Appeal for dedicated north Staffordshire air ambulance

Phil Copeland, from Stoke Air Ambulance, said it would make "a massive difference" for the area

An appeal has begun to try to raise £2.5m for a dedicated air ambulance serving Stoke and north Staffordshire.

Currently, cover for the area is provided by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAA).

Some campaigners claim a dedicated north Staffordshire service could save lives every year with faster treatment.

MAA says its crews get to emergencies in an average of 10 minutes and its three regional flying bases are strategically located.

The charity, which has responded to more than 67,000 missions since 1991, has three helicopters flying from Cosford, Shropshire; Tatenhill, Staffordshire; and Strensham, Worcestershire.

Its website says the helicopters fly seven days a week all year round.

MAA also has three critical care cars as it covers Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, the West Midlands conurbation and Worcestershire, as well as Staffordshire.

But Phil Copeland, from charity Stoke Air Ambulance, said its proposal would make "a massive difference" for the Stoke-on-Trent and north Staffordshire area.

No government funding

Mr Copeland said Midlands Air Ambulance had done a "really good job" but he felt it could improve responses in and around Stoke-on-Trent.

"If you are having the worst day of your life and you are in a car crash or you have fallen down something and you are waiting for a helicopter to arrive, time is of the essence and time saves lives.

"So to get a helicopter within 10 minutes rather than 20 or 30 minutes can save a lot of lives.

"Stoke-on-Trent is stuck between Manchester and Birmingham.

"They [MAA] are very often busy saving lives south of their bases rather than north of the bases where we need them in Stoke-on-Trent."

MAA said their service is "never too busy to respond to calls" and if their air ambulances are sent elsewhere, neighbouring ones can be sent to patients.

"We are the sole provider of air ambulance services for Stoke and are proud that our average response time in the area is just 10 minutes, meaning we are reaching and treating patients as quickly as possible and giving them the best chance of survival," MAA added.

Mr Copeland said he and the other campaigners had selected an ambulance which would cost £5.8m to purchase outright, or £2.15m to lease for five years with a trained pilot.

But he did not say where it could be based.

"Ideally, if everything aligned, we would be able to get this helicopter delivered at the end of next year," he added.

Midlands Air Ambulance said it cost more than £10m every year to maintain its three aircraft and it did not get government or National Lottery funding for its daily missions.

It has served Stoke and the Staffordshire area for more than 30 years, a spokesperson said, and provided a "robust, reliable and safe air ambulance service".

"We would like to reassure the people of Stoke and the surrounding areas that we will continue to proudly serve your region," it added.