The UK's national Children's Air Ambulance charity is making a bold move to double its capacity, trading up from one Midlands-based helicopter to a pair of AW169s at bases in the north and south of the country.

A seven-year project to provide a nationwide high speed transfer service for critically ill children and babies came to fruition when one of the helicopters became operational from London Oxford in September.

Speaking at a ceremony to unveil the new aircraft and airbase, TCAA CEO Andy Williamson said: "This is the culmination of a long and difficult journey to provide this unique service and I am very proud to see it come to fruition and of all those involved in making the dream in Oxfordshire a reality. The difference the charity's two new helicopters will make to children, parents and NHS doctors and nurses involved in paediatric and neonatal specialist air transfers is very significant and that's what this charity is all about."

Operating out of the Midlands with one A109 since 2012, the charity has completed a total of more than 300 missions with its clinical partners. However, with its regionally based AW169s, TCAA is aiming for 600 missions a year.

One of those who has seen first-hand the difference the transfer service can make to the health of a critically ill child is mum Gemma whose daughter Poppy was premature when she was delivered by emergency caesarean and suffered complications. After undergoing lifesaving treatment by a specialist paediatric team in Nottingham, the Children's Air Ambulance was able to fly Poppy home to Grimsby in just over an hour, considerably faster than a journey by road.

Thanks to the specialist equipment and highly trained NHS specialist transport teams on board, Poppy could travel to her family home safely to recover. 

The AW169 helicopters will be based in Oxford and Doncaster, and will be the only flying intensive care units in the country dedicated to transferring critically ill children and babies from local hospitals to specialist paediatric and neonatal treatment centres. Bespoke equipment on board includes a specially designed stretcher system and clinical interior, incubator and extra seat for a parent to be able to accompany their child.

TCAA director of operations Richard Clayton says: "Oxford provides the perfect location for us to work closely with our NHS clinical partners in delivering the highest level of paediatric neonatal care to the southern regions of the country."