To support advanced patient care in the region, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has unveiled new medical equipment kit bags funded by the HELP Appeal, which are provide to aid clinicians on scene.

The charity is dedicated to continuously improving specialist pre-hospital emergency care and recognised a more effective way of carrying equipment, medical supplies and drugs could be established.

Ian Roberts, air operations manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, stated: “Previously the kit bags were bulky and cumbersome. Plus, due to wear and tear would only last up to six months before needing to be replaced. They were also difficult to fix into place in the helicopters, so a solution was required.

The new streamlined bags are being used up to ten times a day and proving to further aid the delivery of advanced urgent medical care to patients due to the easy access pouches for medicines and equipment.”

As part of the charity’s consistent approach, the new kit bags are now being used on the service’s three air ambulance helicopters, airbase rapid response vehicles and two critical care cars in Birmingham and the Black Country and Worcester.

Collectively, across all Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s vehicles, the bag costs £22,000, which was generously funded by a grant from the HELP Appeal.

Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the HELP Appeal said: “The HELP Appeal is about saving time wherever possible, whether that is funding lifesaving hospital helipads all over the country or funding kit bags which allow doctors to have much quicker access to lifesaving medicine and kit.

“If we can shave vital minutes off the time it takes to treat a critically ill patient, this could help to save their life.”

For more information on Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and how you can support the lifesaving service, visit www.midlandsairambulance.com, find Midlands Air Ambulance Charity on social media, or call the team on 0800 8 40 20 40.

The HELP Appeal relies solely on charitable donations and does not receive any Government funding or money from the National Lottery. For more information on the charity visit www.helpappeal.org.uk or call 0800 3898 999.