Family hub
Welcome to the Family!
Welcome to the Family!
We are so happy to be funding your child’s air ambulance transfer and supporting your family at this time.
From the moment your child was referred to our service, you became a special part of the Lucy AAC Family and as part of our Family we want you support you as best we can. We hope this page gives you more information about our Charity and what to expect on the day of your child’s Lucy AAC transfer.
If you have any questions about your child's transfer or our Charity, or if you would just like to chat with a member of our team, please call Rebecca on 07879 043450 or Charlotte on 07795 192952. If you would prefer to contact us by email, please message rebecca.wilson@lucyaac.org.uk or charlotte.young@lucyaac.org.uk.
We would love to hear how the transfer went and how you are settling in to your new surroundings, so please stay in touch!
What is Lucy Air Ambulance for Children?
Lucy Air Ambulance for Children (Lucy AAC) is a national charity that ensures babies and critically ill children can access specialist treatment and care, wherever they are in the UK. Often the only way these children can access this care is to travel between hospitals by aeroplane and we are the only air ambulance charity in the UK that provides this unique service.
Each week a child is referred to our Charity needing a transfer by aeroplane between hospitals. We work in partnership with air ambulance providers and NHS transport teams throughout the UK by providing funding to make these flights happen.
On average each transfer costs Lucy AAC £9,300. The NHS does not have any budget for air ambulance transfers and relies on Lucy AAC to provide this essential service at no cost. We are a small team trying to help as many families as possible, and we are so happy that we are helping yours!
What to expect
100% of parents felt very supported by the transport and flight team and felt like they could ask them anything.
100% of families told us they were strongly satisfied with our service and the level of care during the transfer.
100% of families strongly agree that the transfer has had a positive impact on their child’s long-term health.
91% of parents believe their child’s Lucy Air Ambulance for Children transfer had a positive impact on their mental health.
Are we moving your premature baby?
A baby's first flight and it's in their own private aircraft - how amazing is that?! It can be a daunting idea, putting a little baby in an aircraft and flying them across the country but they are in great hands. We have been flying children for over 10 years and around 70% of our flights are for premature babies that are born unexpectedly hundreds of miles from home. Our bespoke flight-ready incubator enables us to fly babies as young as 23 weeks to a hospital closer to home. Sometimes we will use a “baby pod” which is similar to an incubator but doesn’t include the heater – this is only for bigger more stable babies who are able to keep themselves warm in a cot. When our flight team arrive on transfer day, they will transfer your baby from their cot/incubator into our flight-ready incubator/baby pod and your baby will stay snug in this throughout the transfer until we reach the new hospital. Our transfers are so smooth babies often sleep through the transfer. We have a fridge/freezer onboard to store breast milk so that none of your supply goes to waste.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, we will always try our best to make space for at least one parent to accompany their child.
You must be medically fit to fly. For mothers who have recently given birth, you need to be well enough to carry your own bag and walk on and off the aircraft without help. You can bring a small cabin bag with you, which must follow the same rules as a normal flight – no lighters or fuel, no loose batteries and no sharp objects. You will need a valid passport, or a form of photographic national ID such as a driving license. Currently, you also need proof of a negative COVID-19 swab in the last seven days, and will need to confirm on the day of flight that they are free of symptoms and have not had any suspected COVID-19 contacts since their swab – please speak to the team at your hospital if you need help to arrange this. We encourage you to take photos and videos to help remember the day.Our planes have just enough space for our equipment, the medical team, your child and one parent to fly. We try our best to ensure there is space for at least one parent to fly with the child but this isn’t always possible if your child requires extra medical staff or equipment. If there is enough space for a parent to fly, we will let you know.
In England, there is no NHS service commissioned to provide flights for children yet often the only way babies and critically ill children can access specialist treatment and care is by aeroplane ambulance transfer. Lucy AAC is the only Charity in the UK that flies children to hospital by aeroplane. We work in partnership with air ambulance providers and NHS transport teams throughout the UK by providing funding to make these flights happen. On average each transfer costs Lucy AAC £8,500. The NHS does not have any budget for air ambulance transfers and relies on Lucy AAC to provide this essential service at no cost. Our flight teams are made up of NHS staff or medical staff from our aviation partners depending on availability of staff. Our aviation partners are registered and inspected by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and must follow all UK laws and regulations just like hospitals.
Your child will be monitored by a specialist team that includes a consultant or similar specialist neonatal/paediatric doctor or advanced nurse practitioner, a neonatal/paediatric nurse, and sometimes a paramedic. The team can provide a full range of emergency treatments if necessary. The team carries a ventilator, resuscitation equipment and emergency drugs. However, we hope to never use these – every flight is planned carefully to avoid any emergency treatment becoming necessary. If your child becomes unwell in the hours before a flight, your nurses and doctors will speak to us to decide whether it is safe to go ahead. Minor changes in your child’s condition will not normally mean the flight needs to be cancelled.
We would love to hear from you! Please call Rebecca on 07879 043450 or Charlotte on 07795 192952. If you would prefer to contact us by email, please message rebecca.wilson@lucyaac.org.uk or charlotte.young@lucyaac.org.uk.
Of course! We want you to be as comfortable as possible with the experience, so please reach out to Charlotte from our team who would be happy to chat to you more about the transfer. Her contact details are: 07795 192952 and charlotte.young@lucyaac.org.uk
Please also let our flight team know about your concerns on the day of the transfer. They will be able to give you extra support and reassurance throughout the transfer. They will also prepare you for any unfamiliar sounds or movements whilst in the aircraft. Our flight teams are very friendly and will be happy to answer any questions you have.
We are always amazed at the kindness of the families we transfer. Any funds you donate or raise for Lucy AAC will help another family in a similar position to you. Here are a few ways you can support us:
Share your story – this is one of the most valuable ways you can support Lucy AAC. By sharing your story, you can help us fundraise for more children’s flights and it will also help inspire and reassure other parents in a similar situation to you. Please email rebecca.wilson@lucyaac.org.uk if you would like to share your story.
Help us shout about what we do – we are a small charity and not many people have heard about is. Please share our posts on social media and share your experiences with friends and family.
Make a one-off donation or give a regular gift to Lucy AAC – Click here to make a one-off donation. Click here to give a regular gift.
Take part in an event – Click here to see a full list of events.
Host your own fundraiser – Our families have hosted music gigs, dinners, family fun days and raffles (to name a few) for our Charity. We really appreciate any support you can give our charity.
Nominate Lucy AAC for your work’s Charity of the Year – if you would like more information on how to go about this, email carla.yarrow@lucyaac.org.uk.
Could you benefit from some extra support?
Whether it has been hours, days, months or years since your child’s Lucy AAC transfer, we’re here if you need us. If you need any help or support please call us on 07879043450 or email info@lucyaac.org.uk. If we can’t help, we will signpost you to an organisation that can. Here are some organisations that have supported our families:
