'It will save rural lives': Air Ambulance service to operate in Northern Ireland

Farming remained the highest risk occupation in Northern Ireland
Farming remained the highest risk occupation in Northern Ireland

An Air Ambulance service will soon be operating in Northern Ireland, with farmers and the rural sector welcoming the move.

The Ulsters Farmers Union (UFU) says the move will save rural lives.

It says it believes this will save lives in situations where there are poorer road networks and longer distances which are more susceptible to poor weather conditions.

The UFU President Barclay Bell said: “It will be a real boost for rural areas, being able to use an emergency helicopter service that is doctor and paramedic led as patients can be stabilised quickly on site and transported to the hospital best equipped to treat their injuries.

He added that despite successes in changing attitudes, farming remained the highest risk occupation in Northern Ireland.

“When accidents happen on farms unfortunately they are all too often serious and can happen in areas which are often inaccessible to the normal ambulance service so this service will definitely save lives,” said the UFU president.

Mr Bell stressed that while the air ambulance service would be a high profile success for tackling serious incidents in rural areas, it must not detract from the current pressure on medical services in rural communities.

“More hospital services are being centralised, but at the same time rural GP practices are under-funded and unable to attract doctors. It's as important that this is tackled as it is to have a new air ambulance service to improve emergency care.

“Securing an air ambulance is a huge achievement and it is a tremendous tribute to Dr John Hinds who started the campaign – but it does not take away from the failure of politicians to tackle the lack of access to general health care in rural areas,” said Mr Bell.