Thanks Crab
I wont cross swords with you on 'true' SAR - I have no experience - but this is ambulance work collecting injured members of the public and delivering them to an NHS hospital. It may be from a location unsuitable for a land ambulance but otherwise no different.
My pilots never know either. That is the point. They launch / proceed if it is safe. If it isnt safe they go home. Period. Pilots, medical crew and machine always before patient. That is what doctors and nurses who dont normally work outside a hospital dont understand. They will put pressure on the pilot / system because that is what we do in a hospital. The system needs to prevent this and avoid risk.
Of course, your minima may be below that for a civilian cab, so the SAR system can safely launch when others cant, Fantastic. But it should be a go:no go decision, not a 'well as its a sick patient lets give it a go'