The Government of Jersey, together with the States of Guernsey, have transferred the Channel Islands Air Ambulance agreement to Gama Aviation, with the aim of securing the long-term sustainability and resilience of the service.
With effect from 00.01 on Saturday 18 July, the incumbent contract holder Capital Air Ambulance, transferred all services, including related assets and key personnel, to Gama Aviation.
The Health and Community Services department have agreed contracts with an initial term of five years and options to extend by up to five years.
Operating Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft, Gama Aviation will provide a 24-hour, 365 days a year service between the Channel Islands and UK mainland health services, providing a critical lifeline for islanders.
Robert Sainsbury, Group Managing Director for Health and Community Services, said: “The Air Ambulance service is essential to ensuring Islanders have access to specialist services in Tertiary centres that cannot be provided locally. For patients, no change will be visible, and the transition of the service will be seamless. The Government of Jersey thanks Capital Air Ambulance for their service and for their support in transferring the contract. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Gama Aviation.”
Gama Aviation is an established multinational company with long standing expertise of air ambulance provision and have been a provider of air ambulance services to NHS Scotland for nearly three decades.
Neil Medley, Group COO at Gama Aviation, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these important contracts by the Government of Guernsey and the Government of Jersey. Given our focus on special mission service provision, our existing aviation facilities in Jersey and our Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre in Bournemouth, we are ideally placed to deliver a long and successful partnership with each Bailiwick.”
Government of Jersey News Release.