Thames Valley Air Ambulance has reported a record year of callouts in 2023.

The emergency service attended a total of 1,177 incidents in Berkshire last year, with May being documented as the busiest month.

Of these, 354 ambulances were sent to the Reading area, 173 to Bracknell and 447 to Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead.

A further breakdown shows most callouts go to town centres and parks - 46 callouts were made to Reading town centre and 28 to the area close to Prospect Park.

In Slough 43 call-outs were made to an area encompassing the high street and Salt Hill Park.

While 44 were made to Bracknell town centre and 46 to Newbury.

Reading Chronicle:

It comes as Thames Valley Air Ambulance enters its 25th year and figures show there is more need than ever for the service as demand increases.

Across their three primary areas of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxford, the air ambulances attended 3,293 callouts in 2023.  

The most frequent type of call-out was for cardiac arrests. Crews responded to 1,212 cardiac arrests in 2023, which works out as more than three per day. 

Thames Valley Air Ambulance’s paramedics and doctors bring hospital-level care to people whenever and wherever it is needed, from the oldest members of the community to the youngest.

Last year, 213 seriously ill or injured children were treated by the expert crews, including 86 children under the age of five. 

Amanda McLean, Chief Executive Officer at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, said: “This year marks the 25th anniversary of our lifesaving service and, as these figures show, we’re reaching more patients than ever.  

“Over the last 25 years, our charity has expanded and evolved. We’ve continued to be at the forefront of critical care, using state-of-the-art kit and being part of groundbreaking research, as well as becoming an independent healthcare provider and bringing our air operations in-house. This all means we can provide the best possible care when it’s needed most.  

“But we wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the support of the community that we serve. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our story over the last 25 years. We’re looking forward to having you by our side for the next chapter.” 

Thames Valley Air Ambulance is a charity which provides critical care at the scene and beyond. 

They rely on donations to fund the service and help people in medical emergencies 365 days a year. 

Visit tvairambulance.org.uk/support-us to find out more.