DEVON Air Ambulance will be in Westminster on Tuesday, June 2, to meet MPs and highlight growing financial pressures facing the charity, alongside its long-term plans to invest in a new headquarters and airbase.

Representatives from the charity will join a national reception for air ambulance services in Parliament, using the opportunity to speak directly to Devon MPs about the increasing cost of delivering critical care across the county, and the need for practical support to protect the service into the future.

Devon Air Ambulance is entirely funded by public donations but operates in an increasingly expensive environment, with significant rises in aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance and operational costs.

The charity estimates that fuel costs alone could increase by more than £200,000 this year - effectively doubling its current bill.

At the same time, demand for the service remains high, with crews regularly responding to some of the most serious and time-critical incidents across Devon’s rural, coastal and hard-to-reach communities.

Chief Executive Greg Allen said: “We are proud to provide a lifesaving service for the people of Devon, delivering hospital-level care at scene when every minute matters. But the reality is that the cost of delivering that care is rising significantly, particularly in areas like aviation fuel, and that presents a real and growing challenge for a charity-funded service.

“This visit to Westminster is an important opportunity to talk directly with MPs about what that means in practice, and to ask for their support in helping us secure practical solutions that will protect the service for the long term.”

The charity is calling on MPs from across Devon to support a targeted approach to reducing aviation fuel costs for air ambulance charities, such as VAT relief or a rebate scheme - a measure which would provide immediate, practical support to frontline operations.

Devon Air Ambulance will also use the visit to build support for its longer-term vision, including plans for a new combined headquarters and airbase.

The new facility is designed to ensure the charity can continue to deliver a resilient, 24/7 service while advancing clinical capability and meeting future operational demands.

The Exeter airbase falls within the constituency of David Reed MP, who is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Air Ambulances.

Mr Reed has already pledged his support for the charity and visited the Exeter airbase, as part of his role representing both the sector nationally and the service locally.

Greg Allen added: “We’re fortunate in Devon to have strong support from all Devon MPs, including David Reed in his role on the APPG. His position gives him a valuable platform to help champion the challenges facing air ambulances and to ensure that services like ours are part of the conversation at a national level.

“We’re asking for cross-party support from Devon MPs to help make the case for fair and sustainable funding, so we can continue to be there for patients when they need us most.”

Devon Air Ambulance is inviting MPs to visit its operations over the coming months to see firsthand how the service operates and the difference it makes to patients and families across the county.