HSE in talks with British firm for air ambulance service

A BRITISH helicopter firm has been in talks with the HSE for the past two years with a view to providing air ambulance services in this country.

A spokesperson for Bond Air Services, one of the largest providers of air ambulances in Britain, said talks are now at an “advance stage” following the submission of a proposal for a trial, which was submitted at the request of the current chief executive of the Health Service Executive.

Paul Westaway from Bond — which operates 18 Air Ambulance helicopters throughout England, Scotland and Wales — said the company was engaged in on-going discussions with the HSE regarding the provision of a charity-funded air ambulance based at Cork, covering all of Ireland.