Private firm to run emergency flights to British hospitals

The HSE has put in place a private air ambulance service to bring seriously ill children to British hospitals for transplants after difficulties arose with the night-time service provided by the Air Corps and Irish Coast Guard.

Due to staffing constraints within the Air Corps and regulatory requirements of the Coast Guard, neither has been able to operate a service for priority 1 transfer patients between the hours of 7pm and 7.30am since November 6.

Priority 1 transfer means the transport by air from Ireland to another country within eight hours of a patient requiring emergent medical or surgical treatment, without which their life or health is significantly endangered.