Replacement air ambulance available within 90 minutes

Thu, 02 Feb 2017

The Island's Health Minister has confirmed a replacment air ambulance aircraft will be supplied within 90 minutes in the event of a technical issue with the plane at Ronaldsway.

Kate Beecroft revealed in this week's sitting of the House of Keys that the Department of Health and Social Care's contract with Capital Air Ambulance, who operate the service, includes the provision for a replacement aircraft if the one based on the Island can't be used.

Mrs Beecroft also confirmed that the nearest Coastguard helicopter from the UK or Ireland can be used to transfer a patient in an emergency should the aircraft be grounded.

The Minister stressed that it's rare for faults to ground the aircraft based at Ronaldsway.