Appeal to help Wiltshire Air Ambulance fund flying doctor

Wiltshire Air Ambulance needs help to fund a flying doctor this Christmas.

Thanks to the Wiltshire Match Fund, donations will be doubled until 5 December. 

Wiltshire Air Ambulance has once again linked up with the ‘Big Give Christmas Challenge’ to help secure £35,000 to fund another year of Critical Care Doctor Jonathan Holme’s services.

Jonathan began volunteering with the charity in April 2021, and through the success of last year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge the charity was able to secure the doctor's services for two shifts per week for 2023.

For this year’s Big Give, Wiltshire Air Ambulance is again raising funds to pay for Jonathan’s clinical expertise and experience. He will work alongside the paramedic crew for 12 months, delivering the highest standard of care to critically ill and injured patients.

He said: “By having doctors on board, Wiltshire Air Ambulance is offering additional skills and experience of working in an emergency resuscitation room and bringing that treatment about half an hour earlier to the patient.

“We can anesthetise the patient at the scene and understand the next stages of patient care in a hospital setting, ensuring we take the patient to the correct onward point.

 “By having doctors on board, Wiltshire Air Ambulance is offering additional skills and experience of working in an emergency resuscitation room and bringing that treatment about half an hour earlier to the patient."

Ben Abbott, air operations officer and critical care paramedic at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “Our critical care paramedics are very highly trained, however, some of the most complex emergency interventions at the scene now require a doctor to be present.

"These interventions can significantly improve outcomes. By flying with a doctor we can bring these vital top level skills to our patients.”

Wiltshire Air Ambulance has secured matched funding from the Wiltshire Match Fund, with further pledges from Castle Combe Circuit, the Andrew Smiley Trust, Ridge Coffee Club and Melksham Ltd.

Collectively they will match fund every pound raised up to £17,500 – meaning the doubling of donations would achieve the required tally of £35,000.

People can make a donation at any time until midday on 5 December – which will be doubled from the match fund – by visiting www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/biggive