A new rescue helicopter will be able to provide emergency treatment within an hour to the people of central-western NSW.
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The Central West NRMA Careflight helicopter, to be known as the Frances Evelyn, will be launched at a ceremony at Sydney’s Darling Harbour today.
NRMA Insurance Limited acting CEO Ian Brown said the helicopter would provide 300,000 people with medical treatment in emergencies within an hour.
“The introduction of the new NRMA Careflight Tenix helicopter service places the entire central west and adjacent areas inside the `golden hour’ of rapid response support,” Mr Brown said in a statement.
The service would also transport patients from rural areas to hospitals in Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo, he said.
Careflight’s other helicopter was based in Sydney, which meant a longer rescue response time for emergencies in the central west, an NRMA spokesman said.
The helicopter was a tribute to Dr Frances Evelyn Smith for her outstanding contribution to teaching hospital standards of care to patients, Mr Brown said.
NRMA member services CEO Rob Carter said the launch of a second NRMA Careflight helicopter would free up the other one for use throughout the rest of the State.
NRMA is the major sponsor of the Careflight rescue service. Tenix is an aviation infrastructure company also involved in the service.
