02/08/2017

Air Ambulance Service In NI Launches

A new air ambulance service is to become fully operational today, 02 August.

The service will be based at the former Maze prison site near Lisburn and will be able to reach any part of NI within 25 minutes.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Chief Executive Shane Devlin said: "The introduction of HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) to our response model is a really positive advance in pre-hospital care throughout the region.

"The advanced medical interventions which can be delivered by our doctors and paramedics in the HEMS team at incidents where life may be ebbing away will further improve survival rates and help to ensure better patient outcomes."

Sinn Féin's Health Spokesperson MLA Pat Sheehan said: "I welcome the news that the north's first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service will become operational today.

"This saving valuable time in responding to a casualty with the ability of the air ambulance to reach anywhere in the north within 25 minutes.

"This news follows an earlier decision by my colleague, former Health Minister Michelle O'Neill, to proceed with the Air Ambulance service based on a doctor led model. This means the service will operate with a doctor and paramedic on board.

"Today's news is a proud day for all the people who have campaigned and worked for the introduction of this service, including the late Dr John Hinds."

(CD)




Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 July 2019
NI Ambulance Service Recruiting Helicopter Paramedics
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is recruiting for new helicopter paramedics to be based at the Air Ambulance base at Maze Long Kesh in Lisburn and Emergency Ambulance Control at NIAS HQ in Belfast. Successful candidates will join the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team which is made up of 15 doctors and seven paramedics.
01 April 2008
Ambulance Crew Involved In M1 Crash
An ambulance crew has been involved in a crash in Belfast as they were attempting to resuscitate a young baby on the M1 motorway. The crew had been flagged down on Kennedy Way to help an infant who had stopped breathing, when a lorry collided with the ambulance at 11am today. The lorry was approaching the Broadway roundabout.
09 August 2021
Man Arrested In Connection With Death Of A 2-Year-Old Child
A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a two-year-old girl. Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended an address in Park Avenue in Dungannon on Friday 06 August, where they took the child to hospital. The child died in hospital a short time later.
06 February 2017
Ambulance Crews Come Under Attack In Lurgan
Ambulance crews have come under attack in Lurgan . A man smashed the windscreen of an ambulance with an oxygen cylinder that he stole from the vehicle while the staff were treating a man who had been stabbed at around midnight on Friday, 03 February. The ambulance is now unavailable to use until it is repaired next week.
17 November 2016
New NI Air Ambulance Service To Be Based At Maze Long Kesh Site
The new air ambulance service for Northern Ireland is to be based at the Maze Long Kesh site in Co Antrim. First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness made the announcement. The Ministers said: "We are delighted to make land at Maze Long Kesh available to bring this goal a step closer to reality.