Last call for feedback on Scotland's air ambulance

The public are being offered a last chance to have their say on the future of Scotland's air ambulance service ahead of its renewal.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is asking for views to help inform the re-procurement of the service, which transfers patients living in remote, rural and island communities to and from hospital.

It also provides air ambulance support to the ScotSTAR retrieval teams and responds to 999 calls in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) role.

The service, funded by the Scottish Government, is delivered through a managed contract of two helicopters – one based in Glasgow and one in Inverness – and two fixed-wing aircraft – one at Aberdeen Airport and one at Glasgow Airport.

In addition to the four government-funded aircraft, the service is supplemented by two helicopters provided by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

A national multi-disciplinary team of paramedics, nurses, advanced practitioners and doctors work together to provide a flexible and responsive service that offers timely, safe and effective care for patients.

More than 1500 people across Scotland have already provided their feedback on the SAS Air Ambulance Service through the consultation which launched in 2022.

Andy Moir, air ambulance re-procurement programme director at the SAS, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to contribute to the Air Ambulance Service consultation and engagement exercise so far.

“As we enter the final stage of the consultation and engagement process, we welcome feedback from everyone with views on the Air Ambulance Service and especially those who haven’t been in touch already. The feedback we receive enables us to build a clear picture of the desired next generation of the Air Ambulance Service.”

If you wish to express views or opinions about any aspect of the air ambulance future service, you can email sas.airamb@nhs.scot by March 17.

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