§ Mr. David YoungTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has as to what extent helicopters and other air transport are used to facilitate the transport of seriously ill and injured patients and as to what extent financial considerations discourage such use.
§ Mrs. CurrieIn the United Kingdom, RAF helicopters transport has been used occasionally by the NHS for many years, both in emergency rescue missions which are free and in secondary transport services which must be paid for. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly a helicopter has been operating in support of the ambulance services for the past year and in June theDaily Express announced that, with Government support, it will fund a helicopter based at the London Hospital to transport accident victims to hospital. Several other health authorities are known to be actively considering the feasibility of using helicopters in this way.