A public consultation has been launched by Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) today, to inform its re-procurement of the Air Ambulance Service, looking to modernise the service ahead of its contract renewal.

Playing a key role in supporting patients in remote, rural and island communities with emergency paramedic and pre-hospital Scottish Trauma Network care and providing transportation to and from hospitals, the Air Ambulance Service currently runs with two core helicopters and two fixed-wing aircrafts. They respond to 999 calls in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) role.

Andy Moir, the Programme Director for Air Ambulance Re-procurement at the Scottish Ambulance Service said:

“This wide-ranging consultation will provide us with the opportunity to help shape the future of the Air Ambulance Service, ensuring a sustainable, modern service which delivers high-quality care for the people of Scotland.”

As part of NHS Scotland, the Air Ambulance Service is funded fully by the Scottish government and beyond supporting remote, rural and island communities, provides essential support to the ScotSTAR retrieval teams for intensive care transport from airports.

The service is enhanced by an additional two helicopters and two rapid response vehicles operated by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance paid for through donations and fundraising.

The combined HEMS service, by basing its teams around Scotland, is able to reach 90% of Scotland in 25 minutes.

The government-funded NHS Air Ambulance service has helicopters based in Glasgow and Inverness and fixed-wing aircraft in Glasgow and Aberdeen airports.

Currently the Air Ambulance Service is looking for views and opinions on the future of its service, ahead of the government contract renewal.

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