UK first for Midlands flying medics

5:00pm Saturday 9th August 2008

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FLYING medics covering the Dudley borough have taken delivery of the UK’s first helicopter mobile command unit.

The state-of-the-art unit is designed to operate as a mobile support and command point to manage a safe and orderly flow of air ambulance flights, should a major emergency incident occur anywhere in the Midlands region.

The £30,000 unit has room for two control staff who will play a vital role in co-ordinating aircraft movements at the scene of a serious emergency situation.

Ian Clayton, County Air Ambulance operations manager, said: “Should County Air Ambulance be called upon to attend a major emergency situation, it is likely that Air Ambulances will also respond from all over the UK.

“It is therefore necessary to coordinate air safety at the scene and near receiving hospitals, and this is now possible by utilising our mobile command unit”.

The new Helicopter Command unit will be held in a state of readiness at the RAF Cosford base of County Air Ambulance.