There is nothing unusual about the Westpac Air Ambulance ferrying patients the length and breadth of New Zealand but on Monday 3 September the flight from Taranaki Hospital to Auckland’s Starship Hospital was definitely unique.
An all female crew comprising of Captain Carlee McCaw, First Officer Alyce Wilson and Flight Nurse Manda Thompson, set out from Hamilton Airport to Taranaki to meet their three passengers, all of whom were female.
They were tasked to transport a child, along with her mother and younger sister from Taranaki Hospital to Auckland’s Starship Hospital. The Westpac Air Ambulance team also operate their own road ambulances in Hamilton and Taranaki ensuring seamless transfer from bedside to bedside for the patient and her family.
Equipped with the latest available medical equipment, our highly experienced medical crew can accommodate one or two stretcher patients, non-stop, to any location in New Zealand.
The Westpac Air Ambulance has been operating in New Zealand for over 25 years, currently operating two aeroplanes, from Hamilton Airport. It is a nationally recognised, accredited provider of Level 1 and 2 aero-medical transport services, nationwide.
Captain Carlee McCaw has been flying for 15 years and recently left the airline sector to join the Westpac Air Ambulance team. Prior to this she spent time as an ambulance officer and several years flying medivac in Africa. First Officer Alyce Wilson joined the Westpac Air Ambulance 18 months ago and prior to this she worked as a flight instructor and flew scenic mountain flights and parachuting operations. Flight Nurse Manda Thompson has been nursing for 9 years. Prior to joining the Westpac Air Ambulance she worked in critical care and gained a Masters of Critical Care nursing when working in Australia. She turned to flight nursing two years ago expanding her experience with her love of flying.
To learn more about the Westpac Air Ambulance visit westpacairambulance.org.nz
Crew L to R: First Office Alyce Wilson, Captain Carlee McCaw and Flight Nurse Manda Thompson
