North West Air Ambulance
The North West Air Ambulance (NWAA) is the only regional medical air emergency service covering Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Established in 1999 the NWAA is a registered charity receiving no mainstream funding, yet it offers a vital service seven days a week, 365 days a year across 5,000 square miles serving a residential population of seven million.
Costing £1.5 million per year to maintain, the NWAA covers all major motorway incidents, all serious accidents including horse riding, rugby and motor cycling, serious road accidents and incidents that have poor and restrictive access. On average the NWAA is called out four times a day, rising to over 15 in the summer.
The NWAA aims to get the patients to the nearest hospital within the recognised "Golden Hour" to give them every chance of survival and receive crucial medical care.