§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the rapid transport by the RAF of 462W babies born at risk to hospitals with an intensive care unit.
§ Mr. WellbelovedUnder well-established arrangements local health authorities may request the assistance of Service helicopters to carry seriously ill patients, including babies, to hospital, or from one hospital to another, in the United Kingdom when movement is medically essential and other forms of transport are impracticable. Applications for helicopter assistance are handled by the RAF rescue co-ordination centres, located at Pitreavie Castle and Plymouth, or by the Forward Air Transport Operations Centre in Northern Ireland. In the past 18 months six babies were carried to hospital by RAF helicopters for specialised care.