Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance sees “staggering” increase in call-outs in 2024

THE county’s air ambulance saw a “staggering” increase in emergency call-outs last year.

Crews answered 2,544 calls in 2024, an almost 40% increase on the 1,842 calls answered in 2023. Of those 2,544 calls, 659 were in the Southampton area including the New Forest.

For the first time in its history, air ambulance teams responded to more patients by road in its emergency response vehicles than by helicopter.

A spokesperson for the ambulance said this was largely owing to an increase in call-outs for its Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) response unit.

Specialist paramedic lead Mark Durell said: “The past year has been remarkable for our service.

“The incredible growth for our CCP response highlights the increasing demand for our expertise and the trust ambulance crews place in us to deliver advanced care to patients across Hampshire and Isle of Wight.”