Chief Executive Karen Jobling is delighted with the progress made by Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance services in 2018

It was a monumentous year in 2018 for a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service charity, says its chief executive.

The chief executive of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, Karen Jobling, said in her end-of-year round-up for 2018 that she was proud of what the charity had achieved.

“We are thrilled to have started to phase in our 24-hour operations, with our helicopter currently on call to fly 24 hours over the weekends, which are typically the days when our critical care team are needed the most,” she said.

“Our 24-hour weekend operation will continue to operate throughout 2019 as we work towards building up to providing our 24-hour service seven days a week, enabling us to give more people than ever before the very best chance of survival.”

In 2018 crews attended more than 800 missions and 26% of these were to children and young adults under 30. On average, in 2018, the charity dispatched to three missions every day.

Karen Jobling said: “I am delighted to have met a number of our remarkable former patients and their families throughout the last year.

“It has been truly inspiring to hear of their courage, determination and bravery while overcoming some of the most devastating and traumatic injuries.

“With thanks to the incredible work of our paramedics, doctors, and pilots, it’s incredibly heart-warming to see families still together, and moments like this remind me why our charity is so important.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us last year, especially our army of volunteers, who tirelessly give their time in a variety of ways.

“Then there are the hundreds of people, clubs, groups and businesses who have raised funds for us, with one of our supporters, a local farmer, dressed as a scale model tractor in the heat of this year’s London Marathon in order to attract attention and raise funds.

“Thank you to each and every one of our supporters; every penny really does help us to continue saving lives 365 days of the year and enables us to be the very best at what we do.

“I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year.”

This year charity will be celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Activities and events planned for the celebrations will be announced later this month.