HAMPSHIRE'S air ambulance team has reassured residents in Andover and Basingstoke that services for them would not be affected if it moved its base from Thruxton.
The charity has been based at Thruxton Airfield since 2007, but with most calls coming from the south of the region it is seeking a ‘more central location’.
Currently Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance staff are based across two locations, with the operations side including the helicopter and medical teams based at Thruxton Circuit, near Andover. The rest of the staff are based at Nursling in southern Test Valley.
The charity has identified a site at George Curl Way adjacent to Southampton Airport for a new headquarters, including a helipad, offices, staff facilities, along with parking for emergency response vehicles.
READ MORE: Hampshire's air ambulance proposes move from Thruxton
Before submitting an application to Eastleigh Borough Council, the charity is seeking feedback from residents and other important local stakeholders.
The move would see the whole operations, helicopter and crew, move out of Thruxton and to a new base.
The charity's director of income and engagement, Keith Wilson has provided some reassurance to residents in Basingstoke and Andover.
He said: "We're incredibly conscious and keen to ensure that people know this will not affect the service our patients in Basingstoke and Andover receive and deserve.
"In fact, as we will be spending less time in the air flying to and from a base that is a considerable distance from the majority of our incidents we attend, this reduction in flying time will mean we're online and ready for more of the time - including for those patients in the north of the county."
Demand for the air ambulance is currently rising. Since its first mission in 2007 the doctors, dispatchers, pilots and paramedics have responded to more than 18,000 missions, with no fewer than 1,842 throughout 2023.
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A new headquarters will ensure the charity can continue its lifesaving work. It will also present opportunities to create an aftercare facility delivering follow-up care for those who have previously received emergency critical care, and collaborate with like-minded organisations working in the field of emergency medicine.
It's preferred site is previously developed, with an existing building on the land, and its proximity to Southampton Airport will mask the noise of helicopter take-offs, due to the existing commercial flights in the area.
A community consultation is being held that features a drop-in session at Eastleigh Football Club, Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh, on Tuesday, March 5 from 4pm to 8pm.
For those unable to attend the event, a virtual consultation is taking place on the project’s website, hiowaa.your-feedback.co.uk, where the same information will be displayed and comments can be submitted until Sunday March, 17.
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