Who we are

Who we are

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance provides life-saving, pre-hospital critical care to those in urgent need across Dorset and Somerset. As the region's air ambulance charity, we are a vital part of the community and rely on its support to be there for critically ill and injured people when every second counts.

Our mission: delivering critical care when it’s needed most

Since our first mission in March 2000, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has responded to over 29,000 emergencies across the region, bringing advanced medical care to patients wherever they are. Our team’s specialist skills, advanced equipment and rapid response capabilities can make a life-saving difference.

Our expert team and services

Our dedicated team includes expert pilots, critical care practitioners, paramedics, nurses, and doctors, working together 19 hours a day, from 7:00 am to 2:00 am, every day of the year.

From remote rural areas to busy urban centres, we bring the hospital to the patient, providing complex and life-saving interventions at the scene. Whether landing by a roadside, in a park, or on a beach, our crew’s response can be the difference between life and death.

Once patients are safely transported to the hospital, our patient and family liaison nurses are there to offer compassionate support. Their work ensures continuity of care and guidance for families during incredibly challenging times, which is a crucial aspect of the comprehensive care we provide.



Our vision, mission and values

At Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, our mission is clear: to save and improve lives. Through the funding and provision of an air ambulance service, we deliver life-saving critical care by both air and road.

Vision

We envision a future where innovation and collaboration drives improvements in patient outcomes, ensuring that everyone in need receives excellent clinical care.

Values

Our values guide everything we do, we are committed to:

Teamwork - We are one team, aircrew, partners, employees, trustees, volunteers and the community, working together to achieve our mission.

Respect - We treat everyone with the highest degree of dignity, equality and trust.

Accountability - We take responsibility for our performance in all of our decisions and actions.

Integrity - We demonstrate honesty and fairness in every action that we take.

Innovation - We embrace change and capitalise on the many opportunities that arise.

These values are at the core of every decision, action and mission of our charity, helping us to provide a dependable and life-changing service to our community.