Air ambulance replacement planned

The current air ambulance can carry only one patient

The East Anglian Air Ambulance plans to replace its ageing 1970s helicopter with a newer, larger model in 2005.

The new model will carry two patients and allow a doctor to ride along.

Steve Whitby, finance director for the ambulance trust, said that currently, the helicopter cannot even transport a parent along with an injured child.

The new helicopter will cost about £90,000 per month to run, versus the current cost of £65,000. Operations are financed solely through donations.

Mr Whitby said: "The current ambulance is fairly small... it holds one patient and their feet disappear under a bulkhead, so we can't treat lower-limb injuries in flight.

"Additionally, a parent whose child is transported by air can arrive at hospital 45 minutes after the helicopter does.

"We also cannot take a doctor on board without sacrificing one of the paramedics, and having more room for training paramedics will be welcome," he added.

Mr Whitby, who also promotes the trust's fundraising lottery, said it was hoped the extra funds for the new air ambulance would be raised without difficulty.

"We're always concerned about fundraising," he said, "but the general public has been so generous and we've been very grateful for that."