A charity that helps assist medical causes and organisations has donated more than £9,600 to the Wales Air Ambulance.

The Hospital Saturday Fund presented a £9,610 grant to the lifesaving air ambulance charity to buy search-and-rescue Alpha 900 helmets for the crew.

The helmets are essential equipment when it comes to safety and enable the crew to carry out missions quickly and effectively. They protect the head, enable communication within the team and with patients and provide night vision for rescue missions.

Each helmet is individually customised and costs over £2,000 each.

The Hospital Saturday Fund presented the grant to the Wales Air Ambulance to help the service continue its lifesaving work and to help the team be equipped with the most up-to-date equipment. 

Dee Wright, charity and events manager of the Hospital Saturday Fund, said: “Wales Air Ambulance depends completely on charitable donations to keep their helicopters operational and rapid response vehicles on the road.
 
“Recognizing the outstanding commitment and passion from all team members and the incredible work they do as a charity, the Hospital Saturday Fund was honoured to grant £9,610 to support the purchase of the Search and Rescue Alpha 900 Helmets for the doctors and critical care practitioners.”

The Hospital Saturday Fund has granted more than £21,000 to the Wales Air Ambulance over the years.

The fund provides assistance for registered health charities, hospices, medical organizations and individuals with a medical condition or disability and also provides grants for medical projects, care, research or support for medical training. For individuals, the charity provides help with the purchase of specialized equipment or forms of treatment.

In 2024, grants totalling £2.3m will be given to deserving causes by the Hospital Saturday Fund.

The Wales Air Ambulances needs to raise £11.2million every year to keep the service operational.

It is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery. 

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, the dedicated crews will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

Hannah Mitchell, Wales Air Ambulance’s Grants and Trusts Fundraiser, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Hospital Saturday Fund for their continued support and presenting us with a grant of £9,610 to buy helmets. Without this equipment, the crew wouldn’t be able to fly.

“The Hospital Saturday Fund has donated over £21,000 in grant funding to our charity since 2017 and we appreciate all their help and support. This grant will help the Wales Air Ambulance to continue to serve the people of Wales for many years to come.”