The work of the region’s air ambulance was under the spotlight when a local MP visited the home of the lifesaving service at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, met with Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics and operators to discuss the outstanding work they undertake in providing emergency and, at times, life saving assistance to the people of the region.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire.

They fly seven days a week, 365 days a year, covering a vast landscape that not only includes major cities and motorways, but also rural and isolated locations.

After spending time in the Air Ambulance control room and seeing how the dispatchers undertake their role in what can be highly-stressful situations, Mr Andrew was shown the helicopter by one of its pilots and paramedics and told about many of the circumstances in which it had been used to rescue seriously-injured people.

Mr Andrew said: “I was honoured to spend the morning with the staff and crew of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“Just as I arrived at the airbase the air ambulance had just returned from providing essential treatment and transfer to hospital for a person who had been involved in a serious accident within my constituency in Guiseley. And then, before I left, the crew were flying off to assist another injured person in Yorkshire who required their specialist help.

“To keep providing the lifesaving service they need to raise £9,990 per day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air, and as an independent charity they rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to help save lives across Yorkshire, which serves a population of approximately five million people across four million acres.

“All staff at Yorkshire Air Ambulance do an outstanding and truly incredible job and I want to thank them for inviting me along to see just a small part of their work today and also for being committed and dedicated individuals who serve our region so well.”

YAA paramedic Sammy Wills added: “We were pleased to be able to show Stuart around our airbase and give him an insight into the work we undertake on a daily basis.

“Many people don’t realise that we’re an independent charity that receives no direct government funding, and we are always happy to talk to people about the work we do.”