SERIOUSLY injured patients in Oxfordshire will soon be able to be treated by air ambulance crews at night following the launch of the charity’s new £4.5m helicopter.

Previously crews were only able to get to patients during daylight hours. Night-time incidents be attended by a road ambulance.

But with the latest hi-tech addition, Thames Valley Air Ambulance can now offer a 24-hour service from its base at RAF Benson.

The new Air Ambulance H135 helicopter has been built with specialist night vision kit including a spotlight that allows it to land in unlit areas such as fields at night.

The charity has been working to step up its capability as it celebrates its 15th year and estimates with the new addition running costs – fully reliant on donations – will grow by about £750,000 for next year.

TVAA chief executive Mark Mcgeown said: “This is the most significant moment in stepping up our capabilities since we introduced our last aircraft five years ago. It is significant for the people of Oxfordshire as the care they receive will no longer be restricted to hours of the day.”

The doctors and paramedics who will use the new helicopter will be trained in the new technology, ahead of the vehicle being put fully into service in December.

Two new paramedics and three emergency medical doctors have also been recruited to help offer the round-the-clock service.

Clinical governance lead Syed Masud has been taking part in the new training as a doctor on the new air ambulance helicopter. He said: “We can only fly in the daylight hours and unfortunately people still get critically ill anytime of day.

“Now with the helicopter we have that ability to get them anytime.”

The official launch brought together medical staff involved with the charity, donors and patients whose lives have been changed thanks to the work if the TVAA.

One patient Charlotte Ballard, 22, was flown to the John Radcliffe in 2013 with multiple serious injuriesafter her car came off the A34.

Inspired by the actions of the team of paramedics that helped save her life, Miss Ballard, from Andover, has now enrolled at Oxford Brookes and is training in the role herself.