At the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance Service committee meeting at St Angelo Airport recently were, from left, Peter Quinn (Trustee), Alan Cathcart (Managing Director, Enniskillen Airport), Ian Crowe (Chairman), Ray Foran (Trustee) and Rodney Connor (Trustee) RMG44
ONE OF the local Trustees of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has backed Enniskillen as the possible location for a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
A public consultation on the development of the service closed on January 21, with Health Minister Simon Hamilton already providing his commitment. It is expected a final decision will be made by Mr Hamilton by the end of this month/start of March.
The minister still must decide on the exact details of how the emergency service will be implemented and where it will be located.
Former chief executive of Fermanagh District Council and one time Westminster candidate Rodney Connor is a Trustee of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, a charity that has submitted an application to provide the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.
It is thought that the charity is in a strong position to provide the air ambulance on a partnership basis with the Department of Health, but nothing has been finalised at this stage.
On Friday Trustees of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, including Mr Connor and Peter Quinn, met with Alan Cathcart, Managing Director of Enniskillen Airport Ltd. The purpose of the visit to the airport was to access its suitability to be the home base for the proposed emergency medical service. A spokesman from Air Ambulance Northern Ireland explained: “There are a number of factors to be taken into account, such as availability of hangarage, fuel and facilities along with flight travel time throughout Northern Ireland and the major trauma centres. We have similar visits have been made to the civilian and military facilities at Aldergrove Airport.”
Speaking after the visit Mr Connor admitted that he was impressed with what St Angelo had to offer.
“I must say while obviously the decision won’t be made until after the minister has made his announcement St Angelo certainly answers all the questions that we had. Alan Cathcart met us and spent a long time going through all the different issues and I must say he was very impressive.”
He continued:
“I would think there will be full consideration given to all possible locations, but I think when you look what you have at St Angelo; hangarage, all the civil aviation requirements, everything is there.”
If the Minister backs the involvement of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in helping to provide the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Mr Connor has said that it could be up and running by September if everything goes to plan.
The annual costs for the life-saving service run into the millions, with the initial cost in establishment over £3 million. Despite the significant financial outlay local businesses in Fermanagh have already pledged their support to the charity.
“We’ve been determined not to raise any money until appointed, but in order to be in a position to get going as quickly as possible we have made contact with many of the businesses. I have contacted many businesses in Fermanagh and we have letters of support from most of them,” added Mr Connor.
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