DORSET and Somerset Air Ambulance confirmed it is fully prepared and available to treat and convey patients by air, including those with coronavirus.

Previous guidance specifically excluded the carriage of known or suspected Covid-19 patients in air ambulances across England.

However, the latest guidance from Public Health England has changed this.

Bill Sivewright, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance chief executive officer said: “By working very closely with our NHS colleagues, both nationally and regionally, we have been able to ensure that we operate safely and in a prescribed manner at all times.

“This change in guidance will enable us to treat and/or convey every patients according to their needs, and not limited by Covid-19 concerns.

“Everything we do at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is patient focused and the pandemic has not changed that. We firmly believe that, it is in times like these that patients need us to step forward and be there for them.”