On Monday the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended two early morning transfers from Rotorua Hospital to Waikato Hospital.
Kick-starting there Monday morning for the night shift crews. Both flights were undertaken using Night Vision Googles using IFR flight rules due to the weather conditions.
The day shift crews took over and at midday, a tasking by NICU (Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit) was received with a very ill newborn baby needing to be flown up to Starship Hospital in Auckland for urgent specialist care.
Shortly after returning from this flight both operational Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopters were dispatched on primary missions at the same time. Air1 Hamilton flew to Paeroa to assist an elderly gentleman suffering a medical condition & Air2 Hamilton was dispatched to Whangamata to a sick child. Both of these flights were conducted by crews wearing NVG.
Both patients were airlifted to Waikato Hospital.
We here at the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter have a policy of keeping the media informed of our work. We do this as a service to the media and in an effort to raise our profile with the public to assist with our fundraising campaigns. Our service is only possible because of sponsor support and donations. We appreciate seeing our name in any stories utilising information supplied by us.
