LONDON Air Ambulance has released new data about its life-saving work as it faces a six-million income shortfall in the next five years.

The service treated 54 critically injured people in Ealing Borough last year – 4.5 per month – new data released by the service shows.

In total, the air ambulance's advanced trauma teams came to the aid of 1,494 patients in 2020.

Haringey, Southwark and Greenwich were the busiest London boroughs.

More than a third of the incidents attended by the air ambulance were injuries related to shootings or stabbings, with a quarter from road accidents and 22% related to falls from a height.

The service has kept going over the pandemic but suffered financially after the fundraising activities it typically relies on were cancelled due to social distancing restrictions.

These included its annual Abseil event, which the previous year raised £132,000 and the London Marathon, expected to raise approximately £82,000.

Although London Air Ambulance works in partnership with two NHS Trusts, it relies primarily on charitable donations for its funding and is facing a six million funding gap in the next five years.

Each mission costs £2,048 on average and per year it takes £11 million to run the service.

Jonathan Jenkins, Chief Executive of the London's Air Ambulance Charity, said: "When London calls, our teams are on the front line, racing across the city to reach the capital's most critically injured patients in need of life-saving care at the scene.

"During the pandemic 1,494 patients still needed the expert clinical care that only London's Air Ambulance can provide.

"We are so grateful to our crews and to our supporters for enabling us to be there when those 1,494 people needed us the most.

"When London calls, we can be there because of you.

"However, the effect 2020 has had on our finances is sizeable as we were forced to stop many of our usual fundraising activities.

"This impact will be felt for years to come - we forecast a £6 million gap in our income over the next five years.

"We need the support of Londoners now more than ever to keep our service flying."