Shropshire Star

Concern whether air ambulance funding is good value for money

During the Budget speech the Chancellor announced that he was giving £10,000,000 to the Air Ambulance Services across the country, a service we all value, especially those who us who live in remote areas.

Published

I am concerned that the people who make the decisions on how the money is to be spent get good value for it.

A number of years ago a helicopter pad and walkway for use by the Air Ambulance was installed at the Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital, it cost the staggering amount of £450,000, at the time I queried the amount both by telephone and letter but failed to get any real answers as to why it cost so much. I was, as you would say, fobbed off.

The Air Ambulance is financed by public donations, and it is therefore all the more important that expenditure is judicially spent, and should be publicly accounted for.

John Gittins, Ruyton-XI-Towns

Midlands Air Ambulance response

A spokesperson from the Midlands Air Ambulance said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s decision to award England-based air ambulances with £10 million in his latest Budget statement.

"While we await news of how and when the funds will be distributed between the individual air ambulance charities, we must highlight we pride ourselves on continually investing in patient care, today, and in the future. Therefore, any funds we receive at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity will go towards this vision.

"A separate charity looks after the construction of the helicopter landing sites across the region, which has enabled us to continue our lifesaving service, taking patients to the most appropriate hospitals for their individual needs.”

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