206 jock:
well said.
Whitehead: not completely accurate. Our Police/HEMS outfit was a victim of its outstanding success. We (in hindsight) took it that little bit too far and exchanged one police officer for a paramedic and proved that a paramedic could do the job of a police observer (TFO) AND still remain a paramedic. Flying a T1 meant we had no problems with carrying capacity. In fact we were the only Police or HEMS helicopter in GB that could carry 2 casualties and we did it on the odd occasion.
The problem with our success was that the Ambulance Authority realised they could lose future paramedics to the police world and the UEO's realised they were losing police officer (TFO) slots.
The service was wound down quietly and slowly and reverted to type (police ops) sadly for all involved.
Hughes: Be very very grateful you live not only in what for many, is the most beautiful part of England and Wales but your HEMS cover per head of population is probably the best in the world
