My name is Nick Taylor by the way and perhaps other posters on here might want to declare themselves rather than their pseudonyms.
North West Air Ambulance is in contract with Bond Aviation and operates one aircraft (EC135 - G-NWAA) from Blackpool. This aircraft is contracted for a seven day a week service. We introduced a second aircraft EC135 G-SPHU based at the City of Manchester Airport to give greater capacity and capability to all five counties within the NWAS catchment. (please note G-SPHU is now stood down from NWAA for the next three weeks and a replacement aircraft is operating as we await delivery of a new EC135). The second aircraft is contracted for a five day a week service based purely on our capacity to raise the funding required.
The second aircraft was not in use last Wednesday. Our on duty aircraft was on a mission when the call came flying into the Royal Preston Hospital. On arrival at RPH there was a fault and we took immediate action to divert a pilot to Manchester to bring the second aircraft into service - however the RAF were able to very quickly pick up our medical crew and thus we used an RAF aircraft to attend. In the meantime our colleagues from the Great North Air Ambulance and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance also attended the scene. The day after we sited G-NWAA in Cumbria and carried four patients related to the major incidents to specialist hospitals for urgent treatment. Our second aircraft carried out a further four missions that day.
I, as the Chair and a director of the company, am satisfied that the team did all they could to provide clinical care as per our charitable objectives. Those contributing to this forum should know full well how aircraft operate and that there are times when flying cannot happen. The CEO and her team are conducting a full review with our contracted aviation operator and will deal with the outcomes as appropriate.
NWAA is a fantastic charity that provides 'care from the air' and operates professionally and in line with its charity objects. We don't hide anything as can be seen by my open communication here and I am happy to account to our donors and beneficiaries. We will never compromise safety and neither will our aircraft operators.
Finally, there is some questions about the motivations of some of the people posting. Perhaps they will post their real names and their interests but I will make clear medical charities should work together in support of the public we serve. My view is that in the events of major incidents that all resources are needed. HEMS Air Ambulances played their part last week complimentary to our land ambulance colleagues and the other emergency assets deployed. They deserve thanks for what they did. If you want to support or follow our work then
North West Air Ambulance › Home or we post most of our missions on twitter @NWAirAmbulance