Future of air ambulance service links undecided

The future of the Isle of Man's links with the Great North Air Ambulance Service has not yet been agreed, the health minister has said.

It comes after Manx Care announced it could not continue to fund the £20,833 monthly retainer for the service on top of the £7,000 mobilisation fee per mission.

Health Minister Claire Christian said the island's healthcare provider could not "sustain funding the retainer" for emergency care and transfers to the UK by helicopter.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) said without funding from Manx Care or donations from local residents it "may not be able to continue responding".

The GNAAS, which offers an emergency response that is additional to a fixed wing aircraft at the airport and coastguard services, said it "relies on donations to operate".

In a statement it said providing "advanced care to those that need it most" remained its priority and it was currently in talks with Manx Care "as to how we can continue providing our critical care service".

Christian told Tynwald members Manx Care wrote to the service in February outlining its intention to cease the funding at the end of current financial year.

She said the original contract with the GNAAS had begun on a temporary six month basis in 2022.

The retainer was initially funded through the healthcare transformation fund, but was transferred to Manx Care in April last year.

Although the service had been extended since it began, the latest window for another extension to 2027 closed while negotiations were taking place with the healthcare provider.

Christian said Manx Care had asked for an "alternative costing model" at a meeting with the GNAAS in December 2023 as it could not "sustain funding the retainer going forward", but that had not yet been received.

A further meeting was planned for 1 April to decide whether "to retain or discontinue" the service for the island.

Christian said the service would continue its operation on the island on a "good will" basis while negotiations continued.

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