Air ambulance get keys to new base near airport

It is hoped the base at George Curl Way will reduce response times

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has been given the keys to its new base.

It is hoped the £3.6m unit near Southampton Airport in Eastleigh will reduce response times for almost all missions.

Speaking about the move from their current base in Thruxton near Andover, the service's Dr Simon Hughes said the team would do "everything they can" not to disadvantage anyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A date for the site's full opening has not yet been set.

Dr Simon Hughes told the BBC he hoped the change would lead to improvements

"We want to be there for you, wherever you live, on the worst day of your life and get to you as quickly as possible. And we're confident this new airbase will enable us to do that a lot better," Dr Hughes said.

Once finished, the building will include facilities for an Airbus H135 helicopter, multiple emergency vehicles and a new aftercare support centre to help bereaved families.

But Dr Hughes said the biggest difference would be reduced response times.

He said more than 70% of callouts were currently south of Winchester, so the location of the new base would allow them to "reach the majority of people really, really quickly".

The new base includes a hangar and aftercare support services for bereaved families

In April 2024 Julian Pearce suffered a cardiac arrest and his heart stopped beating for two minutes.

Speaking at the transfer of keys at the new base, he said: "My life was saved... because somebody out there had actually made a donation to allow this [service] to function."

The ambulance service said it was £2.4m away from its £3.6m target to transform the building so it was fit for purpose - with funding coming solely from public donations.