8 September 2025
It’s Air Ambulance Week 2025! Across the UK efforts are being made to raising awareness and funds for the lifesaving pre-hospital care delivered daily by air ambulance crews from 8-14 September.
It’s amazing that the UK’s air ambulances are almost entirely funded by by public donations.
Even Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged their work saying, “With crews dispatched to an average of 134 missions daily, delivering hospital-level care at the scene of serious incidents these services are a lifeline for thousands across the country.”
Air ambulance charities collectively respond to over 48,000 missions each year – that’s around 134 every single day – at no cost to the patient.
From treating people involved in major road traffic collisions to attending life-threatening cardiac arrests, falls, and medical emergencies in remote locations, air ambulance charities form a vital part of the UK’s frontline emergency services, working with the NHS but receiving no day-to-day government funding.
The average mission costs around £4,165. ‚ There are currently 38 air ambulance helicopters in the UK, operated by 21 regional air ambulance charities, many of which also operate critical care cars.
Lindsay Boswell, CEO of Air Ambulances UK, said, “Every mission starts with someone choosing to support their local air ambulance charity and that someone could be you.
“Whether you’re making a donation, organising a fundraiser or simply telling others about the work air ambulance charities do, your actions help save lives. Air Ambulance Week is the perfect time to get involved and be part of something truly lifesaving.
“This Air Ambulance Week, we’re sharing the stories of people whose lives have been saved thanks to this vital service.”
One such story is Cora’s.
Cora and her mum
When one-year-old Cora suffered a prolonged seizure before specialist life-saving medicine could reach her, her mother knew time was running out. Living 45 minutes from hospital, she feared the ambulance would not arrive in time.
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) was dispatched within minutes, carrying a specialist doctor-led team with the medication and skills needed to save Cora’s life. They arrived just 15 minutes after the emergency call, stabilising her before she was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Click here to read Cora’s full story and other patient stories.
To support Air Ambulance Week, click here.
Latest state-of-the-art Airbus A145 D3 air ambulance has just been delivered to to the Scottish air ambulance service. Photo: SCAA
