Air taxi plan for child hospital care

The charity-backed initiative comes as children are increasingly being transported further for urgent care to centres of excellence, which is among the reasons behind the ongoing national review of children’s heart surgery.

A new airbase and clinical training centre will be opened at Sheffield City Heliport next month as fund-raisers work to secure a helicopter to operate the service.

Martin Eede, of the charity NETS UK which is behind the project, said: “Clinicians have long recognised the need for a major specialist aero-medical inter-hospital transfer service in the country and NETS is striving to put that in place,” he said.

“Our service will be available to every part of the NHS who wishes to use and it is vital we are advised by clinicians on the best way to develop this service.”

Anyone who would like to volunteer for fund-raising for the venture can call Mr Eede on 0774 3930352.