The Isle of Man’s Air Ambulance Service has benefited from another significant donation, with £6,600 raised by a group of individuals known as ‘Boomerang’. The funds are planned to be spent on a new, state-of-the-art in-flight patient monitoring system for the Island’s Air Ambulance – a vital lifeline to the UK.
Boomerang is made up of a small group of friends (Carole Best, John Buckley and Susan Scholl) who regularly get together to hold fund raising events to help local charities. Previous events have helped Hospice at Home and the Hyperbaric Chamber. Boomerang’s most recent fund raising, which was specifically for the Air Ambulance Service, came from a 60s / 70s Dinner Dance, which was a resounding success raising in excess of six and a half thousand pounds.
Member for Health, Dudley Butt MLC said:
'Donations such as this are often vital to enabling the Department to enhance its many services, often allowing us to invest in new equipment ahead of schedule. The Island’s health service receives many kind donations throughout the year which we’re always extremely grateful to receive. Whilst taxes fund our national health service, all of these generous donations allow us to develop and improve services and invest in equipment at a quicker pace than would normally be possible. I’d like to extend my very sincere thanks to Boomerang - who are becoming quite well known locally for their fund-raising efforts - for this very generous donation for one of our most critical and vital services.'
Around 350 patients require transfer to the UK annually via the Air Ambulance, which is a fixed-wing aircraft based at Ronaldsway Airport, operated by Capital Air Charter.
Neal Mellon, Operations Division Manager at Noble’s Hospital and who has responsibility for the Air Ambulance Service, said:
'I wish to thank Boomerang for their kind and generous donation and for all the energy they put into this fund-raising. Our service aims to provide the most up-to-date medical equipment available, enabling the team to transfer patients in comfort and safety. The service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be called upon for a variety of critical care emergencies where a patient needs transferring to a more specialist hospital in the UK – so it’s important we keep equipment up to date with medical advancements. We plan to put this money towards the purchase of a new in-flight patient monitoring system.
'We have a close-knit team at Noble’s Hospital who look after and run the Air Ambulance Service, consisting of highly trained professionals who are also supported by medics and clinicians of all specialities. The Air Ambulance Service greatly appreciates the support it receives from charitable organisations and always welcomes donations, which can be made via Noble’s Hospital.'
