Vol. 460 No. 3
606 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Defence the number of inter-hospital transfers that are carried out by the Air Corps each year; the number of patients carried by the Air Corps each year and the total cost to the Air Corps of such transfers. [1198/96]
An arrangement is in place between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health whereby the Air Corps operate an air ambulance service for the health boards for emergency cases. The service has been provided since the early 1960's. Air ambulance missions normally involve the transfer of seriously ill patients from one hospital to another but occasionally involve the evacuation of seriously ill patients from offshore islands to mainland hospitals.
The average number of air ambulance missions carried out in the years 1992 to 1995 was 151. One patient is normally carried on each mission. The average direct cost of the missions was £230,000 per annum.
