Scotland's 'most advanced' air ambulance rescues woman in first landmark mission in the North-East

The country’s “newest and most advanced” air ambulance has completed its first lifesaving mission of a woman in Aberdeen.

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) launched its Airbus H145 D3 on Wednesday following a month of intensive pilot and paramedic training since the aircraft’s arrival.

Described as the most advanced helicopter of its kind in the UK, the Aberdeen-based aircraft offers “greater range, endurance and capacity”.

On its maiden mission, the helicopter reached the casualty in the North East in just over 15 minutes.

Paramedic Laura Paterson puts on her lifejacket and helmet before leaving the Aberdeen base for a medical emergency in North East Scotland. Graeme Hart via Supplied

Paramedics worked alongside Scottish Ambulance Service colleagues before airlifting the woman to Aberdeen for hospital care, a journey that would have taken almost an hour by road.

SCAA said the introduction of the new helicopter represents a “step change” in helicopter pre-hospital care, and chief executive David Craig described the milestone as the beginning of a “new era”.

“Everyone at SCAA is immensely proud of delivering this new generation of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the people of Scotland, the same people who have supported us year on year to allow us to sustain our life-saving service,” he said.

“Our thoughts are, however, with the patient involved in today’s emergency call out and their family.

The helicopter lands back in Aberdeen after attending its first emergency callout. Graeme Hart via Supplied

“SCAA’s mission is simple: to provide rapid, high-quality medical care in the air, to transport patients to hospitals in the most efficient way possible, and to ensure that no one in Scotland should die because help can’t get there in time.

It is reassuring to see our new H145 D3 (G-NSCA) deliver the role it was specially customised to fulfil.”