To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the capacity of air ambulance provision in the UK.
Answered on
31 January 2023
The Government has provided significant support to the air ambulance sector. In 2019, the Department of Health and Social Care launched a three-year capital grant programme which allocated £10 million to 9 air ambulance charities across England. A total of £6 million of COVID-19 emergency funding was made available to all 21 air ambulance charities across the UK in 2020, assisting the continuity of air ambulance response during the pandemic. This is alongside direct support from NHS ambulance trusts, who may provide staffing and equipment depending on local arrangements.
Air ambulance services are charitable organisations and not directly funded by the NHS. Air Ambulances UK, the sector’s independent professional body, share our view that this is the most appropriate funding model.