what it like if you need to get to a hospital quickly

[Guest Linda158]

Hi my husband suffers with a kidney stone it flare up around every 4 years and his parents quite rightly said if your on an island how do you get to hospital in a hurry can anyone help and put their minds at peace thank you for taking the time to read this post from Linda

[paulb]

ambulance and special ferries. if very urgent helicopter. but dont worry the gp will help.

[righter]

my husband suffered from one an few months ago,we called out the GP who sent us into the hospital. We live 33 miles away,so calling an ambulance was not worthwhile (or appropriate). GP had given him a pain killing jab,so it wasn`t too bad.

[MuckleJoannie]

From the Scottish Ambulance Service

 

http://www.scottishambulance.com/newsDesk/NewsItem.aspx?NewsID=47

The Scottish Ambulance Service has completed an initiative to create new lit helicopter landing sites on Shetland’s outer isles that will enhance access for medical evacuations.

 

While the Coastguard helicopter has always had 24 hour access to these islands, the new sites will allow access at night by the Jigsaw helicopter, which requires a lit landing site in darkness under Civil Aviation Authority rules.

 

Volunteers have been trained to deploy the lights, when notified by the Service, on Clickimin, Fair Isle, Fetlar, Foula, Papa Stour, Skerries, Unst, Whalsay, Yell.

 

Andy Moir, Head of Air Ambulance Service, Scottish Ambulance Service, said:

“We have worked closely with clinicians and community representatives on the islands to ensure that we continue to provide a a high quality service that meets their needs.

 

“The development of these sites and the support of volunteers to deploy lights in darkness will improve operational flexibility, particularly at night.â€

 

The Scottish Ambulance Service undertakes around 16 medical evacuations by air from Shetland’s outer isles every year. In October last year the Service entered into an agreement with Directflight to provide non-emergency transfers to Tingwall and Sumburgh on the company’s locally based Islander aircraft.