Steward Health Care Malta to launch improved air-ambulance service between Gozo and Malta

Steward Health Care Malta yesterday announced improvements to the air-ambulance service used to transport patients from Gozo to Malta, through the upgrading of the air ambulance helicopter and the introduction of an additional aircraft to be used as a back-up option.

The new air ambulance being brought in is an Airbus Helicopter EC135 type, which is the most common type of air ambulance helicopter in the world. “The EC135 is a twin-engine light helicopter with a maximum take-off weight of 2,800kg, which can carry one stretcher patient and up to three accompanying medics,” a statement by the company read.

“In addition to this, Steward Health Care Malta will also be upgrading the service through the introduction of a back-up aircraft of a similar kind.”

Nadine Delicata, President of Steward Health Care Malta, said in the statement that the current service Steward is running is already a massive improvement on the previous arrangement which relied solely on the AFM to transport patients, and which required a clinical team from

Mater Dei Hospital to be picked up from SLH Helipad before flying to Gozo. The current operation, she explained, will see the

Steward air ambulance permanently based in Gozo and staffed around the clock, with clinical teams leaving with the patient from Gozo General Hospital, thus saving at least 60 minutes of precious time that is so critical to improving patient outcome.

“While our current set-up is a significant improvement on the past arrangement, we wanted to go a step further in providing our community with air ambulance cover in any eventuality. Through the introduction of a modern aircraft and a back-up service, we are ensuring that our people are covered when the aircraft is down for both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. In this way we are not only fulfilling our obligations under the concession, but going above and beyond to make sure that the highest level of care is provided to our patients, notwithstanding the cost.”

The new service is expected to come into operation next month and will be run in conjunction with Gulf Med Aviation Services, a Maltese helicopter operator and maintenance provider.

Steward Health Care Malta runs three hospitals across the Maltese Islands: Karin Grech Hospital, St Luke’s Hospital, and Gozo General Hospital. The contracts have been a topic of public scrutiny, given that the deal was originally signed with Vitals Global Healthcare, with Steward taking over in 2018.