DX W,
You do not have to be RAF trained to fly in a SAR Sea King, especially not on a medevac. We will take anyone who is required to be there. It really makes no odds to us.
Unfortunately this is just one of the many fallacies surrounding SAR within the health service. I realise that the level of misunderstanding between the NHS and the RAF SAR Force is greatly our fault for not taking the time to liase with you.
Some other myths exploded...
We do not charge for what we do, with the only exception of a premeditated transfer from one hospital to another. That is it. Any pickups we do from a roadside or anywhere is free.
We do carry fully qualified paramedics on board.
We can fly in all weathers day and night.
We would rather be scrambled and then truned back than not scrambled at all.
We have a lrge helicopter, that can carry over 17 people at a go. You can put a casualty in a stretcher and still have access to their entire body by a number of people.
Basically the only reason not to call for us is if(as appears to be the case in North Wales) the ambulance authority wish to keep risking the lives of casualties by not calling for help because of a fear of cost(we're free) or because they can't see past the local air ambulance/police helicopter or because we have done such poor liaison(as in Yorkshire) over the last few years that people just don't know what we do.
It is always frustrating when you constanlt hear members of ambulance authoritie stalk such crap to us, but much of the blame for that must lie at our own feet.
If you have any questions contact the nearest SAR flight. The nearest one to Liverpool is C Flight 22 Squadron based at RAF Valley.
Best of luck and don't let the suits tell you what you can and can't do.