Guernsey Press

Plan for life-saving helicopter service

A NEW community-funded emergency helicopter project aims to transport critically ill patients to UK hospitals in just one hour.

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An Airbus H135 helicopter - one of two types Air Rescue Channel hope to use. Picture: Air Rescue Channel Islands. (23501175)

This is a quarter of the current four-hour average time of the fixed-wing air ambulance service.

Air Rescue Channel Islands is a new pan-island charity looking to run a community-funded emergency helicopter based locally that will be on standby 24 hours a day.

Both Jersey and Guernsey contract air ambulance aeroplanes which provide medical transfers, but there has been an increase in the use of UK Coastguard helicopters across the islands this year – with around 30 being required.

The charity is being launched by two Channel Islanders, Andrew Scott-Miller, a coastguard with extensive experience in the charity sector, and Mark Birrell, a full-time firefighter with previous helicopter winch experience.

‘Working for Jersey Coastguard for the previous two years has given me an insight into how much the islands rely on the goodwill and availability of UK Coastguard helicopters to assist critically ill islanders, especially overnight and in poor weather,’ said Mr Scott-Miller.

‘There are 21 Air Ambulance charities providing cover across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, all funded by the public.

‘I believe, with the support of islanders, we can deliver this life-saving service.’

Mr Scott-Miller added the project would be an example of the Channel Islands pulling together to help each other.

‘The support and goodwill we have received from both the public and governments has been empowering,’ he said.

‘There is a real sense that everyone is aware just how much this service is needed, and they are going out of their way to make it a reality.’

The average time from tasking to delivering a patient into hospital is four hours.

Air Rescue Channel Islands say a locally based helicopter can make the journey in around and hour and has the added advantage of being able to land at UK hospital helipads as well as returning the accompanying medical staff to the islands on the return flight.

Air rescue hope to have a helicopter based on the islands by the summer and are working

with Health departments in Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, ready to provide urgent medivacs across the islands and looking to restore the 24/7 medivacs from Alderney to Guernsey, which ceased earlier this year.