DHB supports chopper changes

Lakes District Health Board supports efforts to improve air ambulance helicopter response times, as announced by Health Minister Dr David Clark recently. The successful provider, Central Air Ambulance Rescue Limited, is a joint venture of five trusts. The company will begin operating from November 1.

Air ambulance helicopter services will be provided from Hamilton, Wellington, New Plymouth, Hastings, Taupo¯, Gisborne, Tauranga and Palmerston North. Rotorua will not have a base, but the region will be well-covered by the bases in Taupo¯, Tauranga and Hamilton.