New Ops Wing opens at charity HQ

A new state-of-the-art Operations Wing has opened at Cornwall Air Ambulance headquarters in Newquay.

The extension to the existing hangar, which has taken over 18 months to complete, has been especially designed to provide the aircrew with extra space and facilities.

In 2019, Cornwall Air Ambulance was awarded grant funding of £897,700 from the Department of Health and Social Care towards a proportion of the building costs for a new crew facility. During what is a very busy year for the service, the build has now been completed.

Spanning three storeys, the dedicated operations facility provides much needed additional space for the aircrew. It includes better training facilities, a newly designed drugs room with a designated area to restock, changing rooms and lockers, a utility space for the crew to clear up after jobs, a study room for their advanced practitioner training, welfare spaces, an operations and planning room with multiple screens for information, and a covered outside charging area for the two Rapid Response Vehicles.

With a panoramic view out across the helipad and airfield, the main operations room provides the pilots with a great view for keeping an eye on the flying conditions and weather. It is three times the size of the previous one and has an updated IT suite, kindly provided by South Western Ambulance Service Trust, which will aid the crew’s clinical work and administration duties.

Pete Storer, Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care, said: “This new building is going to make a huge difference to our daily operation. Over the years we’ve extended our operational hours and our crew numbers have increased, meaning we had very much outgrown the previous space. Access to things such as better training facilities and dedicated study areas will allow our team to develop and further advance our training. Importantly, it will also ensure we have the best resources to provide the best possible service to the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

The new Operations Wing was designed by ALA Architects, based in Charlestown, who also designed the whole charity building. This has allowed for continuity in both the design and concept of the extension. The building was then brought to life by renowned local contractors, Brady Construction Services, who are based in Bodmin. The funding of the Bradbury Training Room was courtesy of the Bradbury Foundation.

Gemma Kidd, Operations Support Manager, added: “This has been the biggest project we’ve undertaken at HQ since the charity building was built over 10 years ago. We worked with architects to custom design the extension to suit the exact needs of our aircrew, as well as fit with the existing hangar and airport regulations. The crew have been heavily involved with the whole process and with kitting the building out. It’s great to now see the Ops Wing up and running, helping to future proof the charity’s operation.”

Cornwall Air Ambulance responds to over 1,000 missions every single year, providing critical care to patients who are seriously sick or injured.

It costs over £6m a year to keep the charity running and we rely on the generosity of the people of Cornwall and beyond to keep your helicopter flying.

You can support the lifesaving work of Cornwall Air Ambulance here.