A new emergency response vehicle is now on Hampshire roads.

The South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) BASICS team, made up of volunteer clinicians, has unveiled the new vehicle thanks to a donation from the HELP Appeal charity.

The charity, which funds NHS hospital helipads and improves emergency care, donated £28,590 via the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS).

This new addition allows the SCAS BASICS team to deploy a second rapid response car to attend to patients across Hampshire.

A spokesperson for SCAS BASICS said: "We’re extremely grateful to the HELP Appeal and BASICS for their continued support.

"Having a second dedicated vehicle is a real boost – it increases our resilience and means we can provide enhanced care to more patients, more of the time."

The car is specially equipped for pre-hospital emergency care and will be staffed by experienced clinicians trained in delivering enhanced care at the scene of serious incidents.

Tracy Redman, assistant director of operations at South Central Ambulance Service, said: "The ongoing support from BASICS and the HELP Appeal allows us to continue to develop and enhance the care we provide to our patients.

"This additional new vehicle will bring further opportunities to ensure we can get advanced clinical care to those patients who need it, and we would like to thank both organisations for their fantastic support."

Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal, added: "The HELP Appeal is proud to fund this car for SCAS BASICS because rapid access to specialist care can make all the difference in life-threatening emergencies.

"These vehicles enable its highly skilled volunteer clinicians to bring hospital-level treatment to the scene, helping to save lives and improve outcomes across the region.

"Huge thanks to our supporters for making this possible."

The HELP Appeal has now funded more than 30 critical care cars across the country, including two for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

SCAS BASICS has received vital support from both BASICS and the HELP Appeal, enabling them to strengthen and grow their clinical offering.