The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance charity has reported a record number of emergency responses in the first half of the year, attending 595 missions across its operating area. Of those, 49 call-outs were in the Salisbury, Amesbury, Tidworth and Tisbury districts.
Rising demand and more advanced care at scenes
The charity says February was its busiest February in history, marking the first time the month surpassed 100 deployments. Operations typically run for up to 19 hours a day and the service averages about three missions every 24 hours.
Crucially, the proportion of incidents where a critical care doctor attended has increased. Last year doctors were on scene for around 61% of call-outs; so far this year that figure has risen to 65%, allowing a greater number of patients to receive advanced interventions and hospital-level treatments before they reach hospital.
"We are incredibly proud to provide lifesaving critical care to people across our community, 365 days a year," said Chief Executive Barbara Gray. "With our busiest February on record, these figures highlight just how vital our service is."
How the service operates and what it means locally
The charity provides critical medical assistance by both air and road. It is funded entirely through public donations and does not receive regular government grants. The increased activity underlines the reliance of many Wiltshire communities on this voluntary-funded emergency resource, particularly in rural and semi-rural locations where travel times to major hospitals can be longer.
- 595 total missions recorded in the first six months of the year
- 49 missions in Salisbury, Amesbury, Tidworth and Tisbury areas
- 65% of call-outs attended by a critical care doctor so far this year
Locally, clinicians and emergency planners will be watching these figures closely. An increase in doctor-attended call-outs typically means more patients receiving complex, lifesaving procedures at the scene — treatments that can change outcomes for major trauma and other critical conditions.
Quick reference: this year’s activity
| Measure | First half of year |
|---|---|
| Total missions | 595 |
| Missions in Salisbury/Amesbury/Tidworth/Tisbury | 49 |
| Busiest month (February) — missions | More than 100 |
| Proportion with critical care doctor | 65% |
The charity's leaders thanked donors and supporters for their contributions so far this year, noting that public generosity is essential to sustain round-the-clock readiness. For residents of Wiltshire and Bath, the figures are a reminder of the role the air ambulance plays in urgent care provision across towns and countryside alike.
Anyone wanting to support the service or find more information about fundraising and how the charity operates should visit the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance's official channels.
