§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the cost of air ambulances; and what proposals he has to improve the service.
§ Mr. FreemanEmergency flights by the RAF and the air-sea rescue service are undertaken free of charge. The current costs to the NHS of non-emergency flights are £1,015 per flying hour. Several ambulance authorities within the United Kingdom now use dedicated air ambulance helicopters. No information on costs is held centrally, but running costs of the Cornwall service are reported to be around £250,000 per annum.
It is for health authorities to decide whether local circumstances justify the cost of operating a helicopter ambulance.