REDDITCH MP Chris Bloore has backed Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s campaign for 24/7 hospital helipads after visiting their Strensham Airbase.
He met with Associate Clinical Operations Director Julian Spiers and the clinical team to discuss the charity’s work and their campaign to improve emergency patient access.
The visit came as the charity marks its 35th anniversary. It follows the completion of a major redevelopment of the Strensham Airbase, which strengthens service provision across the six counties covered by the charity’s three helicopters.
A key focus of the discussion was the campaign for more specialist hospitals to have 24/7 on-site helipad facilities. This would reduce transfer times and improve access to urgent treatment for critically ill and injured patients.
Currently, limited helipad availability at some specialist hospitals means patients can face additional delays in receiving definitive care.
Despite providing a critical frontline emergency service, the charity receives no direct funding from central government or the NHS for its core operations.
It relies entirely on public donations to keep its helicopters flying.
Mr Bloore said: “Midlands Air Ambulance Charity provides a vital service for people across our region, including Redditch. They respond to serious incidents where every minute can make the difference between life and death.
“What struck me during the visit was the skill and dedication of the crew. And how much more they could do with the right infrastructure in place, including proper 24/7 helipad access at the hospitals that treat the most serious cases.
“It is remarkable that an organisation doing such essential work receives no direct government funding for its core services. Every flight is paid for by public donations. The people of Redditch and the wider region should know that when they donate to Midlands Air Ambulance, they are directly funding life-saving missions in their community.
“I want to thank Julian Spiers and the wider team at Strensham Airbase for welcoming me and for the work they do every day.”
