International research has shown that the appropriate deployment of EMS helicopters has a positive effect on patient outcomes and, as such, their use has been adopted worldwide as a valuable instrument in saving lives.
Netcare 911 subscribes to an internationally accepted set of flight authorisation criteria that govern Netcare 911 HEMS activation and utilisation. The criteria determine when the use of a helicopter is warranted, and which patients will benefit the most from being airlifted.
Netcare 911’s helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) currently
operates dedicated, permanently configured and ICU equipped helicopter air ambulances. Located in
Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape, these aircraft operate 24 hours a day, ensuring that an emergency care
practitioner-based helicopter service is available for immediate
dispatch as a primary resource to life-threatening emergencies at all
times. The service makes use of Bell 407, 430 and 222 helicopters, which have excellent prowess in terms of flight
range and speed, to rapidly bring lifesaving equipment and care to
patients most in need thereof. This service is also available to
expedite inter-facility transfers of critically ill and injured
patients.
All of Netcare 911’s helicopter ambulance services are
efficiently coordinated through a single-source, end-to-end dedicated flight
operations centre based within Netcare 911’s national emergency operations
centre in Midrand, Gauteng.