THE Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has flown its 2000th mission, even though it has only been running for two and a half years.

The tremendous skill of the pilots means the Air Ambulance can land in areas inaccessible to land ambulances, and the paramedics and doctors on board are able to provide vital pre-hospital treatment before taking the patient quickly to the hospital most appropriate to their injury, thereby vastly improving the outcome for patients.

Cllr Barry Lipscomb, chairman of the trustees for the air ambulance, said “The 2000th deployment of our air ambulance is a major milestone for our charity and all those, staff and volunteers alike, who work so hard to provide this magnificent service to the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. “That it has occurred within only 30 months from our starting operations on July 1 2007 is a testament to the real value of the air ambulance to our community and I am delighted that it has become regarded by so many residents as ‘their’ air ambulance, as indeed it is.

“Mission 2000 is a red letter day for our highly skilled paramedics, pilots and volunteer doctors, without whom we would be nothing and I congratulate them. Most of all, however, I warmly thank all our generous donors, as it is their money and enthusiastic support that keeps us flying every day.”