Public's views sought on air ambulance service

All three will take place prior to the Air Ambulance Service’s. re-procurement.

The meetings will take place via Zoom on September 22, 26 and 29 from 7pm- 8pm and will build on questionnaire feedback from the first phase of the re-procurement consultation and engagement programme which ran earlier this year.

The Air Ambulance Service, which is funded in its entirety by the Scottish Government, transfers patients living in remote, rural and island communities to and from hospital.

It also provides air ambulance support to the ScotSTAR retrieval teams and responds to 999 calls in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) role.

Currently, the service is delivered through a managed contract of two helicopters; one based in Glasgow and one in Inverness and two fixed wing aircraft; one at Aberdeen Airport and one at Glasgow Airport.

In addition to the four government funded aircraft, the service is supplemented by two helicopters provided by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

A national multi-disciplinary team of paramedics, nurses, advanced practitioners, and doctors, work together to provide a flexible and responsive service that offers timely, safe and effective care for patients.

Paul Bassett, chief operating officer at the Scottish Ambulance Service, said the public’s contribution is an important part of the process.

He said: “These online meetings are a key part of our consultation and engagement work and their output will inform the re-procurement of our Air Ambulance Service prior to its renewal.

“It’s vital we collate as many views as possible, so I’d encourage people to join the meetings and share their opinions with us.”

To register your interest for an online meeting and to receive joining instructions, please contact [email protected] with your preferred date.

For those who cannot attend these sessions, please also contact the above email address and a consultation form will be sent out week commencing September 19.