Exeter car dealership fuels lifesaving missions

An Exeter-based car dealership is playing a crucial role in keeping Devon Air Ambulance’s (DAA) rapid response unit soaring.

Vertu Volvo Exeter has been in partnership with DAA since 2019, keeping its fleet of Volvo XC90 critical care cars in top shape to provide rapid pre-hospital care across the region.

Such a response is particularly important in situations where helicopters are unable to fly due to adverse weather or essential maintenance.

The dealership supplies all of DAA's critical care cars, which are specially equipped to handle emergencies that require immediate and often lifesaving medical interventions. 

These vehicles operate every day of the year and allow DAA’s team of highly skilled medics to reach patients swiftly, especially in urban or city locations where aircraft accessibility is a challenge.

The cars are equipped with rapid response blue light technology and carry the same advanced medical equipment as DAA’s helicopters, allowing life-saving procedures to be performed at the scene, which significantly improves patient outcomes.

Above: Image: Devon Air Ambulance

Expressing his gratitude for the dealership’s unwavering support, Jon Thompson of DAA said: “Vertu Volvo Exeter has been a fantastic partner from the start. The team’s flexibility, generosity, and eagerness to support our mission have been simply outstanding. The vehicles are vital to help us maintain a presence in key areas, improving response times and enabling us to reach more patients across the county.”

Ben Williamson, Service Manager at Vertu Volvo Exeter, added: “We are delighted to support Devon Air Ambulance. Our goal is to continue working closely with the organisation, ensuring that our partnership contributes to the wellbeing of our community here in Exeter and across Devon.”

Last year, Devon Air Ambulance responded to a record 2,226 incidents, an 18 per cent increase on the previous year. 

Of these, 814 were attended by their critical care cars, underscoring their vital role in the charity’s operations. 

A generous donation from the HELP Appeal enabled the recent expansion of the fleet to four XC90 critical care cars, further enhancing DAA’s ability to save lives across Devon.

As the partnership between Vertu Volvo Exeter and Devon Air Ambulance grows, the addition of new vehicles and ongoing support will ensure that DAA remains fully equipped to meet the rising demands of emergency prehospital medical care.

Both organisations have said that they are committed to this collaboration for many years to come, with a shared goal of making a positive impact on the community.