9 Apr 2024
In 2023, London’s Air Ambulance’s advanced trauma team – which operates 24/7, 365 days a year – attended to 2,007 patients. This is a record number of patients, making the year 2023 the busiest ever year since the service began in 1989.
Westminster was the borough most attended throughout the year (with 108 patients), followed by Southwark (103 patients) and Lambeth (99 patients). Our interactive map shows the breakdown of missions for each London borough – you can explore this here.
Our crew bring the emergency department to the scene of the accident, when the patient doesn’t have time to get to hospital. During 2023, at the roadside the team administered 300 rapid sequence intubations, 191 blood transfusions, 47 thoracotomies (open chest surgery), six cases of REBOA and more. We are the only ones in London who can provide some of these procedures at scene.
Assault was the leading mechanism of injury for these patients, resulting in 557 patients (28 per cent). Transport-related injuries resulted in 365 patients (18 per cent), falls 316 (16 per cent), medical-related injuries 221 (11 per cent) and accidents 189 (nine per cent). Other and unknown mechanisms of injury also resulted in 359 patients (18 per cent).
After our team has stabilised the patient on scene, they most commonly accompany them in a road ambulance to the nearest trauma centre. In 2023, 548 patients were taken to The Royal London Hospital (39 per cent), 369 to St Mary’s Hospital (26 per cent), 241 to King’s College Hospital (17 per cent) and 191 to St George’s Hospital (14 per cent).
Dr Tom Hurst, Medical Director, London’s Air Ambulance Charity, said: “The increasing demand for our services underscores the critical need for rapid, advanced trauma care in London. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to deliver life-saving interventions directly to patients when every second counts.
“While our numbers reflect our impact, sustaining this level of care requires ongoing support and investment in our infrastructure and resources – and for that we need the support of the people and businesses of London.”
Whilst this data shows that our service has never been more needed, we are currently facing our largest-ever fundraising challenge.
We are in the final months of the Up Against Time appeal, needing to raise £15 million by September of this year to replace our helicopter fleet as the current vehicles become increasingly difficult to maintain.
Jonathan Jenkins, Chief Executive, London’s Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Our record-breaking numbers highlight the crucial role our service plays in saving lives across London.
“Whilst our service has never been more needed, in turn our charity has never needed the support of Londoners more. After not receiving the Government funding we called for, we are once more turning to the people of this city to ensure we can continue providing this vital emergency care.
“Every donation brings us closer to our goal of replacing our fleet and maintaining our life-saving operations."
With just six months to go, time is running out for us to hit our target. With 96 per cent of our funding reliant on public support, we need your help before it is too late. Can you help support our appeal today?
