MP meets volunteers at the new shop of '˜an incredibly important charity'

The Children’s Air Ambulance is a national service, which flies critically ill children from one hospital to another for specialist care.

It is the only dedicated paediatric helicopter emergency transfer service in the country. The bespoke, specialist equipment on board its helicopter provides a flying intensive care unit for children.

When a child is too sick to fly, the service flies a specialist team to them.

With flight times commonly over four times quicker than transfer by road, in many cases, time saved is a life saved.

Mike Penning said: “I was delighted to visit the new Children’s Air Ambulance shop during Volunteer Week. Volunteers are the lifeblood of any charity and the Children’s Air Ambulance is a unique and incredibly valuable service.

“I was interested in the work that they do and it was great to meet local volunteers.

“It is through the hard work and dedication of teams such as those at the Hemel Hempstead shop that the flight crews of the Children’s Air Ambulance can keep working to literally save children’s lives. It is, quite simply, an incredibly important charity.”

The Children’s Air Ambulance is part of The Air Ambulance Service, which receives no government money and is funded entirely through the generosity of the public and corporate sponsors.

Due to financial constraints, the charity can currently only reach one in every three children who need it.

See www.childrensairambulance.org.uk