Hellimut
Your assumption is logical but misplaced. We do not make money out of these transfers, indeed we have to subsidise them because commonly the NHS can't or won't pay. I and many others have never asked for nor received any salary or remuneration.
I would be delighted to see others enter the game as long as they are medically beneficial. Unlike adult HEMS we have a lot of good research on the effects of rotary transportation on the neonate. We understand how to do it safely, it's benefits and risks. We have published national guidelines in the UK. We continue to press for these facilities to be available to all that need them, funded by central government as is the rest of their treatment as opposed to whether some charity has raised enough money. That goal will never be achieved if patients are moved who do not justify such expenditure, if patients come to harm, or if subsequent research rubbishes inter hospital rotary transportation because the system has failed to select properly.
I have never posted about the financial issues raised here. I would love to see a proper paediatric transfer system because these patients do need dedicated aircraft, dedicated equipment and dedicated staff. A military aircraft is nigh impossible to provide a safe environment to a neonate in an incubator due to noise, vibration, lack of dedicated equipment and specialised monitoring. My concern is that to date TAAS may not have helped the cause.