A highly respected member of the NHS has joined a life saving charity to shape the development of the organisation now it has embarked on a new chapter in its history.

Lorna Garner joins the East Anglian Air Ambulance as Director of Corporate Services shortly after it began completing missions at night, becoming the first air ambulance charity in England and Wales to be granted permission to attend HEMS mission in the dark, landing as close to the patient as possible at unknown and unlit sites.

Before joining the Charity Ms Garner’s career in the NHS included the position of Director of the Critical Care Network for Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire where she lead the strategic direction and quality of care delivery for critically ill patients across the three counties.  She was also Chair of the Critical Care Networks of England, Wales and Northern Ireland where she worked with the Department of Health and professional bodies as the lead representative of Critical Care.

Upon her appointment Ms Garner said: “I have been involved with the East Anglian Air Ambulance since 2005 and have developed a strong respect for the commitment of all those involved with the Charity.  It is deeply rooted in the psyche of the community that it serves.

“My aim at the air ambulance is to be a key part in helping to shape the Charity so that it is able to deliver the highest standard of service to the population of the area that it covers.  I want to contribute towards its ability to set the gold standard for other air ambulance service providers in the UK whilst maximising the value for money of the very generous donations which people give.”

Lorna lives in Norfolk and has two sons.