Air Ambulances UK (AAUK), the national organisation championing, supporting and representing the lifesaving work of the UK's air ambulance charities, has welcomed its newest member The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS).

Since starting in 2003, TAAS now operates the national Children's Air Ambulance and two local air ambulance services, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) along with the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA). It has two AgustaWestland 109SP helicopters that, in 2021, flew 1,559 missions for a total of 591 hours.

AAUK CEO Simmy Akhtar says: “We are extremely pleased to welcome The Air Ambulance Service to our air ambulance community. We look forward to supporting, championing and representing its invaluable work as it continues to provide its specialist lifesaving efforts. By working in collaboration with our colleagues across the UK we are better able to work towards our shared objective of saving more lives together while supporting innovation to achieve the highest and best possible specialist care for patients, no matter where in the UK they are.”

Acting TAAS CEO Emma Peake adds: “We are delighted to join Air Ambulances UK and look forward to working collaboratively with other organisations across the country as we strive to enhance the vital, lifesaving services our charities provide. By working together, we will be able to play an active role within the national discussions surrounding the sector including the ability to influence and make an impact. We want to work towards saving more lives, wherever and whenever we are needed most and being aligned to a national network of similar organisations will only support our shared objective.”