Urgent specialist medical care
An example of urgent specialist care might be, a patient in Wellington with a spinal injury may need access to Christchurch’s specialist spinal unit, or a baby in Nelson may need access to Wellington’s specialist neonatal unit.
The air ambulance service is like a flying intensive care ward staffed by specialist flight nurses, doctors and crew.
Life Flight coordinates a full bed-to-bed service, taking care of all logistics and providing the aircraft, equipment and expert medical teams.
The Planes
The type of plane used to provide Life Flight’s air ambulance service is a Jetstream 32.
The plane is pressurised and equipped to fly at all times of the day and night in all but the most severe weather.
It can be configured to carry two patients, one crewperson, a medical team and up to four relatives or support people for the patient. Being able to travel with loved-ones is invaluable to families struggling with a severe trauma.