Air Ambulance in Wales

[Rotorbike]

The Wales Air Ambulance has set a target of a separate helicopter to be based in North Wales as a dedicated service. With the North Wales Police currently providing this service with a paramedic on board this helicopter would this be a step forward or backward???

North Wales is only one of three areas which offer a join Police and Air Ambulance service and I was wondering about the benefits and problems that this can cause.

The following is the story borrowed from icWales (http://icwales.co.uk)

With the way it is presented I would have thought it would be better to concentrate on gaining the funds to continue to provide the Swansea aircraft for 7 days a week and leave the North Wales area with the Police........

----------------------------------------

Air ambulance looks for help in raising enough cash to run two helicopters Jul 22 2002

Joanne Atkinson, The Western Mail


THE Wales Air Ambulance service has set a new target - to fund two helicopters to save lives across Wales.

But unless a business sponsor is found to replace the Automobile Association, who pulled out earlier this year, the service could be grounded altogether.

The vital service, which currently runs one helicopter out of Swansea Airport, received a £70,000 one-off payment in February to fund the paramedics' salaries, but relies on public donations to keep flying.

The first fund-raising target of £600,000 was met recently to allow the air ambulance to increase their flying days from five to seven days a week from July 1, and the next aim of the service is to fund a second helicopter in North Wales.

Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust spokesperson Alison Watkins said, "It costs £750,000 a year to run an air ambulance, so we have set a new target of £1.5m to enable us to set up a North Wales base in Rhuddlan in addition to our Swansea operation.

"At present a paramedic is present on the North Wales police helicopter, but an air ambulance would offer a dedicated service in that area."

But she stressed that the air ambulance service needed extra help to keep flying at all.

"The targets are high, and we are desperately looking for new business sponsors," she said.

"We are hopeful that the public will keep supporting us to allow us to maintain the seven-day level of service, especially over the summer months."

The cash from the National Assembly will fund the crews' salaries until April 2003. In Scotland, £5m a year is provided by the Scottish government to fund its five air ambulances, but in England the services are funded via public donations.

"The air ambulance has completed 560 missions since its launch on March 1, 2001," said Ms Watkins.

"The air ambulance is crucial in getting to patients quickly in the first "golden hour" after injury, especially during the summer months when the roads are so busy."

[PushTo Shock]

The joint Police / Amb set-up do a cracking job but a dedicated HEMS aircraft would undoubtedly be a step forward for a number of reasons:

No conflict between HEMS / Police tasking

Dedicated A/C fit

2 Paramedics....etc.....

However, I do agree that getting the South up to 7 days would be a better priority. Just an off the cuff answer though. Maybe they have a reason for moving North.

[pilotwolf]

Often wondered about the tasking conflict when I worked in Sussex....

Have there been any occasions that any one knows off and what the decision was ie. Police or Ambulance which 'won'?

May be wrong but tend to think the joint option actually has some benefits. Especially the night operations....

As for two paramedics working together... one is bad enough! :D

[Vfrpilotpb]

Give old Thomas Coupling a medibag, he'll do the job, stop him chasing all those innocent bikers!;)

[Helinut]

Don't worry,

TC et al are kept busy already taking those bikers to hospital - they form a vary substantial proportion of an air ambulance's business.

[OOPS 78]

Don't forget however that there are 2 RAF SAR bases that will cover these areas as well. One at Chivenor who also cover South Wales and one at Valley who cover North and Mid-Wales.

Surely setting up an Air Ambulance in North Wales would add to the problems that have only been smoothed out by decent liaison between the SAR Flt and the Police as to who goes to an incident.

I know from personal experience that the Police have been called to an incident which clearly called for a winch and the ability to operate outside of CAA rules, and as they went they told ther controllers to call for the RAF and their controllers don't until the Police helo says that there is nothing that they can do and then the SAR Cab gets called some 30-45min after the initial scramble.

If the system gets organised like it is in Scotland then the system will work, but if it gets organised like it is in England and Wales it will generate more bad feeling and annoyance on the parts of all operators.

When does the harmonisation committee report?

[TeeS]

OOPS - Please keep in mind that a HEMS helicopter is not a SAR Helicopter. If someone rings 999 and asks for an ambulance then the control will assess the location and incident and possibly respond a HEMS unit. If the incident is aviation related then our control automatically informs the RCC of the response so that we can co-ordinate. I can not perceive of any method that would enable us to decide whether a climbing incident will require a full SAR response without us getting there first.
We have a good working relationship with the RCC and have never been afraid of requesting SAR support when required - don't forget there is life after being a SAR pilot and a fair few of them end up flying on HEMS units.
Regards.
TeeS

[Roundagain]

Changing to combined SAR/EMS operations would make a lot of sense. The system works well in Australia and most are corporate funded (AA type motoring organisations and banks etc) with partial health department funding.

Helicopters are medium size, IFR, winch equipped with paramedic crew and respond to SAR, EMS, Police, Fire and aeromedical tasks on a 24 hour basis.

[RotorHorn]

Sorry for being Mr.Thicky here - but why do HEMS rely on 'charity' to keep flying?

Why don't they claim the call-out from the various insurance companies?

If you're injured in a car accident, I'm sure the hospital now bill the insurance company for the workups/procedures done on you.

Why don't the air ambulance services do the same?

I'm sure the insurance companies would rather pay a few thousand quid for a helicopter ride, than a few hundred thousand quid on a life policy....

[PushTo Shock]

Just going back to the original question, haven't South Wales already gone 7 days?

[STANDTO]

some weeks ago I posted a thread on 'military' with regards to the civ use of mil assets. Some interesting views came up.

I have an unofficial project (more of a scrapbook of interst for myself) as to how we could justify a joint services chopper here on the IOM. It would have to be something of the Dauphin Genre, capable of transferring cases to UK hospitals, and that is where primacy would lie. Followng that, tasking would be available for Customs (100 miles of coastline to patrol as well at territorial waters) Fisheries Protection (as above) and of course police work. Ideally I would also like to see it SAR capable. We justify six lifeboats which gives you some idea. Valley can be there reasonably sharpish, as can Irish SAR, but every little helps.

Crewing would be interesting. I would see the need for dedicated specialists, rather than trained up paramedics and police officers.

In todays congested Britain, helo's are the way forward for efficient deployment of emergency assets. We just cant seem to see it, neve mind afford it. Compare Greater Manchester Police (1 a/c) to the LAPD (15 a/c). Both are geographically similar areas.


One day......................one day!

[pilotwolf]

Aren't paramedics and police officers dedicated specialists just using a different mode of deployment?

Who trains helicopter paramedics? I accept that most SAR winchmen are paramedic trained but is that the same thing?

[STANDTO]

PW

After I typed it, I did wonder if I had been clear enough!

What I envisaged was an omnicompitent crewperson, capable of carrying out the winch/paramedic/air observer role, rather than having to RTB and collect the relevant specialist dependant on mission. Ultimately, ex mil SAR staff have to be the obvious choice.

As far as I am aware, helo medics are simply qualified Paramedics who have done a helo course.

There has long been an argument that police air observers need to be police officers. The reason for this being that they need to know how the ground operatives mind is working. However, the same argument applies to civilian police communications operators. Onc they are up to speed, the majority of them are more than capable of running a pursuit, firearms incident or whatever. Even as someone who hoped to do the air observer thing sometime in my career (before transferring to Fraggle Rock) I still think it could be done by 'civ' crew.

As you probably gathered from my last post, I think we are rather small minded about air support in the British Isles. It is ultimately done on the cheap (please take that in context) and within very tight parameters. For example, look at the number of counties with coastline, that have no realistic maritime ability within their a/c. I remember an incident at Blackpool around 92/93, prior to Lancs purchasing their Squirrel, when a youth fell into the sea. Merseyside pitched up with their machine to scan the scene with nitesun and FLIR. No winch, or rescue ability. Bigger machine with different equipment and who knows?

Be interesting to see the views of ASU's up and down the UK. This isn't a dig at anyone's role or professionalism, just a creative view that will doubtless provoke some discussion.

[Helinut]

STANDTO

Looked at logically, I am sure that you are right that there is a better way of deploying helicopters for public emergency services purposes. However, there are two points that occur to me about this:

One of the major problems is that the political vested interests and empires involved don’t want to see beyond the ends of their respective noses. So, with the exceptions of one or two far-sighted organisations like N Wales Police, until there is a major national political initiative you will never get the various purse-string holders to agree and combine their money.

The other thing is that your “bigger, better more of” approach to helicopters would cost a lot more and there are lots of moans already about the cost of these helicopters. There seems little prospect of moving away from relying on the support of charities (for air ambulance) and the goodwill of the military for SAR. Despite the grants provided by the Home Office, some Police Forces still do not have air support at all.

[Rotorbike]

An example of a strange agreement is Hampshire where there isn't a Police or Air Ambulance helicopter. Police cover is a fixed wing aircraft.

But at Lee on Solent there is a SAR aircraft which under an agreement has a paramedic crew provided for medical emergencies at sea by Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Anyone know if the NHS employees are always on board or only for certain emergencies???

[Roundagain]

There is a more sensible way of achieving SAR, EMS and Police rotary cover in UK..... IMHO. This would of course mean that all factions put aside their own interests and agree on a new way forward. This would therefore be totally unrealistic.

However........ Imagine if UK military SAR was redeployed as CSAR and SH. (I cannot believe that the UK SH force is not overstretched at the moment). Tenders for civilian operators called for to operate medium helicopters for combined SAR/EMS roles at say 10 bases around UK. These aircraft funded jointly by Government, corporate sponsors and community fundraisers and tasked by Coastguard and Ambulance.

A medium helicopter could operate offshore up to 150 miles. Any longer range SAR tasks could be tasked to CSAR heavy machines. Medium helicopters could easily be tasked to operate EMS and land easily in most places that a light twin presently lands.

In my experience, both UK SAR and EMS helicopters are lightly tasked - combining the two would make economic sense and create a more interesting work environment for crews. This would also help change the current situation where unequipped helicopters arrive at scene unable to safely effect a rescue and provide adequate medical assistance. In my experience most rescue tasks have some medical component.

Police helicopters have a defined role and should not be diverted to SAR or EMS tasks where, beyond acting as a command and control platform, their contribution would be limited.

UK SAR, Police and EMS operations are very highly regarded overseas for their level professionalism, experience and innovation. However, I believe that the tasking of these assets is sadly lacking.

[Thomas coupling]

Back after a glorious week in the lake district. Apparently experienced some of the few dry days (they experience) whilst there! Strongly recommend a visit...

Interesting thread for me ...obviously!
Happened to read/see that excerpt on a HEMS helo moving to N Wales. Didn't know it was possibly going to be based at Rhuddlan, though. That would make it about........
right where we work:eek: Food for thought, have to move the golf course now:D

Who knows the magical mystical workings of these charitable organisations, I mean, take a look at what is going on in Yorks with theirs:eek: Perhaps S Wales will strike lucky financially. Not only will they have to double their takings, but they will have to replace their ageing bolkow with 2 modern machines too. We shall have to see.
I only know of one other HEMS operator who is successful enough to operate 2 a/c...(correct me if I'm wrong) but it's west mids. An efficient operation with a proven track record. Also, and possibly most important, some very generous members of the public too!

My main concern for any operation that provides such an emotive service to the public is that it will be a long term affair and not a one year wonder.

Paramedics who fly with us are first and foremost...trained medical specialists. SAR crewmen with 'paramedic' experience are not primary responders, there is a massive difference in skill level! One of our paramedics is also a trained (police) observer, capable of carrying out this dual role when required. [But only wears one set of green flying overalls:cool:]

With over 9000 sq miles of force area, 360 miles of shore line and innumerable lakes and rivers, we carry out a variety of tasks in the HEMS role. Last year saw 130 HEMS jobs, some of them twin stretcher roles. Suicides/plane crashes/RTC's/fallen climbers/missing persons/drownings, are a few of what we are involved with. We liaise very closely with 22 sqdn at Valley, often sharing work [our FLIR their NVG]. If it smells of a winch ...it's theirs, no question. There is no competing only healthy co-operation.
It would be a sad day when we have to stand down to let a dedicated HEMS chopper do its job :( :( But we need to remember that the other 92% of our tasking is police work and that's the real reason why we are here.
[There is no conflict between the two; if one is life threatening then thats the priority].
PS: thanks for the kind words about our Unit, the crew (and I'm sure the management) are most appreciative...

...break a leg...:)

[pilotwolf]

Unless it's changed the SAR heli at Lee on Solent never carried NHS personnel.

I spent a day with them several years ago and the winchmen had trained to the NHS paramedic standard, at a local NHS hospital and in their own time if I recall correctly. I m not sure what has happened since paramedics have become state registered though as many people outside the NHS have had difficulties in getting their registration approved.

Sussex Ambulance had an arrangement where some staff were 'trained' so that they could be flown offshore should the need arise. eg multi-casualty incident on board ship. I think like many similar ideas when managers moved it all went out the window.

I also approached Bristows for winch job but was basically told no chance unless you are ex-mil.

Also with the current pressures on the NHS ambulance services, especially Hampshire who like many are having trouble meeting the required standard I doubt that they would be able to consistantly supply a paramedic on demand to arrive within the scramble time, (about 5 mins from call in daytime from what I recall).

[Anton van Dellen]

Dept of Health do partially fund HEMS - £2.4 million in the next financial year after negotiations by (Gen) Sir Christopher Airey, Chairman of the National Air Ambulance Association.

The Scottish Exec fund Scottish Amb Svc HEMS (and fixed wing).

London Health Authorities contribute to funding of the HEMS based at the Royal London.

Due to recent interpretations of charity funding regulations, ambulance trusts now have to pay for the paramedic salaries on the heli, rather than the charity.

County, based in the Midlands, in fact runs 3 helis - Helimed 03 (RAF Cosford), Helimed 06 (Strensham) and Helimed 09 (Derby). No cover at night.

Paramedic aircrew training - obviously already need to be paramedics. For County, they also need to be Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (Royal College of Surgeons, England) trained, and do a two week air-crew course, covering CRM, navigation, etc.

Helimed Essex (think is 07) used to run with one para and one tech - not sure if they still do or have moved to two paras.

Anton :cool:

[EjectEject]

Anton

Small correction - The a/c at Derby is not at Derby. Sorry, its something that gets my goat re the media too. Its based at East Midlands Airport which is in Leicestershire, but has a Derbyshire postal address. Work that one out.

Anyway, I cant talk as I work in Leicestershire, but it has a Northamptonshire postal address.

I'll go and lie down again now. Cheers.

[TeeS]

Roundagain - Sorry but "Changing to combined SAR/EMS operations" would make no more sense in this country than combining road ambulances with fire engines! Sure, there are loads of occasions when you require both at an incident but there are loads when only one or the other is required.

While I have always believed that there 'might' be a case for a small number (probably no more than three or four throughout the UK) of multi-role onshore helicopters -winch, stretcher, cutting gear,medic etc. for some remote areas, combining these into a HEMS helicopter would seriously curtail the role that they currently have. Firstly, according to current rules, for every 1 metre increase in helicopter length you inflict on us we have to find a landing space that is 2 metres larger diameter - so we have to land at a location more distant from the scene. Secondly, if you select your medium sized helicopter for us, and it is twice as heavy, then we are going to produce twice the downdraught -hence we have to find a landing site further away from everything.

The reason the Australian system works, I suspect, is that the distances involved make walking the Penine Way seem like a stroll to the local shops.

Regards

TeeS

[OOPS 78]

I would suggest a new way of doing it.

Why don't we create what would effectively be a new armed force.

Basically we remove SAR from the RN/RAF. Remove the Air Ambulances from the CAA. Contract the whole thing to whoever wants to supply aircraft, engineers and aircrew.

The aircrew(as I am aircrew I'll concentrate on them) can then be made up of current serving mil pilopts, current serving civ pilots. They would all get paid the same.

the aircraft would be provided by a contractor and placed onto the miliary register(much like DHFS). This would then allow low flying, it would also not be necessary to worry about sizes of landing sites etc, as you can get away with more in the mil. NVG tasks could be done better.

training can be provided for ab-initio at DHFS/SARTU and then onto the new force for conversion for whatever type they go to fly, be it small Air Amb type things or larger SAR type things. Pilots/crews would have the flex to change between the various types and so on.

The whole shebang could be funded by DoT, MOD and charity so no-one would have to have a massive contribution. The best bit is that the new force could control it's spending and get what it wanted and not what the mil say.

[Green Goblin]

OOPS 78 - Have you been drinking?

[OOPS 78]

GG,

No not drinking but just tired of seeing what was once an excellent SAR Force being run down by MOD?Government and I am convinced that if you let it be run by the people who are in it we couldn't do a worse job.

And if you brought in the Air Ambulance then they could all get properly funded, proper SOPs could be worked out between us all and we would end being able to provide a better cover for the people who actually need it.

Hopefully it would prevent situations such as i once saw at Chivenor, where the Exeter Air Ambualnce flew to chivenor Airfield to pick up a woman who had broken her leg nearly 1 mile from the SAR Flight and take her to Barnstable hospital and then come into the SAR Flight for fuel before returning to Exeter. Absolutely ludicrous, wouldn't you agree?

[OOPS 78]

Sorry to the guy who started the thread.

I appear to have hijacked it. No more comments from me.

I'll get my coat.

[Hoverman]

WALES' second air ambulance is set to take off next summer.
Yesterday, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust gave its support for a dedicated air ambulance service in North Wales.
A fundraising appeal is to be launched early next year, as each helicopter will cost £1m a year to operate.
The North Wales police helicopter, with a paramedic on board, has often been used to airlift casualties to hospital, but its use is restricted to life-saving missions. It can't be used for other purposes such as hospital transfers.

The first Welsh air ambulance, in South Wales, has flown nearly 800 missions since it began operating in March last year. Fundraising for that service has been so successful that seven-day cover is now provided. A charitable trust has raised £986,000 and there's enough cash to ensure the helicopter remains airborne for at least another six months.

Chief ambulance officer John Bottell, chairman of the charity, said the air ambulance service in South Wales had flown nearly four times as many mercy missions as the police helicopter used to.

Don Page, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, said the North Wales Police Authority had questioned the force's Chief Constable, Richard Brunstrom, about the cost of ambulance work by the force's helicopter.
Asked whether there was a need for the second air ambulance, Mr Bottell said, "A thousand people have benefited from much quicker access to hospital facilities. Clearly that will not have done them any harm."

Well said, that man!

[[email protected]]

But when it gets dark or the weather is sh**e, or when you need to transport someone who needs ICU style care in the air...Whoyagonnacall.........Oh yes, a nice yellow Sea King which is already paid for by the taxpayer and frequently gets pushed to the bottom of the callout list by ambulance authorities desperate to improve the callout stats on the air ambulance. The Exeter air ambulance takes 25 mins to reach N Devon but is regularly tasked to jobs in the Bideford area just 5 mins from Chivenor. If the patients need is so urgent then use the nearest asset, if it is not then use a land ambulance.

[Helinut]

Of course there are a lot more people in S Wales than N Wales, which might just mean that there is more demand for air ambulance flights in S Wales. I have seen gross misuse of charitably funded air ambulances by some Ambulance Service Management, so I am very suspicious of simple measures such as the one quoted in the original post. It does no harm to have a critical method of selecting suitable jobs for air ambulances.

I love the way that in life while one part of a group are trying to separate out a perfectly sensible joint use of resources(e.g. Emergency Service Helicopters in N Wales), another bit of essentially the same community are busily being forced to work together (Emergency Services Control Rooms to be combined) against their will.

........ And then in 5 years time someone will have a bright idea to save money in N Wales by combining the air ambulance and police helicopters into one aircraft to make best use of expensive resources.....

Aren't politicians wonderful!
:rolleyes:

[Thomas coupling]

Have just seen this..the plot thickens, it seems.
The driving for all of this is from the air ambulance authority/health authority. I wish them well obviously, but seriously doubt their understanding of long term support. Methinks it's more a case of PR perhaps?

What worries me is the situation N Wales are left with if this operation runs out of funds say 12-18 months after it starts and shuts down...what then???

Helinut says it all really:confused:

[PANews]

It is doubtful that TC and friends can be thinking of hanging up their rescue ideas for some time yet.

The South Wales HEMS has barely got itself out of crisis over funding the first aircraft [if indeed it has!]

[Bearintheair]

There are advantages for an Air Amb Charity if they share with the police and operate under a police AOC HEMS approval. For a start they get two shifts a day, 7 days a week at a fraction of the cost of even a 5 day single shift dedicated Air Amb unit.It's also a more economic use of the airframe.

As far as I'm aware the only people doing regular night HEMS in UK are the joint units. On the down side they lose the ability to do Air Ambulance work (Inter hospital transfers).

With regard to the number of tasks carried out by Air Ambs when compared to joint units, other than transfers already mentioned I think the difference lies in the way the units are used. Air Ambs seem to often go to jobs that could be dealt with by a conventional ground unit whilst the joint units tend to cherry pick the jobs where the use of a helo will really make a difference.

As an aside, as I understand it when the new Public Services AOC is introduced both police HEMS units and Air Amb units will be working to the same rules and approvals so both will be able to do everything.

[Helinut]

Bearintheair,

I think you are right about the dual use helicopter, especially in ruralish low population density areas. I have never worked in a "pure" HEMS role, but observing what they have done, sometimes the helicopter is used to do things that arguably would be better done by a ground ambulance. An important consideration is to get deployment criteria right; it is wrong to waste money and resources whoever is paying and however much we like to fly. At the same time, it needs to be a reasonable foresight approach rather than the usual hindsight test so often beloved of critics. You can only make a decision on the basis of the information you have.

One reason why PAOC involvement in HEMS is beneficial at present is because of the ability of PAOC holders to do CASEVACs. For those not familiar, the PAOC conditions allow a police helicopter to land at ad hoc sites at night where there is a genuine threat to life to pick up an injured person for delivery to hospital. (Non-police HEMS has to obey the normal UK public transport rules that prohibit landing at unsurveyed unlit sites at night). This is possible because of the rule difference; it is also more sensible and safer because the police helicopter can use its TI, nightsun and NVG to allow its "passengers" to help to check the site for the pilot.

I have not begun to look at the proposals for the Public Service AOC yet. I just hope it is not like most other new regulations in the European arena : more regulation allowing us to do less and less at significantly greater cost.

[Bearintheair]

Just for info there are 3 PAOC units (NWales, Wilts, Sussex) that hold a HEMS approval and are permitted to carry out full day/night single pilot HEMS as long as they operate iaw the PAOM HEMS Supplement. The supplement is basically a copy of the JAROPS 3 HEMS rules.

[STANDTO]

before very long, there is going to be another catastrophe. How can the UK bang on about having no cash, when there is such poor coordination of multi million pound assets. It would make more sense if everything came under a central coordination cell.

Additionally, I think some of it is the sexification of the ambulance service. I wonder if anyone else remembers in the mid 90s, when they went from being ambulance drivers to paramedics? Out came the green overalls and sexy batenburg ambulances. You never saw them before that, but suddenly they became demi gods.

Paramedics are tremendous and do not get paid half their worth, but the NHS and ambulance services seem to be too busy looking good, and failing on the basics. HEMS and its benefits are extremely worthwhile (look how many TT riders have benefitted) but perhaps we should be running after learning to walk.

Does anyone remember the fire service trialling a Bolkow in London? Now that WAS a case of too busy looking good!!!

[HOGE]

Info on the London Fire Service helicopter can be found here.

http://www.jmccall.demon.co.uk/helitril.htm

[Heliport]

Helicopters can be the difference between life and death

An appeal has begun to finance a second air ambulance for Wales to cover the north of the country. The Welsh Air Ambulance Charity needs to raise £750,000 a year to fund the emergency service.
If £250,000 can be raised by July, a second air ambulance could come into operation in time for the busy summer season.

The first Wales Air Ambulance, which is based at Swansea's Fairwood Airport, was launched on 1 March 2001.
It has already flown more than 800 missions, mainly in south and mid Wales, and has helped more than 400 seriously ill or injured people.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38805000/jpg/_38805751_helicopter300.jpg

The new project has won the backing of the mother and fiancée of a 26-year-old man killed in a car crash near Harlech in Gwynedd last year.
Kieron Wilkes died at the site of the accident, which was 50 miles away from Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
His fiancée Nia Evans was taken to the hospital with severe spinal injuries by police helicopter.
Since the tragedy, Kieron's mum Sandra and his home community of Llanaber have raised £22,500 to get the appeal under way.
"The nearest hospital to us is Bangor, which is an hour away by road in the winter and two hours in the summer when the amount of traffic multiplies tenfold," she said.

Chief ambulance officer for the Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust John Bottell said a second helicopter would provide an even better life-saving service for Wales. "It has always been our aim to have two air ambulances responding to emergency calls across the country," he said. "We know there is huge support from the public and we will do our best to ensure the new service will be as successful as the current Wales air ambulance," he added.

[Helinut]

This was raised and discussed in a thread a few weeks ago. I don't think my views have changed much. If an air ambulance here is such a good idea, why don't the ambulance service fund the thing themselves on a properly funded basis, rather than relying on charity??

[Heliport]

Letsby
I don't think anybody has suggested a second air ambulance could have helped the man; he died at the scene.
The appeal, launched by the Welsh Air Ambulance Charity, has the support of the bereaved mother and surviving fiancee in a positive, not negative, spirit. ie In gratitude that she was transferred by helicopter instead of a 50 mile journey by road through mountainous terrain whilst suffering from spinal injuries - a journey which takes up to two hours depending upon season.

"How come our ‘Super Moderator’ has posted this appeal?"
I didn't post is as an appeal for contributions, but as a news item which I thought would be of interest to rotorheads. Sorry it "sounds like B*ll***s" to you. It obviously doesn't to many people in North Wales. The existing air ambulance, based at Swansea, covers South and Mid Wales. North Wales relies on the police helicopter.

(As for 'Super Moderator' - just Mod will do thanks. The title, which I didn't choose and dislike, refers to Mods with responsibilities to oversee all PPRuNe forums. I chose to stay on as a Mod of Rotorheads because I like this forum.)

Helinut
I agree, but suspect the Welsh Ambulance Service hasn't got the funds available in the budget they're given. The Welsh Air Ambulance Charity was set up by volunteers. Shame such efforts are necessary when we see how much public money and lottery funds are wasted on other things.

[Letsby Avenue]

Apologies for my last post... The product of a bottle of red or two.. Consider it deleted.:(

[LordGrumpy]

Yes the country that built railways
Introduced safe navigation, courtesy of Harrison and his clocks.
Brunel.
Built a ship, disassembled said vessel; transported it to South America, in parts small enough to be carried by mules. Rebuilt it 7000 feet above sea level.
Could organise.A nationwide air ambulance service.

Get their act together, they couldn't paint the scenery.
To much paperwork not enough action.
Whisky does not counteract disappointment

[OOPS 78]

The only reason I ask is I was speaking to a chap at the Inverness Air Ambulance and he was going to help set it up. Just curious really and looking for a job in a few years time.

[Helinut]

There was a post on this forum to this effect a while ago. I also think that Police Aviation News had a piece about it - I think it was mooted to start in July.

[Heliport]

From July 1st, the Wales Air Ambulance fleet has doubled in size!

The introduction of a second Air Ambulance for a three-month trial period in North Wales means that there are now two helicopters providing emergency medical cover in Wales. It’s hoped that the trial will prove to be successful and the second aircraft will become a permanent sight in the skies over North Wales, although this depends on the Welsh Air Ambulance Charitable Trust raising over £1,500,000 each year.

http://www.walesairambulance.com/img/home-image.jpg

“We’re confident that the new target is a realistic one,” said Mark James, one of the Charity’s trustees. “The people of Wales have shown that they’ve really taken us to their hearts since we launched the first helicopter on March 1st, 2001. Introducing the second aircraft is something we’ve been eagerly anticipating since then and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to do so after such a relatively short space of time. Clearly, however, we need more support now than ever before.”

The original Wales Air Ambulance (Bolkow 105DB“G-AZOR) is moving from its base at Swansea to Caernarfon Airport, where it will be based for the duration of the trial.
Taking its place is the stretched Bolkow 105DBS “G-WAAS” (formerly “G-ESAM”); ironically, the helicopter which replaced G-AZOR as the Essex Air Ambulance in 2001. It's in the same gleaming red and green colour scheme as its older sister.

One other change is the helicopter’s radio callsign. To avoid possible confusion, it’s been decided that the Swansea-based Air Ambulance will become “Helimed 60”, while the Caernarfon-based aircraft will be known as “Helimed 61”.

http://www.walesairambulance.com/img/bothhele.jpg
Pictured are the two aircraft plus crews at Swansea Airport during the handover – probably the only occasion both Air Ambulances will be in the same place at the same time!

[Twisted Rigging]

Heliport,

I see that Bond have started reversing the Reg. letters on the front of the aircraft. I assume that this is in keeping with other emergency vehicles, so that it appears the right way round in your rear view mirror. ;)

T.

[chris@wda]

Nope, engineering just put the panel on inside out.

[Heliport]

Western Mail report It's a very merry heli

A Llanelli man has created the most unusual outdoor light show in town this Christmas - by installing a festive helicopter in his front garden.

Neighbours are all committed to providing a spectacular Christmas light show each December. But. among the glowing reindeer and Santas stands a strange sight - and a reminder of the motivation behind Amanwy's colourful display.

John Elfed Evans, 69, has just a small patch of lawn in front of his house, but he has still squeezed a decommissioned air ambulance into this year's display.

And while Father Christmas might be tempted to update his flying sleigh to fit in with Mr Evans's vision, the main reason for the helicopter is to show solidarity with the vital Air Ambulance service.

'It does block out the sun a bit but it is a pretty manageable size,' said Mr Evans. 'The tail is almost sticking through my front window, but I don't mind - it's for a good cause.'

Mr Evans and his neighbours are collecting cash from curious sightseeing motorists and have already raised around £6,000 for the charity.

[Mikeb]

The local press are not very good with there aviation knowledge.

It's a scrap R22 that has been rebuilt as a display model. The air ambulance uses it as a promotional tool. Very funny to see a house covered in Xmas lights with an R22 stuck in the middle.

[[email protected]]

Best place for an R22 if you ask me.....Bah Humbug

[Thomas coupling]

[email protected].

PR still there.

[Helipolarbear]

PR.................Living History in Action!
Wasn't he the first Helipilot to land on a rig in the North Sea (British of course)?!!!!
Great to see he is still putting out energy.:ok: