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Prime Minister gives cheque to Westpac Waikato air ambulance
Prime Minister gives cheque to Westpac Waikato air ambulance
Prime Minister John Key and local Hamilton MPs Tim MacIndoe and David Bennett visited the Westpac Waikato hangar on the Waiora Waikato Hospital campus last week to present a cheque to go towards a new air ambulance.
Mr Key gave the cheque for $73,434.13 on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The money will go towards the estimated cost of around $4 million to purchase a new helicopter. Already $1.3 million has been raised with Wel Energy Trust donating $700,000 towards the cause.
The Phillips Search and Rescue Trust operates the Westpac Waikato ambulance.
The current Bell 222B helicopter, bought in the 1990s, has issues surrounding performance, maintenance and limited rescue capability.
The chopper needs to get to Whakatane, New Plymouth and Gisborne and carry up to three hours of fuel.
The air ambulance has one of the largest geographical areas to cover in New Zealand and often has to rescue people in remote inaccessible areas such as forestry, mountains or distant farming and bush areas.
"I wouldn't want to be a helicopter pilot and go out in the conditions they do," said Mr Key.
The Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance carries out approximately 380 missions each year and has transported more than 9000 patients throughout the Waikato, King Country and Bay of Plenty region.
Mr Key said the service was a worthy cause that New Zealanders relied on to save lives.
"Sometimes you can't get a vehicle there and you need a helicopter or people will lose their lives".
"We know you will put this cheque to good use and that your purchase will make a difference," he said.
ends
Waikato District Health Board
Healthy People. Excellent Care
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) employs over 6500 people and plans, funds and provides hospital and health services to more than 391,770 people in a region covering eight per cent of New Zealand.
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