A life-saving charity has celebrated the first six months' operation of a new air ambulance with a landing at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The Airbus H145 helicopter has clocked up more than 200 flying hours and more than 150 critical care missions since it joined the fleet on January 1.

Paramedics, former patients and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity staff and volunteers joined guests including Staffordshire's Lord Lieutenant Sir Ian Dudson, Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Cllr Steve Watkins and MP Gareth Snell on Friday to mark the aircraft's milestone.

Guests were invited to view the state-of-the-art facilities on board after watching it land on the hospital's helipad next to the accident and emergency department.

Critical care paramedic Karen Baker, who is head of clinical operations at Midlands Air Ambulance, said: "It's our third wholly-owned aircraft and replaces a leased aircraft we had. It's based at Tatenhill and returns to our headquarters at night.

"Our primary missions are still road traffic collisions, cardiac arrests and motorcycle accidents – and unfortunately in this day and age we go to a lot of stabbings. The aircraft is not necessarily faster than an ambulance, but we can get to most places within 10-15 minutes.

"What we do is provide enhanced critical care, in the form of drugs, skills and interventions. And we carry hospital-grade equipment.

"Critical care starts in the air while we're bringing patients to hospital. That enhances their chance of survival and promotes better and quicker recovery."

Two patients who were treated by air ambulance paramedics were among the guests at Friday's event. Cross Heath resident Claire Withington said they saved husband Steve's life.

The 60-year-old was involved in a motorcycle collision in December 2023. He said: "I landed in a ditch and I had two shattered legs, a shattered arm, liver damage and two pulmonary embolisms.

"They took me to Royal Stoke and I had a 14-hour operation. They're my heroes and I have met all of them since."

Jack Garner, 23, of Salford, was on his way to Alton Towers when he was involved in a road traffic collision in March. He said: "I broke both my femurs and I had to be cut out of the car by the Fire Service.

"I lost a lot of blood and Midlands Air Ambulance stopped me from bleeding. If I hadn't got to hospital so quickly I could have lost at least one of my legs."

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's chief operating officer Emma Gray paid tribute to the efforts of fundraisers who enabled the purchase of the helicopter. It cost the charity £10m.

She said: "Today marks a proud day for our charity and those we serve in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. The H145 represents the next generation in air ambulance capability, with advanced medical kit, an even smoother flight due to the fifth rotor blade, and greater fuel range, ensuring we can continue to bring the emergency department directly to those most in need within a matter of minutes.

"It is thanks to charitable donations from the public and two very generous grants from Denise Coates Foundation and The Kildare Trust that this new helicopter has been purchased. We are also grateful to welcome it officially at Royal Stoke Hospital a relationship that continues to prove vital in saving lives across the region."

Dr Simon Constable, chief executive of University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) NHS Trust, which runs Royal Stoke, said: "It is a real reminder to us all of the importance that really good pre-hospital care makes on the outcomes of some of the sickest patients. This piece of kit can radically transform the outcome for our patients we look after.

"It also reminds me of the importance of the voluntary and charity sector in funding things that would otherwise not be possible. My thanks go to all of you.

"Every little helps in funding important initiatives like this. We work really closely with Midlands Air Ambulance and we wouldn't be able to do any of this if we didn't do it in partnership."