Air ambulance faces cash crisis

The air ambulance allows patients to be treated at the scene

An air ambulance which featured in a TV documentary is appealing for more volunteers to help fight a cash crisis.

London's Air Ambulance, which operates from the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, east London, is facing a £400,000 budget shortfall.

The service carries a doctor, allowing patients to be treated at the scene.

About £400,000 a year has to be found by the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (Hems) to keep it in the air.

The charity receives some funding from the government and donations, and Virgin pays half the lease costs of the helicopter.

We are very anxious about meeting this shortfall Jill Williams - Hems

But prices have gone up due to higher fuel costs, increasing insurance premiums and a rise in call outs.

The red Hems helicopter flies seven days a week in daylight hours and can reach anywhere within the M25 within 12 minutes. Every mission costs £700.

A trauma car operates at night providing the service but this is restricted to three evenings a week due to limited funding.

Jill Williams from the management team of Hems said : "We are very anxious about meeting this shortfall.

"I am very concerned about raising this money and we have been for the last three or four months."

The air ambulance's team and staff from the hospital's casualty department have appeared in the BBC One documentary series, Trauma.

For information on how to donate money to the air ambulance call 020 7377 7387.