There is a system of "carding" in UK HEMS. This is carried out by examiners "carded" in turn by the regulator. Flight is by day or night as appropriate to the operation.
Very few HEMS operations in UK are Government fully sponsored or funded.
Trying to justify your HEMS operation on the basis of lives saved is a big mistake. My experience of just 400 missions is that we may have saved a life on 3 occasions. Trying to get a Doctor/Consultant to support that argument is almost impossible.
Perhaps the main issue is:
"There is no life more precious than my own - until I have to pay the bills"
Discuss
Issue 2
"The accident rate will be reduced by technology."
Discuss