Any Police Helicopters used as Air Ambulances

[Fortyodd2]

Skyhigh ~ that’s a fair point but that would mean the Police being out of pocket as their flying hours budget for the year would be split between the 2 roles. It’s the police budget that dictates the flying hours available ~ want more? Pay more. 3 hours a day = 1100 per year, (ish). Yes, having an aircraft available in the air 24/7 catching crims would be great but can your police force afford it? Ours can’t and, unless they keep making the best possible, most efficient use of the hours they are given for the benefit of the police then the police will not pay for it.
I appreciate that in Northern Ireland you are not blessed with the availability of the charity funded Air Ambulances that we in Mainland UK have – there are 5 around here – but the police aircraft still carries a stretcher, defib and first aid kit because the air ambos do not work at night. AFAIK, the PSNI Aircraft does the same ~ how many casevacs has the PSNI aircraft done?
During the “troubles” the people of Northern Ireland and, in particular, South Armagh, had a 24/7 air ambulance service better than anything on the mainland. Are you perhaps suggesting that the police aircraft carries on from where the recently departed RAF and Army Air Corps left off? ~ Providing a free service to the NHS and public but at a cost to the police.
Perhaps you would be better off asking the local NHS why they have not approached the PSNI and offered to “Buy” some extra flying hours for the purpose of Air Ambulance work or provided any paramedics as crew ~ more likely that they are pleased to get what they get at the moment for free.
For the record I think that it’s a disgrace that the UK does not have a Government funded Air Ambulance network however, looking at the mess the current lot are making of everything else, the current system is probably as good as it’s going to get for now.