The Chancellor George Osborne praised a Hove air ambulance charity during his budget today (Wednesday 18 March) and promised extra funds for it.
Mr Osborne told a packed House of Commons: “We’ve backed brilliant local charities in the past, and we do so again today, with funds for new helicopters for the Essex and Herts, East Anglian, Welsh and Scottish air ambulances, and for the Lucy Air Ambulance that transports children requiring urgent care.”
Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby, a fellow Conservative, said yesterday (Tuesday 17 March) that he had raised the Lucy Air Ambulance for Children charity with the Chancellor.
Mr Kirby said that the charity had been drawn to his attention by the party’s parliamentary candidate in Hove, Graham Cox.
Mr Kirby said that he made the case for helping the Lucy Air Ambulance when talking about the extra money for Sussex Air Ambulance.
He said that Lucy stood for “Life’s Urgent Care for the Young”. It was, he said, the first dedicated air transfer service to fly critically ill infants and children from local hospitals to a centre of excellence. And it was supported by professional staff trained for in-flight care.
Thank you so much @George_Osborne – Great news for Lucy Air Ambulance for Children! #Budget2015
— Lucy AirAmbulance (@LucyAAC) March 18, 2015
Lucy will work alongside the NHS to deliver the highest standards of service to give ill children the best survival chances.
About 12,000 children are transferred each year and 10 per cent of these would benefit from the proposal. The Lucy Air Ambulance would be the only service in England using a fixed wing aircraft dedicated to secondary transfers.
The government has previously used money from fines imposed on banks for misdemeanours in the financial markets to support good causes.
Mr Kirby said: “It is only right that those who behaved so badly should make a donation to help worthwhile causes like the Lucy Air Ambulance service.
“I am certain this money will be put to good use and will make a real difference for many people when they need it the most.”
Councillor Cox said: “We are fortunate to have many wonderful charities in Hove and Portslade doing great work across a range of issues.
“The Lucy Air Ambulance service is one such charity and I am proud that they are registered here in Hove.
“They deliver a life-saving service to very ill young children and new born babies across the whole of our United Kingdom.”
