfers between Intensive Care Units and providing a greater coverage to patients across entire region.

Based at Barton airfield, the new aircraft will undertake a trial of the enhanced service from October 2013 and will initially be coloured red until the scheme is complete.  Should the trial be successful, the helicopter will join its yellow fleet.

Since it launched in 1999, the charity has flown more than 11,000 missions across the region. Committed to continuously enhancing its service and improving patient care, the charity moved its aircraft to bases at two of the region’s dedicated trauma hospitals in August 2013, allowing qualified doctors to travel onboard to incidents which require specialist clinical care on scene.

Lynda Brislin, chief executive of the North West Air Ambulance charity, said: “Our new heli will enable us to ensure a more consistent and efficient delivery of the best clinical team to our patients and will give the gift of time to more of those in need. By having an additional paramedic crew, we can provide an even better service to those in need in the North West”

“However, as a charity, developments of this nature come at a significant cost and would not be possible without the support and generosity of the North West public who are fundamental us remaining operational”.

For more information on how to support the charity or to make a donation, please visit www.nwaa.net.