Flaxton - the problem with your argument is that the casualty is the one who has to wait for the ambulance control to task the land or air ambulance or both, wait for them to get on scene and decide the situation is not manageable and then wait for the control to request the SAR helo. This is not a pissing contest about who is better at what job, rather another opportunity to highlight the un-joined-up nature of emergency services response in UK. We have found that often the ambulance controllers are not only uninformed about the availability and capability of SAR helicopters but in some cases fed inaccurate information, specifically about cost (there is none).
Interesting comments, Crab. I've heard the same passing remarks about costs and HEMS. Why do you think this situation prevails and what could be done to change it? Assuming rose tinted visor and no politics....