The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service responded with critical care for 1,883 patients across the lower South Island in the past financial year, reflecting the ongoing high level of demand for the service, the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust reported this week.

The Trust presented its 2023-24 annual report to an Otago Regional Council (ORC) meeting on Wednesday (September 25).

“The teams bring life-saving care to patients across the lower South Island 24/7, 365 days of the year,” trustee Stephen Woodhead said.

“It is an expensive operation, and we are very grateful for the funding support provided.”

Stephen said the community has been generous with its donations and bequests, and he thanked ORC (which donates $350,000 annually) for its ongoing support, as well as the cornerstone Platinum Sponsor, Landpower Group Ltd and other sponsors. 

The Trust provides $800,000 pa (plus $400,000 pa contributed by the Lakes District Air Rescue Trust) as well as funding innovations beyond the scope of the Crown contract, such as the network of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) routes that have been developed across the lower South Island over recent years, the report said.

“These innovations provide our community with an enhanced service that saves lives,” Stephen said.

The development of new IFR routes across the region during the past five years has been significant. The rules, which are nearly complete, will provide connections through all the main valleys in Otago and Southland, enabling missions to be completed where poor visibility would otherwise preclude flying.

Read more: Community fundraising delivers life-saving service

“The additional equipment and the IFR routes that the Trust has funded helps us to respond with the very best care to patients, as well as improving the safety for patients and crew when we are out on missions” Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service critical care paramedic Ross Kirkpatrick said.

ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said the report highlights the critical work the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust does for the region.

“This is an important service that unquestionably saves lives every year,” she said. 

“Otago is a large and geographically diverse area, and this service plays a critical role in helping patients across the region. The hundreds of patients cared for over the past year reinforces how valuable this service is for the people of Otago.”

View the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust’s 2024 Annual Report here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App