Tauranga's rescue helicopter performed the first air transportation of a spinal injury patient under the new Ministry for Health and ACC Spinal Cord Impairment Plan.
The plan was introduced to New Zealand on August 1, 2015.
The Spinal Cord Impairment Plan includes the introduction of the St John Spinal CordDestination Policy, giving direction to road and air medical transportation agencies throughout New Zealand.
Philips Search and Rescue Trust's Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter completed the first mission under the new plan, which ensures any patient suffering a spinal cord injury, will be transported directly to one of three specialist hospitals to maximise their long-term health and rehabilitation outcomes.
The two adult spinal specialist centres are Middlemore and Christchurch Hospital's, and for children the centre is located within Auckland's Starship Hospital. If the patient has other life-threatening injuries they may be taken to the closest facility first to receive life-saving care before being transported to one of the specialist centres.
The Plan's main purpose is to ensure patients receive specialised treatment as soon as possible, which can minimize the potential for complications and allow the rehabilitation process to start sooner.
