The Great North Air Ambulance Services' (GNAAS) roots go back to 1991, when the GNAAS Appeal was launched with the aim of providing the North East of England's first helicopter air ambulance. It took four years to raise enough money to bring this dream to fruition. This was funded partially by public donations and partially by the NHS Trust, but spiraling maintenance costs and the relatively low level of public donations were major causes for concern. The CEO at the time realised that if the charity was to be successful, it would not be under the control and strict guidance of the Ambulance Service. In May 2002, the charity was registered with the Charity Commission.
Why was the charity formed?
To save lives in emergency situations with our expertlevel pre-hospital care. We aim to be there in the critical moments that matter, to keep families and communities together by saving lives. Since our creation as a charity, we have responded more than 27,000 times across our region.
Which area do you cover?
We cover over 8,000 sq miles including the North East, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. We often support neighbouring Air Ambulance charities in Scotland and the North West of England. Our region covers busy cities, residential areas and miles of national parks including the fells of the Lake District.
What type of fundraising events do you have?
We have many fundraising events throughout the year covering social, sport and challenge events. We host annual balls across our region that celebrate the charity, patients and supporters in an entertaining night that helps to raise vital funds. We have a huge participation in the Great North Run (the world’s biggest halfmarathon event), which last year raised more than £188,000 for our cause. Other events include corporate golf days, coffee mornings, and plenty of walking and cycling challenges to choose from.
Explore our region in different ways and see our latest events here: gna.as/events
Who are your trustees and patrons?
Our trustees come from a range of backgrounds, all bringing different business experience to their role which helps them when directing the affairs of the charity.
Our patrons are anyone who is in need. Whether that is someone who lives in the area, is just visiting for a holiday or simply passing through. Our aim is to keep families and communities together by saving lives.
What have been your proudest moments so far?
In the last 22 years there are many moments that we are proud of, here are just a few of them:
In 2015 we became one of the first air ambulances in the UK to carry blood products on our aircraft. (Our ‘blood on board’ project means that we can deliver transfusions and administer blood products outside of a hospital setting. In 2022 we celebrated delivering blood to our 500th patient!
In 2017 we were the first to record a pre-hospital thoracotomy in the world (when the chest is opened and an incision is made into the sac that surrounds the heart to relieve pressure. This footage is now a vital training aid for our team along with other pre-hospital clinicians.)
In 2023 we teamed up with Manx Care to offer our services to the residents and visitors to the Isle of Man. (We are the only critical care air ambulance responding to the Isle of Man every day. We provide critical care interventions and transfer seriously injured or unwell patients by helicopter from the Isle of Man directly to the UK for emergency medical treatment. This was a really important milestone for us last year.)
All of the moments we are most proud of have been improving our service or ensuring we can reach even more people with our care.
What are you currently working on?
Operating as a round-the-clock service has been a long-term goal for our charity. Although we have made great strides in achieving this, we are currently working on becoming 24/7 in the North East and are operating four nights a week in Cumbria. This expansion alone has meant that we were able to attend an extra 745 incidents last year. We want to be 24/7 across the whole region so that we can be there for those that need us, no matter what the time of day. Unfortunately, this will need continual funding and so the only way we will be able to operate this vital service is with the help and support of the general public.
What does the future hold?
We are always searching for ways to expand our service so that we can be there for even more people in the critical moments that matter. Our equipment and assets always need upgrading and replacing. We are constantly testing out trials in medical innovations that can improve the pre-hospital care for our patients.
How do you get involved?
We would not be the charity we are today without the support from the general public; fundraising for us, attending our events and volunteering with us.
Our main focus currently is to make our service 24/7 so we can be there for anyone, anytime, anywhere.
To help with this appeal head to gna.as/helpus247 or to get involved with volunteering, events or just to find out more visit to www.gnaas.com or follow us on social media at /GNAirAmbulance