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West Wilts Golf Club Captain's Charity 2015
WILTSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE
Dear Members
As you are now aware I have chosen Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) as the Captain’s Charity for my year in office.
I spent an afternoon with them in January in order to meet some of their team and learn a little more about what they do. It was a very informative visit. So I thought I would write to you to let you know more about the charity and why I have chosen it.
WAA was launched in March 1990, the first in the country to operate a joint police helicopter and air ambulance. The concept for an air ambulance in Wiltshire came about following an incident in 1988 when Wiltshire Police hired a helicopter to monitor the summer solstice celebrations at Stonehenge. While in the air the crew heard of a potentially fatal accident on the A350 involving a woman at Beanacre near Melksham. The police observer’s seat was removed to make way for a stretcher; the observer was replaced by a paramedic and the woman was flown to the RUH in Bath. She survived. Without the speed of the helicopter it is highly likely that she would have died.
2015 is WAA’s Silver Jubilee – 25 years of saving lives in and around Wiltshire with over 15,000 missions flown. In 2014 the Government launched the National Police Air Service, in effect severing the partnership between the Wiltshire Police and WAA. In order to facilitate this fundamental change in operational practice, a period of adjustment has been mutually agreed to cover the transition. However, the impact on WAA is that they have to move to a new location and fund 100% of the running costs of the helicopter and its support mechanism. WAA sees this as an opportunity and they are very positive about the future. In order to remain in the air providing their life saving emergency service, they need £2.5 million each year. That’s where we can help.
How many times have you heard sirens on the A36 or A350 as you play the 12th Hole? In addition to the helicopter, and in conjunction with a carefully coordinated ‘blue light’ response, WAA has the ability to deploy a paramedic by road. All of this is to ensure that those with life threatening injuries are given the quickest immediate treatment to keep them alive whilst they are moved to hospital by the fastest means – a helicopter. Much of that life saving work is done at the scene, and then in the air, by an extraordinary team of exceptional paramedics who are specifically trained for such situations.
I have asked WAA to come and talk to the Golf Club to tell us first hand what they’re all about. I will let you know when that is going to happen. I would hope that as many of you as possible would come and hear what they have to say. We will combine the event with a bit of golf and something to eat.
Meanwhile please give generously to this most worthy of charities.
Yours sincerely
Guy Bettesworth
G P BETTESWORTH
Captain West Wilts Golf Club
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