Having worked in the HEMS field and thus having a lot of friends on the ground as paramedics/doctors/nurses etc whether flying or just on the road, it seems that Al Fentynal's schedule is the most commonly used over various emergency services here. This include government as well as private services and as said for both road and air. The 4 on (2 day, 2 night), 4 off seems to work the best. If you have small kids or crisises impeding on sleep it seems to compensate before total fatique sets in as only 2 nights with a day change over from day to night seems to work great for all I know in the field still. Glad I am no longer in HEMS!
Just a thought! If HEMS crews are heroes so are all medical crews! If they are all heroes surely we can end with the garbage collector being a hero cause if he does not collect the garbage the "heroes" being the med crews cant work so who is not a hero in todays life? Nobody is isolated without requiring another doing a basic service allowing them to do their paid job!
Way to many human error lately whether it being design, manufacture, maintenance, flying etc! Tried and tested machines like the 350 is questioned after millions of hours (and dont through hydraulics unless you compare total hours to failures minus human error) after way too many accidents over the last 2 months- why now?