North east pciked for the hugely successful service
Aberdeen will be the base for Scotland’s second air ambulance chopper it has been revealed.
Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) announced plans to station its second charity-funded aircraft in the north east - with hopes of launching the service by late 2019.
SCAA 's new Aberdeen-based aircraft - callsign Helimed 79 - will join its stablemate Helimed 76 already operating out of Perth Airport.
The strengthened SCAA fleet will double the number of helicopter air ambulances operating in Scotland, working alongside the two government funded helicopters based at Glasgow and Inverness.
The decision to locate its second helicopter at Aberdeen comes after lengthy talks between SCAA and the Scottish Ambulance Service, in consultation with other key stakeholders.
SCAA founding chairman John Bullough, said: "Aberdeen will house one of Scotland's four major trauma centres in the future Scottish trauma network and it makes sense for Helimed 79 to add its considerable capability to that growing hub of emergency medical resources.
"SCAA is frequently tasked to emergencies in the north east and having an air ambulance based there will optimise the coverage and resilience of the country's entire emergency air response - helping to fulfil one of the Scottish Trauma Network's key objectives of transporting patients to a key trauma centre such as Aberdeen within 45 minutes of serious illness or injury.
"With a second helicopter air ambulance service, SCAA will further positively impact on the outcome for patients - ultimately saving and improving hundreds more lives every year.”
Jeane Freeman, minister for health, said the aircraft was crucial to ensure the most severely injured patients have the best chance of recovery from their injuries.
She said: “Last month I had the honour of opening Scotland’s first major trauma centre in Aberdeen which will treat the most seriously injured patients in the North of Scotland. This second air ambulance will build capacity to support this, significantly contributing to our growing hub of resources in that area.”
The charity is currently in talks with existing and potential major donors to help secure the £6 million required to launch and finance a second helicopter for its first three years.
