RICHMOND MP Rishi Sunak has highlighted the valuable work of the air ambulance service which has saved thousands of lives.
Mr Sunak paid a visit to the base of the Great North Air Ambulance to meet the team that provides emergency medical care to patients – often in difficult to reach places.
He met medics, pilots and support staff who run and operate one of the service’s air ambulances based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, frequently making the difference between life and death for for seriously ill and injured patients in his sprawling rural constituency.
During his time at the base he witnessed the team respond to a call for assistence with a child injured in an accident involving a bus on Wearside.
He said: “I was really impressed by the evident professionalism of all involved and fascinated to hear about the innovative work being done in pre-hospital care by medical team.”
He added: “I wanted to thank the Great North Air Ambulance team for the amazing work that they do. I know how many of my constituents really value the service it provides and do what they can to support it.
Mr Sunak was welcomed to the service’s base by Grahame (correct) Pickering, the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s chief executive,. Mr Pickering briefed him on the GNAA’s plans to develop a new operational headquarters and the funding challenges the charity faced. Mr Sunak promised to support the service’s development plans in any way he could.
Mr Pickering said: “It was a pleasure to show Mr Sunak around, introduce him to our crew, and share our plans for the future. Those plans are at a very early stage but it is vital for us to have the backing of the public as well as our local MPs, so we are grateful to Mr Sunak for getting involved and pledging his support.”
The Great North Air Ambulance has three aircraft serving the North-East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria and is entirely funded by donations and fundraising which last year amounted to £6.2m