Members of Networking Chandler’s Ford were very pleased to meet Judith Stephens, a Support Engagement Officer with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIoWAA), over breakfast this morning (Tuesday 24th June). Although the green and yellow buzz of the Air Ambulance is a recognisable sight for many of us, Judith shared some fascinating insights into how it gets off the ground (pun-intended!), as well as why the new airbase – just across the road from our Lakeside Café breakfast venue – will make such a difference. Here’s a reminder of their amazing work.
A personal story
Since their first life-saving flight in July 2007, ‘Helimed56’ (the Air Ambulance’s call sign) has become an all-too regular spot across Hampshire’s skies. And it was a personal experience that encouraged Judith to find out more about how they do what they do.
A ‘phone call from Judith’s stepson Dan to say that he’d fallen off a ladder and his head had landed on a nail was just the start… Judith called 999 and the Air Ambulance team quickly identified that Dan’s injuries needed rapid attention. By the time Judith’s husband had arrived, Dan was unconscious but a HIoWAA car was on the scene and taking action. They were able to transport him directly to Southampton General Hospital (from Wilton), where he went straight into an operating theatre. When Judith went to visit him on a ward the following day, Dan was complaining of a headache. As Judith says, without the rapid response of the Air Ambulance team, a headache would have been the very least of his worries.
Already working within the NHS, Judith was inspired to find out more about HIoWAA and soon found herself joining them as a Support Engagement Officer, a role that she clearly loves. (Since the accident, Dan has made a full recovery and become a father, so Judith credits the Air Ambulance not only with ‘saving’ her family but with growing it, too!)
About the Air Ambulance
HIoWAA is an independent Charity that brings an advanced Critical Care Team to the most seriously ill and injured patients in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight when the worst happens, giving them the best chance of survival and recovery.
Using both a helicopter and emergency response vehicles, they bring a team of highly skilled pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors and specialist paramedics to the scene of an incident, effectively bringing the hospital to the patient when time is critical. So it’s not just about ‘first aid’. “The team are skilled and qualified to perform open heart surgery at the roadside, for example, if that’s what is needed,” Judith explained.
2024 saw a 40% increase in call outs, with an average of seven missions every day so far in 2025. Incidents they respond to can include cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, falls and assaults. Their team listen in to 999 calls to identify situations they can help with and their life-saving service is operational 365 days a year, both day and night.
Raising funds
It currently costs £17,750 a day to maintain this life-saving service. HIoWAA don’t receive any regular Government or NHS funding so it is only thanks to the generosity of the communities they serve that they are able keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives. From individual donations, to fundraising events and corporate sponsorship, Judith and her colleagues work hard to ensure that they can keep doing what they do. Regular Direct Debits really help the charity to plan ahead, although there is a committed team of supporters recycling aluminium to help raise funds, for example, too. (They contribute around £1500 each month and you can find them on Facebook here.)
Operation Airbase – why the move?
HIoWAA has outgrown their existing base at Thruxton, near Andover, so will be signing the lease on new premises at George Curl Way, on the perimeter of Southampton Airport, tomorrow (25th June 2025). Thanks to long term planning and fundraising, they have the funds to make the purchase itself but they are now in the process of fundraising an additional £3.6 million to rebuild and equip the site to make it fit for purpose. The unit has been used as a factory and offices for several years. While some of the building (like the office space) is suitable, they need funds for the helipad, hangar doors, training suite and other facilities required by the teams: medical stores, showers and sleeping accommodation, for example. (Many of their medical professionals live across the south of England so need to stay on site when they are on shift. “They’ll finally be able to ditch the camper vans that litter the Thruxton site!” Judith said).
But it’s not just for the space that the team are moving. Being closer to the centre of Hampshire will also save lives. From Thruxton, it can take 20 minutes to reach the farthest extent of the county, the south of the Isle of Wight, for example (“It’s currently as quick for us to fly to Bath as to Ventnor”, Judith commented.) From the new Southampton base, they won’t be more than 10 minutes from anywhere. 60% of their call outs are in the Southampton-Portsmouth corridor so will be a much shorter response time than that. Sitting right on the M27/M3 junction opens up the motorway network for their road response vehicles, too.
Community Engagement
Judith and her colleagues are really keen to engage with communities in Hampshire, and not just for fundraising purposes. “The UK has the worst rates of bystander action in Europe,” Judith stated, “but we know that immediate action makes a significant difference to the chances of the patient surviving.” HIoWAA are therefore on a mission to get us all CPR and Defibrillator-trained so that any bystander is confident to do something until professionals can get there. “We understand that people might be nervous about taking action, or they worry that they might be sued if something goes wrong, but knowing what to do could save a life – and you are protected by law in the UK,” Judith said. If you’d be interested in having a free CPR and Defib’ session for your business or community group, do drop Judith a line.
Keep on flying
Next time you hear the buzz of the Air Ambulance overhead, give the team a wave – and spare a thought for how much fundraising it’s taken to get them off the ground. Sadly, we never know when it might be someone we love who is in need of their speedy response.
