Scotland’s charity air ambulance crew has announced an ambitious £6 million campaign to launch a second aircraft.
Perth Airport-based SCAA, which was set up five years ago, will be counting on public support and backing from donors to raise the money needed for three years of running costs.
The charity, the only one of its kind in Scotland, said the new helicopter will enhance response to time-critical medical emergencies, retrievals and urgent transfers across the whole of Scotland.
SCAA’s helicopter operates in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service and is scrambled by national ambulance control through the 999 system. It works alongside two Scottish Government-funded helicopter air ambulances and two fixed-wing patient transfer aircraft.
SCAA Chairman and founding trustee John Bullough said a second charity-funded helicopter would save and improve even more lives.
“Our highly visible helicopter air ambulance has become a familiar sight as it deploys to time-critical medical emergencies throughout the country,” he said.
“Having responded to more than 1,700 emergency call outs, the charity has built a loyal and passionate following of donors, supporters and volunteers.
“SCAA is a model for partnership between the private, public and third sectors. The charity has raised over £10m since its launch which is a terrific achievement and a testament to the level of support and public engagement that we have received nationally.
“SCAA has proved itself to be a fully integrated and indispensable part of our national emergency services.”
Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, gave her backing to the campaign at its launch in Edinburgh.
“Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance carries out great work across Scotland, helping to save and improve lives every day,” she said. “A second SCAA helicopter will make a huge difference, particularly in the more rural and remote areas of Scotland.”
Pauline Howie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, added: “We are delighted that plans for a new air ambulance are underway as it will undoubtedly help save even more lives.
“Due to the dedicated public support of SCAA, the charity has been able to undertake hundreds of missions which is a fantastic achievement.”
While Scotland is the only country in the UK to have government-funded air resources, SCAA provides the country’s only charity-funded air ambulance – in sharp contrast to the 39 charity helicopter air ambulances operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scotland’s mainland and its 100 inhabited islands represent more than a third of the UK land mass and SCAA’s second helicopter will add resilience and capacity to respond to those in most need.
SCAA will now enter talks with existing and potential major donors to secure the £6 million required to launch and sustain a second helicopter for the first three years and, thereafter, the ongoing annual £2 million for each aircraft.
The charity will continue discussions on its plans with its main stakeholder, the Scottish Ambulance Service, to determine where a second helicopter would be best located to complement the existing helicopter air ambulances currently based at Perth, Glasgow and Inverness.
The service will become operational as soon as the fundraising target has been secured.
