Brighton and Hove to have 24-hour air ambulance cover

A new air ambulance will give Brighton and Hove 24-hour cover.

Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance announced the arrival of its new helicopter today (Friday 21 June).

The new helicopter is able to operate at night and will be based at Redhill, one of the organisation’s two bases.

The other helicopter, which is based at Marden in Kent, is expected to be replaced by a similar aircraft with night-flying capability within the next 18 months.

In preparation for the 24-hour operation, the charity’s specialist doctor and paramedic crew have already begun to deliver a medical service using an emergency response car through the night.

Adrian Bell, chief executive of the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, said: “We believe that there is a real and identifiable need for the skills of a specialist medical team during the night as well as through the day.

“To this end, we have replaced one of our helicopters with a new version capable of night operations.

“While we are waiting for the necessary regulatory processes to be completed we have started operating by car during the hours of darkness.

“This has been a very useful exercise in helping us to prepare for a 24-hour operation and has allowed us to learn more about the technicalities and logistics of operating at night without the incumbencies of aviation issues.”