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Air Ambulance
Many people in our community are unaware of the fixed wing air ambulance
service operating in Hawke’s Bay. People often learn about
the service when a friend or family member needs to be transported
to a tertiary hospital.
Hawke’s Bay has one of the busiest air ambulance services
in New Zealand. Patients are transported daily to tertiary hospitals
around the country and retrieved from the Health i.e. Wairoa Health
Centre.
Operation
The air ambulance service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
from the Bridge Pa aerodrome.
Both the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust and Lowe Corporation
have provided funding support for service as well as specialist equipment
compatible with the rescue helicopter.
Flight Team
Standard set up for flights include 1 or 2 Pilots, 1 Flight Nurse
and if required a Doctor or technician, according to the patients
needs.
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| Air Ambulance Pilots |
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| Air Ambulance Nurses |
The Flight Nurses have specialist training in aeromedicine and maintain
clinical skills by working on the ward as well.
Flight Types
Each patient transport and destination varies depending on the
patients needs. Examples of transportations:
- Critical care burns victims Elective surgery transfers Neurosurgical
patients
- Spinal injury patients Accident trauma victims Interventional
Cardiology
- Retrieval from Wairoa Health Centre Oncology patients
Aircraft
The air ambulance fleet offers a comprehensive service to meet
patient air transport needs for the Hawke’s Bay region.
The air ambulance aircraft are:
- Pressurised Cessna Golden Eagle
- Piper Navajo
- Piper Seneca
Equipment
Air Ambulance equipment includes:
- Custom made medical transport pack 240, 24 and 12 volt power supplies
- 3000 litres of oxygen
- Patient stretchers Patient lifter Loading ramps
- Communication units to contact ambulances, hospitals and Doctors
The Hospital Transport Team carries specialist equipment, including
patient monitors and life support equipment
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