Re. your dangerous assumption.
Skidkid,
Just to clarify a few points for you.
1. Sussex Ambulance Service does not exist anymore. It is now part of the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB).
2. SECAMB is committed to supporting the joint Sussex Police/HEMS unit. It is the only resource in the South East capable of night HEMS operations.
3. The Sussex aircraft will continue to work closely with both the new unit and the existing Kent Air Ambulance, providing complimentary cover during the day and sole cover at night.
There are some that would say that the Sussex Police model is close to ideal:
1. Police get help funding their aircraft.
2. With the Paramedic fulfilling the role of the second Air Observer, fewer bobbies are taken off the beat.
3. The Ambulance Service gets a night capable HEMS asset.
4. En route to an incident the aircraft can use Police weather limits to deliver a Paramedic in worse conditions than the dedicated Air Ambulance.
5. The Police helicopter is generally an under used asset (with obvious exceptions!) so sharing it with the Ambulance Service increases it's productivity.
And to the sceptical:
1. I have never known an incident when there has been conflict between the Police and HEMS roles. The Police Officer's core responsibility is preservation of life.
2. The Paramedics go through a thorough selection procedure and Observer training course. They are every bit as capable in the Observer role as any Police Officer.
3. It's the most fun a pilot can have with his trousers on. You can chase the car until it crashes then land to save the little sh**'s life.