01/03/2017
NI's Air Ambulance Service Set To Launch In Three Months
Northern Ireland's new air ambulance service is set to launch within three months.
A main helicopter is to be based at the Maze/Long Kesh site and a secondary helicopter will be based at St Angelo Airport in Enniskillen.
The new service will be doctor-led and will operate for seven days a week for up to 12 hours a day during daylight hours.
Sinn Féin's Pat Sheehan welcomed the announcement.
He said: "I welcome today's announcement that my party colleague and health minister Michelle O'Neill has approved the north's first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
"This will provide a live-saving service across the North and will operate seven days a week, providing a doctor-led service.
"This announcement by Michelle O'Neill follows the move by Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister to make land available at Long Kesh as a base for the service.
"This is a credit to the many people who campaigned for this service, including the late Dr John Hinds."
DUP Leader Arlene Foster said: "This is wonderful news for Northern Ireland today and one which the trustees of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland should take great delight in. They are to be commended for the tireless work they committed to, to ensure that Northern Ireland had this important, life saving service.
"Today's news follows on from the announcement I made in November, along with the then Deputy First Minister, that a primary helicopter would be based at the Maze Long Kesh site. I am delighted that a secondary helicopter will be based in my own constituency at St. Angelo Airport, which will ensure swift access to the most rural parts of Northern Ireland.
"There is no doubt that the approval of the Doctor led, Air Ambulance as a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service will save lives and bring Northern Ireland into line with the medical treatment other parts of the UK have access to. It is a real boost to the Health Service in Northern Ireland who will partner with the Air Ambulance for Northern Ireland."
(CD)
A main helicopter is to be based at the Maze/Long Kesh site and a secondary helicopter will be based at St Angelo Airport in Enniskillen.
The new service will be doctor-led and will operate for seven days a week for up to 12 hours a day during daylight hours.
Sinn Féin's Pat Sheehan welcomed the announcement.
He said: "I welcome today's announcement that my party colleague and health minister Michelle O'Neill has approved the north's first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
"This will provide a live-saving service across the North and will operate seven days a week, providing a doctor-led service.
"This announcement by Michelle O'Neill follows the move by Martin McGuinness as deputy First Minister to make land available at Long Kesh as a base for the service.
"This is a credit to the many people who campaigned for this service, including the late Dr John Hinds."
DUP Leader Arlene Foster said: "This is wonderful news for Northern Ireland today and one which the trustees of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland should take great delight in. They are to be commended for the tireless work they committed to, to ensure that Northern Ireland had this important, life saving service.
"Today's news follows on from the announcement I made in November, along with the then Deputy First Minister, that a primary helicopter would be based at the Maze Long Kesh site. I am delighted that a secondary helicopter will be based in my own constituency at St. Angelo Airport, which will ensure swift access to the most rural parts of Northern Ireland.
"There is no doubt that the approval of the Doctor led, Air Ambulance as a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service will save lives and bring Northern Ireland into line with the medical treatment other parts of the UK have access to. It is a real boost to the Health Service in Northern Ireland who will partner with the Air Ambulance for Northern Ireland."
(CD)
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