Final push to raise £197k to kit out air ambulance

Medics are appealing for people to help raise the final £197,000 of a £2.8m campaign to buy and kit out a second lifesaving helicopter for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

There are just six weeks left of the appeal to raise the final funds for the medical fit before the end of April.

The fit is the build in the rear cabin for the clinicians to bring an array of medical equipment and facilities to the places they visit.

Original aircrew member Paul Westaway, who is the operational projects consultant, said that, once fitted out, the operating space would mean the clinical crew can "work at the scene to stabilise the patient and they can effectively work on the patient in the air".

Critical care paramedic Pete Storer appealed to people help in the final fundraising push for the service, which was called out 1,064 times last year, with 327 of them emergencies.

He said getting the essential life-saving equipment would help make it "one of the best services in the country at delivering high-quality patient care".

He said: "We are all very excited nearing the end of our Heli2 campaign.

"Let's see our new helicopter home as soon as possible."

The fit is due to include a state-of-the-art stretcher system allowing almost 360-degree access to the patient, a specialist seat so clinicians can monitor and treat the patient during flight, and rapid access to specialist equipment.

Critical care paramedic Lisa Ball said: "Without the medical fit, we cannot transport our kit to scene, carry out lifesaving interventions, or convey patients to hospital."

The second helicopter is now in Gloucester, where it will undergo the medical fit, which is expected to take some months to complete.

The aircraft was expected to go into service during early summer, bosses said.

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