Tiny Lily is the youngest patient yet to benefit from the UK’s first dedicated air ambulance transfer service for children – Lucy (Life Urgent Care for Young). A national charity that has been providing dedicated medical air transfers for children from local hospitals throughout the UK since 2011.

Mother Chantelle from Surrey went into labour at 28 weeks and gave birth to tiny, premature Lily weighing just 2lb 8oz, whilst in Scotland. Chantelle had attended a family funeral with her sister and they were on their way back to the airport when she started showing the early stages of labour. Following an emergency dash to Glasgow Southern hospital she was sent to the maternity ward for observation. When it appeared that she was going into labour and there was no neonatal cot available, Chantelle was transferred by road ambulance to Princess Alexander Hospital in Paisley. She was put on an intravenous drip to slow contractions and given steroid injections to give her baby the best possible chance of survival. She was monitored and closely observed for three days, during which time her sister flew home and her partner Anthony flew up to be by her side. Unfortunately, when delivery was imminent, there was then no neonatal cot available in that hospital. Both parents were immediately whisked by road ambulance with flashing lights and siren blaring, across Glasgow to Wishaw General Hospital where baby Lily was safely delivered by emergency caesarean section. Both mother and baby required blood transfusions and close monitoring. Now stable for over a week and increasing weight to 3lb Lily was declared fit enough to travel. At still 2 months prior to her due birth date Lily has been repatriated with her mum to The Royal Surrey Hospital Guilford to be nearer to their home, family and friends. Chantelle and Anthony wish to express their sincere thanks to all the midwives and neonatal teams involved for the care they have given their daughter Lily.

The call for the air ambulance was requested by Dr Tosin Otunla from the Surrey Neonatal Transport Service, who contacted Dr Charlotte Bennett, Neonatal Medical Director at Air Medical Ltd (AirMed) based in Oxford. AirMed has developed specially adapted fixed wing aircraft and equipment with neonatal medical and nursing teams to undertake these specialised air ambulance missions. Charlotte has been working with a group of paediatric and neonatal intensive care consultants, to develop a nationally co-ordinated and funded air transport service for children, babies and sick mothers-to-be across England and Wales. As limited funding is currently available, Lucy has generously supported the entire costs for this deployment. Chantelle was able to travel with Lily, who was closely monitored throughout the entire transfer process. “This is a fantastic collaboration and we are so grateful to Lucy Air Ambulance for Children for funding this delicate repatriation” said Charlotte Bennett.

The charity LUCY is working alongside the NHS to deliver the highest standards of service to provide optimal care in circumstances when a child or baby would benefit from the option of hospital transfer by air instead of road. Commenting on need for such a service Lead Clinician for the London Neonatal Transport Service and Chairman of the National Neonatal Transport Interest Group in England, Dr Nandiran Ratnavel, said: “The provision of such a service has been long overdue. We hope that, in conjunction with Lucy and other charitable services, the Government will be able to support such a needed service..”

Lucy Air Ambulance for Children has recently joined the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA), the representative body for Air Ambulance Services in the UK, as an Associate Member. Clive Dickin, National Director of the Association of Air Ambulances commented: “We are pleased that Lucy Air Ambulance has joined the Association. Their membership shows their commitment to delivering a professional charity that will work with the established air ambulances, charities, NHS trusts and foundations.”

This service is provided at no cost to those children requiring hospital transfers by air, and is mobilised at the request of the senior medical staff co-ordinating their care. Having direct access to both rotary and fixed wing aircraft enables Lucy to undertake all transfers on the most appropriate platform, depending on the care needs of the patient.

This charity receives no funding from the government or lotteries and relies solely on the generosity of public and corporate donations.  With Zara Phillips as Patron and a growing band of high profile ambassadors such as Dr Hilary Jones, Levi Roots, Dr Carol Cooper, Lucy Dimes, Lord Bilimoria and Danny Dyer who said ”I cannot describe how important the work that Lucy Air Ambulance for children do for our precious youngsters. What a great success story with Baby Lily. I’m honoured to be part of such an important and heart warming charity.’‘ Support for the charity is spreading, particularly on twitter @LucyAAC and for more information or to donate to Lucy Air Ambulance for Children visit www.lucyairambulance.org.uk or Text LUCY10 £10 or LUCY05 £5 to 70070 to donate £10 or £5 right now.