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Concern over ambulance helicopters nighttime restrictions       23/6/14

 

Concerns have been raised over air ambulance helicopters apparently not flying to Barra during the night.

 

Piloting the aircraft with captains who do not have the correct nighttime certification is suggested to be the cause.

 

Isles MP Angus MacNeil said: “It is a matter of some alarm that has come to my attention in the last few days, that on no fewer than four occasions in the last six months, the air ambulance helicopter has been unable to come into Barra at night due to pilots, it has been alleged to me, not being certified to service the island in the hours of darkness.”

 

Mr Macneil added: “Quite what this would be is unclear. But if this is the case, we need to understand why this certification is not in place and ensure remedial action is taken as a matter of priority so that the air ambulance cover for Barra, and perhaps other Scottish islands, is 24/7 as would be expected.”

 

Mr Macneil added: “Whether this would have affected the four previous cases will be of concern to relatives and friends but the crux of the matter is that an air ambulance service should be able, weather permitting, to access islands at all times of the day and night.

 

“We cannot have a situation where we have a fifth such event. If an air ambulance is required, by its very nature it is emergency transportation and avoidable delays are totally unacceptable.

 

Mr Macneil is raising the issue with Bond Air Services, which hold the contract, and the Scottish Ambulance Service in addition to Health Minister Alex Neil.