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On 21 March 2025, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) will celebrate 25 years of their lifesaving service to the community.
During that time, DSAA has innovated and transformed into one of the most advanced pre-hospital critical care services in the UK. The care that they provide, is only made possible because of charity funding and donations they receive. Without this support, it would not exist.
In the early years, DSAA only operated five days a week with a small team of pilots and paramedics. The aircraft was a Bolkow 105 helicopter with limited space and the equipment and skills of the team were similar to those you would find on a road ambulance. Ken Duffield was the first patient treated by DSAA 25 years ago; they were tasked to his incident 52 minutes after coming online for the first time. Kenn was riding his motorcycle to work when he collided with a car and was sent hurtling 26 metres along the road. His wife Kirstin was eight months pregnant and they had a son, Alexander, who was two.
Remarkable shift
Fast forward to 2025 and over 29,000 missions later, the shift in care for the people of Dorset and Somerset has been remarkable. DSAA’s critical care team, consisting of consultant-grade doctors and specialist practitioners, now bring the hospital to the patient 19 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The charity also provides an enhanced care service across both counties with two outreach cars operating 12 hours a day and they have a compassionate team of five patient and family liaison nurses.
Since 2017, DSAA has operated an AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter, which was the first AW169 to enter air ambulance operational service in the UK.
With plans to purchase a second aircraft, build a new airbase, and eventually extending operations to 24 hours a day, every donation the service receives makes a big difference.
“Firstly, I would like to say thank you to everyone who supports us. Your donations have taken us from small beginnings to where we are today; providing pre-hospital critical care that no one imagined 25 years ago. This has only been possible because of consistent, regular commitment from our supporters. Whether they have joined our lottery, donated regularly, or supported us in other ways, they have directly contributed to saving lives. Without that support, we wouldn’t be where we are today and wouldn’t be able to do more tomorrow. For that, we are incredibly grateful.
“In 2016, we were tasked about 800 times, last year it was nearly 3,000. This continuous, step-by-step growth in care, in such a short period of time, has been nothing short of incredible. However, the cost of our operations has also steadily risen and now exceeds the generous income we receive. The charity has taken bold steps over the past decade, and that has been the right approach as it leads to saving life. But now we face the challenge of maintaining and being able to fund that boldness.
“We promise to continue engaging with our supporters to demonstrate the impact of their generosity and hope that they will remain with us for many years. At the same time, we need to expand our supporter base. So, if you know about DSAA, please tell others about our work and the difference that their support would make. Together, we can make sure that DSAA remains here, ready to respond, whenever and wherever we are needed.”
Charles Hacket, CEO of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
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