More critically ill people being rushed to hospital by helicopter

Sharp increases have been recorded by National Helicopters Services Limited (NHSL) in the number of emergency medical flights, with 224 being recorded over the past 27 months - nine per month. “NHSL has provided this service to the people of Tobago through the RHA/THA since 1990 when the company began operations,” Director and General Manager, Nicholas Nothnagel reported on Thursday.

This brings to over 1,000 the number of medical emergency flights for the period. Nothnagel explained that all but a few flights from offshore, have been to transfer critically ill or injured persons from Scarborough County Hospital in Tobago  or to the POS General Hospital. Occasionally, flights are made to the Mt Hope Hospital - the last one there being on January 8, 2004.