By TONY GEE
Emergency rescues by helicopter in areas from Mercer and Coromandel in the south to North Cape are to be carried out by a united service combining Auckland and Northland rescue helicopters.
The two warring trusts running the rival emergency helicopter rescue services, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and Northland Emergency Services Trust (Nest), have agreed to bury their year-old hatchet and work together, at least until October 1 next year.
Agreement on how the award of a controversial Accident Compensation Corporation rescue contract to the Auckland trust should be run until its expiry next October has been reached between Nest chairman John Bain and ARHT general manager Scotty Watson.
The Auckland trust, flying its BK117 helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, will continue to hold the ACC contract but will subcontract the service to Northland and its bigger American-built Sikorsky until its expiry date next year.
Nest chairman John Bain said last night that the interim arrangement meant at any stage through workload demands either trust with its helicopter could respond to an emergency call from Mercer or Coromandel up to North Cape.
"There will be two helicopters, two different trusts plus the ARHT's fixed-wing aircraft but we'll have two extremely efficient operations.
"It's a fair result for everybody and in the end, we're there to serve patients. We think collectively we can provide a far better service than on our own.
"With the close liaison we have now, we can provide a high, upmarket service."
What happened after October next year when the existing ACC contract expires was unclear.
"We know the ACC and the Ministry of Health will be watching us closely in the meantime," Mr Bain said.
The two trusts had been at odds since the ACC awarded Northland's accident emergency service contract to the Auckland trust after it had been held by Northland with its Sikorsky helicopter.
On occasions at major emergencies, and at least one fatal road accident in the Far North, both the Sikorsky and the BK117 from Auckland turned up at the same emergency scene.
The new emergency rescue arrangement will start to operate within the next few days.
Rival helicopter services to join forces
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