VIDEO: New charity air ambulance is ‘better for Scotland’

A multi-million-pound investment in Scotland’s only charity air ambulance service could save hundreds more lives each year.

The Perth-based crew has welcomed the arrival of a new bigger and faster Helimed chopper, which will soon take to the skies for mercy missions across Scotland.

Since it launched in 2013, SCAA (Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance) has been called out to emergencies 850 times.

Chairman John Bullough said the new chopper had increased capability, potentially saving up to 50% more lives.

Great to have all of our paramedics and reserve paramedics with us for the big unveil today. #charity #airambulance pic.twitter.com/7LgMYUSysJ

— SCAA (@ScotAirAmb) October 30, 2015

“This is great for SCAA, but even better for Scotland,” he said.

The new helicopter, which will replace the charity’s older Bolkow model, was paid for by £3.3million worth of fines from banks caught out in last year’s Libor scandal.

For more on this story, see Saturday’s Courier or try our digital edition.