Air ambulance fundraising £3.6m for new base move

The air ambulance is currently based at Thruxton, near Andover

A £3.6m fundraising campaign to pay for an air ambulance to move to a new airbase is under way.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is relocating from Thruxton in Andover to a site near Southampton Airport.

The charity has spent £9m on the building in George Curl Way which it now needs to convert into a hangar, helipad and crew rooms.

The move will mean the helicopter will be able to reach almost every patient in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight within 10 minutes of take-off.

The charity's plans for the purpose-built hangar were approved in July

The charity said the current time from Thruxton, where it has been based since 2007, is 20 minutes or more for some areas.

Dr Simon Hughes, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance clinical lead, said: "This move will be the single biggest leap forward in our 17-year history.

"It has long been a dream of our team to operate from a location that is truly central within our community.

"From day one in our new home, response times will be faster, patient outcomes will be better - and lives will be saved that would otherwise have been lost."

The industrial unit bought by the charity has previously been used as a factory and offices for several years.

It will see the critical care team at the airbase in Thruxton and the charity team, based in Nursling, Southampton, brought together to one site.

The charity is seeking donations and has plans to host a number of events to raise the money needed for its Operation Airbase appeal.