HEMS promised for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Health Minister Simon Hamilton has given his commitment to establishing a helicopter emergency medical service.
Image: Northern Ireland Health Minister Simon Hamilton (Northern Ireland Executive)
In a statement released on 3 September, the Northern Ireland Department of Health reported that Health Minister Simon Hamilton has given his commitment to establishing a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) as an integral part of the trauma network for the province. A high-profile campaign, HEMS4NI, was set up in tribute to Dr John Hinds, who provided medical care at motorcycle road races and lost his life in an accident at an event earlier this year. At the start of September, the campaign’s online petition had gained over 64,000 signatures.
Hamilton said: “I believe that the time is right to transform our major trauma services with the development of the new critical care building at the Royal Victoria Hospital and the supportive public debate on the need for HEMS providing the opportunity for this. I am therefore announcing today my commitment to further strengthen our existing high quality trauma services by enabling clinicians to take this service to the next level. This commitment involves the establishment of the Northern Ireland Trauma Network, with recurrent investment of £211,000 to operate the Network, and plans to move forward with a HEMS as a key component of the network.”
He explained that the regional Network will further develop the Royal Victoria Hospital as the centre of Northern Ireland’s trauma service, working within a strong network across the Province. Hamilton continued: “Speed of patient transport to the specialist centre is a key requirement for an effective trauma network and I want to also take this to the next level by announcing today my commitment to the establishment of a Northern Ireland HEMS as a key component of the Trauma Network.”
The exact HEMS model will be determined following the outcome of a public consultation by the Department of Health. The key issues include: service configuration; target patient groups; home base location; and funding models.
Hamilton said the estimated cost for to set up HEMS will be £2.38 million for initial infrastructure and £1.8 million annual recurrent operating costs. This funding could include ‘a robust and recurrent charitable funding contribution’, he said, if this can be secured.