UK air ambulance group lobbies for infrastructure

Ten months ago all 16 of England’s and Wales’ air ambulances created the Association of Air Ambulance Charities (AAAC) to lobby the government to consider

By Thierry Dubois • Writer

December 21, 2006

Ten months ago all 16 of England’s and Wales’ air ambulances created the Association of Air Ambulance Charities (AAAC) to lobby the government to consider the needs of the air ambulance community. The AAAC argues that the lives and money the group saves warrant it some influence. Association chairman David Philpott recently met UK Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt to express the charities’ wish to be included in the health policy.

Philpott told AIN, “We clarified that we do not want money from the government.” Instead, the association would like the government to help the industry with infrastructure issues. For example, some hospitals are turning helipads into parking for cars. “They should be reminded that helipads are important in routine helicopter emergency medical service [HEMS] and to face natural disasters and terrorism,” Philpott added. “We need a wider approach,” he emphasized, claiming that the government can help with this issue, too.

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