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The concept of an Air Ambulance (or Helicopter Emergency
Medical Service [HEMS]) is not
new. According to the Association of Air Ambulances, the first (Cornwall) was established in 1987, and the most recent (Hertfordshire)
in 2008.
According to the 2008 AAA Framework document, "Air ambulance services in England are funded through
17 charities of which the majority are independent charities with the others being NHS Corporate Trustees or independent charities
with NHS representation on their Boards. The air ambulance services are managed either by the charity in collaboration with
the NHS or by the NHS".
That is the model we seek to operate in the North of Ireland - Scotland also
has Air Ambulances, but these are run as an integral part of the NHS, whilst Wales uses the English format.
Our cause is simple - we exist only to make happen what we and our supporters believe there is
a real need for. Communicating isn't always easy, and whilst we'd really love to open up the debate, we simply
can't speak personally to every resident in the North of Ireland to canvass your views.
The many supporters
of the Air Ambulance concept believe that the cause is "right" and want the statutory stakeholders to determine
that they will now work with an organisation such as ourselves, to determine how we can
make this happen, how we can work as a Health Service provider alongside the Ambulance Trust and the various Health Trusts,
and how we can put the various operational, medical and governance processes in place.
We believe we're there
as regards "governance" and constitution - we are now structured exactly the same as most major UK charities (as
a Company limited by guarantee), and we have HMRC approval as a Charity in Northern Ireland.
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