Who we are

HEMS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED

HEMS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED (HEMS) was established in October 2016 to bid for a South Island-wide contract providing helicopter air ambulance services to New Zealand government health agencies.

Successful in that bid, it now holds an extended contract with Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ), and ACC (jointly referred to as the Purchasers) through their joint representative the National Ambulance Sector Office (NASO). The territory covered by this contract includes, but is not limited to, the whole of the South Island, Stewart Island, the Sub-Antarctic Islands, and the associated marine and coastal regions.

HEMS subcontracts its operational responsibilities to three of New Zealand’s most experienced air ambulance operators: GCH Aviation (GCH), Helicopters Otago (HOL), and Southern Lakes Helicopters (SLH).

HEMS’ Board of Directors

Ken Franklin – CEO and independent chair
Graeme Gale – HOL CEO and HOL appointee
Wayne French – CFO and HOL appointeer
John Currie – GCH Group Managing Director and GCH appointee
Daniel Currie – GCH Aviation CEO and GCH appointee

Operators and Bases

Dunedin
Queenstown

Christchurch
Nelson
Greymouth

Te Anau (as available)

HEMS’ VALUES

The foundation of the code of conduct that guides HEMS in its delivery of air ambulance services rests on four key principles:

HEMS’ Board of Directors

Ken commenced in this role prior to the company’s incorporation in October of 2016. He brings a background in corporate management and governance as well as previous ownership of a successful company managing and developing commercial property.

HEMS’ POLICY

HEMS CLINICAL LIMITED

HEMS CLINICAL LIMITED (HCL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of HEMS. It is responsible for the clinical governance of HEMS’ services and it supports the recruitment, training, audit and development of clinical paramedic crew employed by each of HEMS’ subcontractors.

HCL has an obligation to enable best clinical practice to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. HCL strives to accomplish this through careful recruitment selection, education, individual clinical development plans, standardised packages of care, and analysis of mission data and patient outcomes.

HCL delivers its responsibilities through a team of three clinical managers and three medical directors—ensuring its services are available to all clinical crew at any time of the day or night. It promotes a culture of excellence in patient care through open accessible support to paramedics combined with an ongoing system of audit, review and improvement.