Health Minister Edwin Poots is currently considering a report on the possibility of setting up an “air ambulance” service in for Northern Ireland.
Minister Poots was responding to a request from Derry SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey for an update on the provision of such a service.
In response, Mr Poots said he was currently considering the recommendations and implications of a report undertaken by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) about the feasibility for a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS)/air ambulance in Northern Ireland.
In addition, he said he was liaising with the Irish Health Minister Dr James Reilly regarding the potential for a cross-border HEMS/air ambulance service.
Mr Poots added: “The HSCB has in place an air ambulance contract for the transfer of adult and paediatric patients to and from Northern Ireland.
“This service is used primarily to transport seriously ill patients from a referring NI hospital to Belfast International Airport for onward transfer by dedicated aircraft to GB NHS services.”
Mr Poots concluded: “It is also used to repatriate patients back to NI hospitals following treatment if they are deemed too unwell to travel by other means.”
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