What we do
Helicopter Air Ambulance
HEMS, through its contract with NASO, responds to requests for emergency pre-hospital treatment and transport of acutely unwell patients to hospitals of definitive care. Dispatch to these missions is authorised by the Air Desk, a specialised triage and deployment arm of the 111 system. HEMS also provides clinical care and transport of patients between hospitals under the direction of those hospitals’ dispatching and receiving clinicians. HEMS’ fleet of specially equipped aircraft and highly trained medical personnel are equipped to handle a wide range of medical emergencies from basic medical care to advanced life support, our specialist teams are ready to provide the necessary clinical care and support throughout each flight.
Search and Rescue (SAR)
HEMS works with NZ Police, Fire and Emergency (FENZ), Rescue Coordination Center (RCCNZ), NZ Coastguard to help with land, water, and mountain search and rescue. The highly specialised aircraft, equipment and clinical skill of HEMS’ crews makes this service suitable for a wide range of search and/or rescue missions.
Clinical Governance
HEMS Clinical team is responsible for the clinical governance and ongoing support for all our flight paramedics and critical care paramedics.
F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
A pilot, a flight critical care paramedics, and a flight paramedic
Mission dependent with most appropriate team of specialist doctors, nurses, critical care paramedics, or paramedics.
All our paramedics and critical care paramedics hold a current annual practicing certificate as registered paramedics. HCL is responsible for granting and reassessing the authority to practice through the formal process. Each operators are responsible for the aviation crew currencies.
Clinical Performance
Reportable Events – CLINICAL
HEMS is contractually obliged to report all clinical events of a Severity Assessment Code (SAC) 1 (being an event that results in death or permanent severe loss of function) or 2 (being an event that results in permanent major or temporary severe loss of function).
HEMS, through HCL, has a process for identifying, investigating and learning from events where patient care is not of an adequate standard. Should HEMS fall short of its goal for clinical excellence, it will publish de-identified details of any event that resulted in serious harm, or death of a patient under our care.
This “Reportable Events” section is updated on a quarterly basis.
HEMS’ Clinical Safety Team has responsibility for investigating adverse patient events. The Clinical Safety Team is independent of paramedic crews and are guided by strict protocols in the investigation of any event. Reportable events are identified by paramedics themselves, via patient feedback or feedback from other service providers and from HEMS’ own internal quality assurance processes.
Trust is essential in this work, and HEMS believes its honesty and transparency are vital to build confidence for all stakeholders in our service delivery. Keeping patients, family or whānau informed of progress in any adverse clinical event investigation and engaging with them in restorative practices is part of that process.
To find out more about SAC rating and triage visit the Health Quality and Safety Commission site here: HQSC website.
HEMS Reportable Events Record
2023 October to December – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2023 July to September – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2023 April to June – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2023 January to March – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2022 October to December – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2022 July to September – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2022 April to June – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2022 January to March – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2021 October to December – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2021 July to September – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2021 April to June – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.
2021 January to March – No SAC 1 or 2 events reported.