§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he issues on the circumstances in which an air ambulance is more appropriate than its terrestrial equivalent for the transfer of patients to hospital; [35200]
(2) if he will list the air ambulances available to the health services in each nation of the UK indicating the areas they cover. [35199]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 11 February 2002]: There are currently 12 charitably funded air ambulance services operating in England. These are:
- Cornwall
- Kent
- West Midlands
- Devon
- North East England
- Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire
343W - Essex
- North West England
- Thames Valley
- Dorset and Somerset
- West Yorkshire
- East Anglia.
In addition the helicopter emergency medical service covers London within the M25 motorway. There are also helicopter air ambulance services provided in the form of joint operations with the police in both Sussex and Wiltshire.
The charities are responsible for the number of aircraft provided and national health service ambulance trusts are responsible for calling out air ambulances to emergencies in accordance with locally agreed protocols. No central guidance has been issued.
Provision of air ambulance services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.