Hughes: whoa there boy! Admin costs outgrowing running costs of chopper - I think not. A HEMS outfit costs circa 1.2 - 1.5 mil/year....
Don't label a HEMS outfit because of one low level response task. Cornwall is MASSIVE and 2 choopers would easily provide a better service.
The public has spoken, the public are comfortable putting their hands in their pockets for a dedicated 2 ship HEMS operation. God bless public opinion.
[If it had been government driven, the existing cab would probably have been traded in for an older model and limited to 'x' hours per year!].
Don't ever knock the HEMS setup in the UK when it is charity controlled - it is a reflection of joe average and their desires.
[Addendum: With the exception of that alleged crooked operation called the child air ambulance outfit
]