HAMPSHIRE'S air ambulance is marking 16 incredible years of saving lives by expanding its service-providing aftercare.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance which currently just offer frontline pre-hospital critical care will now support patients and their relatives who have been involved in potential life-changing incidents.

Since its first flight on July 1 2007, the air ambulance service has been treating critically ill and severely injured patients at the scene of an incident. 

However, due to the severity of its call-outs, including road traffic collisions and cardiac arrests, the charity recognises that many of its patients are often left with significant physical and emotional challenges, such as living with a traumatic brain injury or coming to terms with the loss of a limb.   

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The team, made up of two of the charity’s own paramedics, Tom Nickisson-Richards and Nicola Hawkes, and a senior hospital nurse, Nikki Harris, each have a wealth of medical knowledge and experience to provide support and detailed explanations of specific treatments.  

Tom, said: “Patients who have been treated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance have often experienced significant illness or injury. Not only have their lives been turned completely upside down, but the lives of their families have also been profoundly affected.

"Aftercare will provide a consistent point of support to these patients and their families, helping them to make sense of what happened. We’re extremely grateful to supporters of the charity whose generosity makes our vital new service possible.”  

The team are on hand to provide these patients with an explanation of the care they received, as well as ongoing support throughout their recovery, in what is seen as a crucial step in the charity's development. 

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They can also provide key signposting or introductions to specialist support services, where practical, social and emotional support are recognised as invaluable in the journey of recovery.  

Since its first flight the charity has responded to more than 17,000 emergency calls for help, many of which have been lifesaving. 

The charity relies entirely on donations from the public to keep the air ambulance flying and saving lives.