Devon Air Ambulance's new H145 helicopter has entered service. “The Airbus H145 provides an exciting addition to our operational capacity,” says flight operations director Ian Payne. “This new aircraft has a bigger airframe than our previous helicopter and that means we have increased space on board and a larger medical compartment to treat and convey a patient. Added to that, we have designed our own medical fit-out which includes a unique seating configuration where up to three clinicians can all access a patient, when on the ground or in flight, with their equipment and monitors laid out in a systematic way and all within easy reach. The bespoke medical interior of the H145 also includes a new single stretcher system to ease the transfer of a patient from the scene of the incident, into our aircraft and then into the hospital A&E making the journey more comfortable for the patient.”

Critical care teams will utilise the additional space on board the H145 to carry more medical equipment to the scene of an incident as well as seat more people so that, even when operating with a team of three clinicians (when the crew composition is a doctor alongside two paramedics), there is still seating space for a parent/guardian, trainee clinician or pilot.

The new H145 will be based at Exeter airport while Devon's existing EC135 helicopter is based out of the Eaglescott airbase near Torrington. Together both will be providing up to 19 hours' service, operating until 02:00 every day, seven days a week.

Heléna Holt, chief executive of Devon Air Ambulance, concludes: “The introduction of the new H145 into service is great news for the people of Devon and underlines our ambition to provide the best possible service for critically ill or injured patients. All our supporters should be really proud of how they have helped us to plan and deliver these long-term strategic developments to their service, and we look forward to the day we can meet our supporters once again to thank them in person.”

The H145 was initially delivered in the summer but was idle while pilots underwent training.