London’s Air Ambulance service has been hailed as “amazing” and “essential” as new statistics show 15 Kingston patients were treated by air paramedics in the first six months of 2016.

Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry praised the charity for their work delivering advanced trauma teams to people who are critically injured, and encouraged the public to donate funds to them to mark National Air Ambulance week.

He said: “I have recently visited London’s Air Ambulance and seen for myself the amazing work they do.

“The charity provides an essential service for London and all my constituents in Kingston and Surbiton. I hope lots of people will get involved and donate over National Air Ambulance week.”

Statistics released today showed that 15 people in Kingston were treated by the service between January and June this year, out of the 917 treated across London.

More than 290 people who required treatment by the air paramedics had been in crashes on the roads, whereas 257 people were treated after being shot or stabbed.

In an average month, the service performs eight open heart surgeries, along with 46 anaesthetics, and eight blood transfusions and treats on average five people in London each day.

Surrey Comet:

Infographic credit: London Air Ambulance

Charles Newitt, interim CEO of London’s Air Ambulance, said: “National Air Ambulance Week is the ideal time to release our new infographic with data from the first six months of this year.

“It serves to highlight the work that we do, all across London, all day, and all year.

“We want everyone in London to know that we are there for them, should they need our help and that as a charity we can’t operate without the donations of those that live and work in London.”