THE WORLD’S fastest medical helicopters are set to take to the skies in Warwickshire.
The county’s life-saving Air Ambulance service has lined up state-of-the-art aircraft to replace its current helicopters.
The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) has launched a multi-million pound investment project to buy two AgustaWestland 109SPs – the world’s fastest Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) aircraft.
WNAA will continue to operate out of Coventry Airport and have dedicated paramedics and doctors on board who can perform surgical procedures – from chest surgery and caesareans to amputations – by the roadside.
Critical Care Paramedic Gavin Alexander said: “The new aircraft has a quick start-up time which is crucial to reaching our patients as quickly as possible, and is well suited to our region with large urban areas requiring smaller landing site capabilities, along with great endurance and speed for the more rural areas.
“They will have a customised medical interior, ergonomically designed to provide the service with better access to vital functions and flexibility to carry additional medical equipment.”
WNAA director of operations Richard Clayton said the new helicopters would mean WNAA could continue delivering ‘the highest quality of critical care’.
He said: “As part of our scheduled programme we are replacing our two emergency aircraft as they come to the end of their working life.
“Providing leading pre-hospital emergency care to our patients is of the utmost importance and these two new aircraft will continue to enhance our clinical services and facilitate us in extending our flight hours next year.”
The 24/7 WNAA service will reach its 40,000th mission milestone this spring. It relies entirely on donations to stay airborne, and is appealing for the support of the Warwickshire community to fund the new helicopters – which it hopes to launch early next year.
Call 0300 3045 999 or visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk to support the project.
