Helicopter may spend less time in the air

Sources closest to the service fear possible plans for change by the newly created Great Western Ambulance Trust will make it harder to fund the helicopter.

One person with inside knowledge was angry that the money raised by local people for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance could potentially be used in Avon and Gloucestershire.

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal funds the running of the air ambulance and pays the wages of the paramedics at a cost of around £340,000 a year.

The Gazette understands the appeal has £1.2 million in its coffers.

A source said: "The money has been raised by the people of Wiltshire and it should be used in Wiltshire and not transferred to other areas."

Part of the plan would be that the Wiltshire fund would be moved into coffers to be used jointly by all three counties covered by the Great Western Ambulance Service Trust.

It is understood the plans under discussion also include stopping the joint arrangment with Wiltshire police and, under present regulations, this would mean the helicopter would be grounded at night.

Among those who have helped raise cash for the appeal this year is stable groom Louise Neal.

She had her life saved by the air ambulance in 2000 after being kicked in the head by a horse and she is so grateful her fundraising will continue no matter what.

So severe were her injuries, that she would not have survived a journey to hospital by road.

Miss Neal, of South Place, Corsham, said she will continue to fundraise for the charity. She said: "I will continue to support them even if they are not based in Wiltshire."

Margaret Wooton has been collecting money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal by putting on a Christmas light display at her Corsham home.

She and her family chose the charity as they believe it to be an essential service for the county. Mrs Wooton, from Burn Road, said: "Every county should have one."

How it all began

The air ambulance service has been saving lives in Wiltshire for 16 years.

It's one of only two services in the country shared by police and ambulance. The ambulance element of the aerial support unit costs £350,000 a year and that has to be raised entirely by public donations through the Air Ambulance Appeal.

It was the Wiltshire Constabulary which introduced helicopters to the county having originally borrowed or hired them from the Ministry of Defence when they were needed.

The Stonehenge solstice operation in 1985 that culminated in the Battle of the Beanfield brought home to the police that a helicopter was a valuable tool in the modern fight against crime and disorder.

Wiltshire police paid £10,000 to hire a helicopter for six weeks to provide air support for the officers on the ground who were preventing what they saw as an illegal solstice gathering at Stonehenge.

* In 1988 the police chartered a helicopter for their own use but it was used for three successful medical evacuations.

* In 1989 the ambulance service was invited to have a paramedic join the police air support unit for the duration of the summer solstice operation.

* On March 15 1990 the first jointly funded air support unit was launched.

* 1991: Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal is launched to raise the money needed to pay the ambulance share of the helicopter.

* 1995: The 500th patient is airlifted.

* 1996: A Boeing Explorer helicopter, with its unique tail fan instead of the traditional and noisier rear rotor, is demonstrated at Police Headquarters in Devizes.

* 1998: Wiltshire's new Explorer arrives from the United States of America in boxes, to be put together by police Aviation Services in Gloucestershire.

* On December 4, 1998 the helicopter arrives at Wiltshire Police headquarters to start its new duties.

* December 18, 1998 the Explorer, with its distinctive yellow and black county livery, is officially launched by the then Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston, and explorer David Hempleman-Adams.

* 1999: The service helps its 1,000th patient.

* 2006: Bishops Cannings Cricket Club makes one of the biggest ever donations to the air ambulance when it raises £7,500 in match between the club and the Lashings Cricket Club made up of international cricket stars.