ACC refuses to give rescue-copter vow

The Accident Compensation Corporation is refusing to endorse the Palmerston North-based air ambulance service after announcing this week that the Nelson rescue helicopter will stay.

ACC Healthwise general manager David Rankin says there are too many rescue helicopters in the central North Island.

The service is fragmented and lacks co-ordination, he says, but ACC is keeping an open mind on the best solution.

Helicopters are based in Palmerston North, Taupo, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Tauranga and Hamilton.

National MPs want to know if a promise from ACC to retain the Nelson rescue helicopter will be extended to other districts, but the corporation is giving no such assurances, arguing that Nelson is a special case, because it has three national parks and a lot of tourists on the fringes of Wellington's ability to respond.

The Draft National Air Ambulance Strategy issued last month omits Palmerston North from a list of first- and second-tier centres for rescue helicopter services, although it concedes more homework is required on coverage of the Central Plateau.

Dr Rankin argued the proposal did not equate to Palmerston North losing its service and said he was surprised by the public's willingness to jump to conclusions. Submissions on the first draft close on February 25.

Dr Rankin said it was likely a second draft of the air ambulance strategy would be released after submissions on the first draft had been considered.

Palmerston North now appears to be competing with Rotorua and Taupo to serve the Central Plateau area. One factor in Palmerston North's favour is the city's well-equipped hospital.

However, Dr Rankin said the hospital was not large enough to add Palmerston North to the list of seven cities where rescue helicopter services are to be concentrated and upgraded.

Rangitikei MP Simon Power said ACC's guarantee to Nelson was a backdown and he suggested the Government needed to take notice of support for the Palmerston North-based helicopter.

Tararua Mayor Maureen Reynolds is urging people to back the status quo. "If we remain silent, that will be interpreted as agreement."

Mrs Reynolds is calling on MPs and Prime Minister Helen Clark to register their opposition to ACC's proposal.

The region's mayors will meet to discuss the report next month.

Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall said public reaction to the draft strategy had been phenomenal.

"Reducing the number of rescue helicopters reduces the number of rescues that will occur on time," he said.

"It will put lives at risk by increasing the isolation of rural people to essential health services."

ACC caused an uproar when it released the draft, which suggested services should be centred on seven key locations - Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton or Tauranga, Hastings, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

It noted that services needed to be maintained at New Plymouth, Gisborne, Greymouth, Queenstown and Invercargill.

At present NZ has 18 rescue helicopter services, and cities that could lose theirs have mounted campaigns to retain them.

ACC and sponsors pay for the services, and ACC is reviewing its funding.

It has said the draft strategy is nothing more than suggestions and it wants public input before decisions are made, but the plan outlined in it has provoked an outcry nonetheless.

The draft suggests there are too many services operating and providing rescue helicopters within a 30- to 45-minute radius of major hospitals could be more efficient.

NZ First is also calling for the services to be left alone. Deputy leader Peter Brown said ACC was losing sight of its principal aim, which was to help victims.

He is seeking a meeting with ACC Minister Ruth Dyson to tell her why he believes the draft strategy does not make sense.

- NZPA