Second helicopter for London’s Air Ambulance after campaigns by London Conservative MPs

London’s Air Ambulance received a boost today as campaigns by London MPs were supported by the Chancellor, George Osborne.

The announcement, made in the Chancellor’s Budget today, will mean London’s Air Ambulance will be able to procure a second helicopter. This is important because the Air Ambulance’s only helicopter needs crucial maintenance for six weeks at a time. A second helicopter means a truly 24 hour service to the 11 million people in the capital.

The Government will also relieve VAT on fuel for the Air Ambulance, providing a much needed boost.

Brentford an Isleworth MP Mary Macleod, who has been involved in the campaign for over two years and has been a champion of the campaign to get a second helicopter, welcomed the news:

“This is fantastic news for London and is testament to the crucial, life saving work done by the LAA team aboard London’s Air Ambulance. We have campaigned hard to raise the awareness of the amazing work that this charity does. There is a real need for another helicopter. London only has the one for 11 million people as opposed to elsewhere in the UK where it is one for 1.5 million people”.

London’s Air Ambulance has been involved in over 26,000 missions since it was founded, saving lives across 600 square miles of the city. The majority of cases are high trauma, and the LAA team is able to “bring the emergency room to the roadside” with cutting edge equipment and the most highly trained professionals. 40 open-heart surgeries were performed alone in 2012.