Nottingham East Midlands Airport based air ambulance snubs funding move
24.11.05
A demand for public funding to support the Nottingham East Midlands airport based county air ambulance has been hit by an unexpected problem. The leader of Leicester City Council, Roger Blackmore, is to table a special motion calling on the government to cover the cost, but the those responsible for raising cash for the ambulance have said they do not want the idea to succeed as they fear government involvement would lead to more bureaucracy and greater running costs.
The service uses three helicopters based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, at Strensham in Worcestershire and at Nottingham East Midlands Airport . It covers an area of 8,000 square miles and serves nearly eight million people. Each year volunteers have to raise £2.5m to cover the running costs of the service.
Mr Blackmore has said it is a scandal that a vital emergency service is totally dependent on charity. But Paul Weir, the air ambulance's fundraising manager, said that, while he appreciates the gesture, he cannot support it.
'The fear is that if it becomes state run it would probably cost a lot more money and there would be various levels of bureaucracy added in. And there is no reason to think it would provide a better service,' he said.
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