Air ambulance call sign tribute to flying doctor

Northern Ireland's first air ambulance will inherit the call sign of the tragic motorbike doctor who long campaigned for the service before his death.

Dr John Hinds, known as one of the “flying doctors” of Irish motorcycle sport, was a vocal advocate for a medical helicopter to transport the seriously sick and injured to hospital.

The 35-year-old from Co Down, who had lobbied Stormont to create a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), died in a motorcycle crash while providing volunteer medical cover at the Skerries 100 race in Dublin last July.

In last week’s Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced £4.5 million to help provide an air ambulance for Northern Ireland – the only UK region not currently covered by such a service.

Stormont’s Health Minister Simon Hamilton revealed further details about the envisaged service on Monday – what would have been Dr Hinds’ 36th birthday.

The ambulance will be based at Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove, Co Antrim – where it will be within a 25-minute flight time of any part of Northern Ireland – and it will transport patients to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service will take the lead in deploying the ambulance to incidents.

The aircraft will also have the call sign “Delta 7”, which was the one used by Dr Hinds.

The announcement was made at Craigavon Area Hospital, where the doctor was based before his death.

Dr Hinds’ family and partner took on his campaign for an air ambulance in the wake of his death.

The late medic’s partner, Dr Janet Acheson, attended the event, as did First Minister Arlene Foster.